OK, maybe you won’t be able to learn everything you need to know to become a safe streets leader in just two weekends, but you’ll get a jump start.

Cascade Bicycle Club’s free Advocacy Leadership Institute is an innovative program that teaches community members how to organize around an issue, work with the media and craft their own personal stories to highlight a community need.

Alumni of the program have gone on to become leaders of all kinds of local efforts, some of which have nothing to do with Cascade at all. Kelli Refer, Statewide Engagement Director for Cascade (and, full disclosure, also my awesome and inspiring spouse) interviewed four graduates for a recent blog post.

I love this program because biking and safe streets are the perfect issues to cut your teeth as a community advocate or organizer. And the more new voices there are, the stronger and more complete the movement will be. So if you’ve been itching to get more involved, but don’t know where to start, you should apply. No previous experience of any kind is required.

The deadline to apply is Friday for the late October/early November program. You can find more details and the sign up form on Cascade’s website:

The Fall 2017 Advocacy Leadership session will consist of two weekend retreats Participants hear from guest speakers, get training on how to plan campaigns, the power of your personal story, how to work with media and more. Following the retreats we will celebrate what everyone has learned with a graduation party. Training Retreat Weekends:

Saturday, October 21 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cascade Bicycling Center in Magnuson Park

Saturday, November 4 from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Cascade Bicycling Center in Magnuson Park

There is an optional social hour after each of the retreat days to connect with your fellow cohort. Graduation & Celebration: T.B.D. Application materials are due by Friday, October 13 at 5 p.m.