OWP Request for Applications

Center for Council is pleased to invite applications for the Organizational Wellness Project (formerly called the Social Justice Council Project). The project helps strengthen the local nonprofit sector through community-building experiences and Council training for staff at participating organizations.

Council is an evidence-based, trauma informed, culturally responsive tool for improving communication, building resilience, mitigating stress, and strengthening team cohesiveness and effectiveness. Learn more about Council here.

Applications Closed

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The Organizational Wellness Project is made possible through the generous support of The Angell Foundation.

Program Overview

This round of the Organizational Wellness Project will begin in the summer of 2019 and conclude by the spring of 2020. During the course of that time, Center for Council trainers will engage with 10 local organizations to provide the following at no cost:

Ten hours of community-building sessions for organization staff (June - October 2019): Facilitated by professional trainers, these sessions will be tailored for each organization and designed to introduce the “Council” process and provide fun and meaningful experiences. In addition to staff, the participating group may include board members or other important stakeholders. We recommend the total of ten hours be scheduled in five two-hour sessions, but the time frames can be flexible to suit your organization’s needs.
An immersive 16-hour Council training workshop (September / October) for a small group of identified participants from your organization. The training workshop, led by certified Council trainers, will cover the background and structure of Council practice, a variety of Council techniques and activities, and hands-on practice in facilitating Council. Participants will attend the workshop experience at an offsite location with staff designees from other participating sites.
Individualized follow-up mentoring and consulting (September 2019 - March 2020), based on the needs of the organization. Trainers will work with those participants who have completed the training workshops to integrate Council practice within your organization. Support may take several forms, such as: facilitating “demonstration Councils” with board members, clients, or other constituents; co-leading Council sessions; feedback, consultation and coaching; as well as other support that newly trained facilitators may request as they begin to introduce the practice throughout the organization. In addition to community building, Council can be used to check in at staff meetings, receive input for decision-making, debrief events, explore conflicts, or ease transitions within the organization. The Council trainer assigned to the project site will work with the organization to identify the needs that can be addressed.
A networking event (early Spring 2020). This half-day Council-based workshop will be open to all project sites, and will be an opportunity to forge alliances with others working to integrate Council into their organizational culture.

All applicants will be notified by June 17, 2019 of status.

Criteria for Participation

Organizations selected to participate in the project:

Must have a minimum of ten staff members and be located in the Southern California region. The organization may be working in any field or discipline, but should have a social justice-oriented mission.
Must be able to commit the personnel and time required to implement the project: in addition to the community building Council sessions (ten hours), each site must designate three to six staff members to participate in a 16-hour training workshop (delivered either over a weekend or on two weekdays).
Should be willing to engage in self-reflection, prioritize self-care and collegiality, and recognize the value of bringing Council into their organization.

Learn More About Eligibility and Read the FAQ

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