STATEWIDE CAMPUS ORGANIZING BOOTCAMP TRAININGS COMPLETE ; ALUMNI NETWORK ANNOUNCED
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15, 2024
CONTACT
Allison Minnerly
321-210-0462
PEOPLE POWER FOR FLORIDA ANNOUNCES COMPLETION OF STATEWIDE CAMPUS ORGANIZING BOOTCAMP TRAININGS AND FORMATION OF ALUMNI NETWORK
The seventh stop on the statewide tour marked People Power’s culmination of efforts to help students organize for their rights
[FL - April 15, 2024] Today, Rep. Anna V. Eskamani and People Power for Florida (PPFF) are announcing the culmination of their more than year-long project to empower and train students how to organize and stay engaged at universities across the state.
Campuses on the tour included UCF, FSU, UF, FIU, FAMU, UNF, and USF–where PPFF nearly 300 students were trained from 15 universities, 8 community colleges, and 14 high schools in the Sunshine State.
People Power for Florida launched this statewide tour in the face of continued attacks on higher education such as HB 999 and Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay/Trans” bill. In February 2023, People Power for Florida hosted the first of seven Organizing Bootcamps at UCF; where students learned organizing best practices, how to create a campaign plan and powermap their lawmakers, and heard from a wide array of guest speakers with experience leading in their communities. Last week–the tour that spanned from Miami to Tallahassee reached its conclusion at USF in Tampa.
“The People Power for Florida Organizing Workshop was one of the best events I attended as President of the FAMU College Democrats–seeing individuals ready to learn how to change the political landscape for the State of Florida,” said Jovan Mickens, former FAMU Dems President and FAMU Bootcamp attendee.
From a member of Congress to a School Board candidate and local changemakers, this bootcamp introduced students to experienced storytellers, policy makers, activists, and curriculum aimed at helping them shape their own journey on the path to becoming an organizer.
“This workshop allowed beginning and experienced organizers to understand civic engagement and its importance in all forms,” said Mickens. “I believe it is fundamental that we educate our minority communities, and I think hosting this bootcamp definitely opened many eyes to the power they never knew they had.”
With the end of this chapter, PPFF is announcing the formation of an alumni network with these nearly 300 trained student organizers where attendees will receive calls to action and stay connected for future opportunities across the state.
“We are thrilled to have brought our organizing curriculum to seven college campuses here in the Sunshine State,” added Representative Eskamani. “Seeing how energized and committed our students are is not only an inspiration, it’s a representation of what’s to come this November.”
Since 2021, People Power for Florida has registered nearly 10,000 people to vote. In 2024 alone, People Power Florida’s team of student Organizing Fellows have already registered more than 1,000 voters this semester across 7 different college campuses and secured over 1,000 pledges to vote ahead of the November election.
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Pd. Pol. Adv. paid for by People Power for Florida, 118 North Gadsden Street, Tallahassee
