The Oregon Academy

Movement Communications Academy provides tailored communications training for cohorts in Oregon with the support of local foundations and organizations.

The Oregon model

Oregon cohorts include up to 20 students working collaboratively over the course of 12 classes. Each session emphasizes peer learning and applying learnings to problem-solve real-life scenarios.

The Academy is designed to accelerate the impact of nonprofit communications staff working to advance racial, gender and economic justice by focusing on the fundamentals of communications in four core learning areas:

  • Strategy, planning and messaging

  • Digital communications

  • Media relations 

  • Communicating to move policy 

Oregon cohorts leverage real-life experiences of communicators across the state, and feature guest trainers and speakers, such as current and former journalists, elected officials, nonprofit leaders, designers, strategists and media planners.

Future cohorts

Cohort schedules vary depending on funding availability. To be notified when applications are open for new cohorts, sign up for our updates.

Masayo Simon, Rogue Climate

“Thank you both so much for creating the space for our cohort to learn together and from each other. I've already been implementing so many of the things that I've learned from the past seven months in my work—and I've also been able to pass on the info to help my team at Rogue Climate, which is so awesome.”

Allison Harris, Oregon Just Transition Alliance

 “Movement Communications Academy helped me to get close with other communications professionals in the justice space. My favorite part was hearing directly from reporters of color about how I can pitch stories, op-eds, and ideas that advance my organization's mission." 

Senior Communicator Cohort

Oregon-based Senior Communicator Cohort is expected to launch in summer 2024.

The Academy will offer a Senior Communicators Cohort for Oregon-based staff with organizational and positional power to strengthen peer collaboration. This cohort will be designed to meet senior-level communicator’s desire for peer support, tailored training sessions, coaching, and relationship building through facilitated conversations and training sessions.

The senior cohort will start with a needs assessment to identify areas for training, strategy, and collaboration to build power together. 

The Senior Academy will meet once a month with hybrid options (in-person and virtual). Throughout the coursework, Academy participants will receive templates that can be easily adapted. Students will also have access to weekly office hours to receive 1:1 technical assistance, coaching, and consulting support on their specific projects.

Interested in the Senior Communication Oregon Academy?