Mission

TOLA Organizing Academy’s mission is to train individuals and organizations in the fundamental skills of community organizing and civic engagement.

2021 Stockton Education & Outreach Project Fellows having their photo taken at the Community of All Nations entrance following a day of canvassing and speakers.

The Organizing & Leadership Academy (TOLA) is a nonprofit with offices in Oakland and Stockton, California. In 2010, TOLA was founded to provide a rigorous “hands-on” training program for individuals interested and motivated to pursue a career in organizing. Our training program is demanding and effective. Fellows participate in classroom instruction, do significant reading and reflective writing, and are challenged by experienced organizers, community leaders and elected officials. Most importantly, Fellows work on real organizing projects developing the discipline and skills necessary to become effective organizers.

In the past two years, TOLA has expanded to include trainings to organizations across the state. At the core of pushing for social, racial, political, and economic justice is to first understand the local community, then set and reach measureable goals to achieve success, and build people power that is sustainable over time. We are intentional about individual leadership development while supporting the long-term goals of the organization through Leadership Training, Project Development Support, and Membership Training.

2022 Program

TOLA has renewed its commitment to run the Stockton Education & Outreach Project in 2022. This training opportunity will begin in March 2022 and run through June 2022. In addition to being exposed to TOLA’s organizing curriculum, trainees will apply the skills they learn to a variety of activities. All of the civic engagement work, activities, and goals will be focused on communities where residents want a more equal voice in local decision-making. For more information, visit the “2022 TOLA Training Opportunities” page or email Lolis Ramirez at Lolisr@tolacademy.com.

Learning to organize is a lifelong process – and to learn you need to be hands-on in the real world, working on real problems.

– Larry Tramutola, Community Organizer and TOLA Founder.