Inside Mothers Out Front Leadership Academy 2.0: Sharper Skills, Bolder Plans, and the Power to Shape Our Kids’ Future

Mothers Out Front — Wed, 03 Jun 2026 17:21:57 +0000

If you’ve ever organized alone in your community, wondering if anyone else is doing this work the way you are, Leadership Academy 2.0 was built for you.

Moms and caregivers from across the country gathered in the Hudson Valley, NY, for a weekend of hands-on training, strategy, and fearless conversation that happens when moms and caregivers get in the same room!

Twenty inspiring leaders were selected through a competitive application process. Stipends and on-site childcare meant nobody had to choose between showing up for this and showing up for their family.

Opening connections

The weekend began with a warm welcome gathering, giving participants time to meet one another, settle in, and start building the relationships that would carry through the rest of the training. By the time sessions started the next morning, people already knew each other’s names, teams, and what brought them there.

Then the real work started.

The training was designed to be practical. Leaders worked on skills they could bring home and use:

Building strong teams and sharing leadership long-term
Designing and running powerful campaigns with a clear strategy behind them
Recruiting new members and confidently making an ask
Using visual strategy to organize coordinated, distributed actions (with guidance from Look Loud)
Planning strategic actions that can take their team’s work forward

What made it different from a webinar or a toolkit was the room itself. Leaders taught each other. People shared what worked in their communities, what didn’t, and what they’re trying next.

The best part, in their words

One of the most meaningful parts of the weekend was the opportunity to connect with others who share the same passion and commitment to climate justice and community organizing. Participants left not only with new skills, but with friendships, inspiration, and a feeling of belonging that they’re bringing back home:

What comes next

The momentum for Leadership Academy 2.0 will continue long after the weekend ends. Leaders are returning to their communities equipped with new skills, stronger relationships, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Thank you to the facilitators, support staff, caregivers, and families who made this possible. Most of all, thank you to the incredible leaders who showed up to learn, connect, and fight for a healthier, livable future together.

Feeling inspired to start something in your community?

Every MOF chapter started the same way. One person reached out. That’s it. Stage 0. You don’t need a team yet, you don’t need a campaign, you don’t need experience. You just need to care enough to raise your hand!

From there, it grows. You find one or two other caregivers. You host a house party. You form a core team and pick an issue that matters in your neighborhood.

Before long, you’re five people with clear roles, a campaign plan, and a timeline.

The leaders at Leadership Academy 2.0 didn’t start as organizers. They started exactly where you might be right now.

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Empowered to Lead: Highlights from Our June Leadership Academy

Mothers Out Front — Tue, 17 Jun 2025 17:17:38 +0000

On Saturday, June 14, Mothers Out Front (MOF) hosted an engaging virtual Leadership Academy training that brought together 15 passionate members from across the country — from California to Rhode Island, Virginia to Iowa — all united by a commitment to build a healthier, more just future for our kids.

This session focused on the building blocks of grassroots leadership, including team structure, power building, public narratives, and one-on-one organizing tactics. The results were inspiring!

Participants left feeling empowered and ready to lead. One shared, “I feel I have a good understanding of how to make connections with others and how to build a team.” Another participant shared, “I learned many new leadership techniques, and I think it would benefit climate action for many to learn these techniques.”

If you are just getting started or interested in deepening your organizing skills, the MOF Leadership Academy is designed to meet you where you are and help you grow.

Ready to Lead?

Our next Leadership Academy is happening September 27 – 28, and we’d love for you to join us. This is a great opportunity to learn from experienced organizers, connect with a community of mission-driven moms and caregivers, and grow your capacity to lead change.

Sign up today and take the next step in your leadership journey!