Local residents learned how to be the change

The first round of graduates completed Ecologistics’ Empower.SLO activism training course on June 21.   Meeting for two hours every Wednesday night for six weeks, participants learned skills such as how to influence legislation, how to have productive conversations with those you disagree with, basic community organizing and how to communicate your passion in writing and at public comment.  Instructors included Lisa Kawamura, public speaking and critical thinking instructor at Cal Poly, Dawn Addis and Andrea Chmelik of the SLO Women’s March and Sandy Simon of the Print Media Action Team for Citizens Climate Lobby.   Participants called the series “outstanding” and are hungry for even more practice and group consensus-building.  Ecologistics is going to follow up with an advanced training on November 4 at the SLO Guild Hall as part of the 2017 Central Coast Bioneers Conference.  Stay tuned!