DART Training Calendar
DART provides multiple regional and national trainings that focus on the mandate to “do justice” from various faith traditions. DART uses a congregation-based community organizing model and is focused on building relational people power. DART staff plan and develop regional and national trainings for the growth of local leaders and organizers. Trainings are primarily executed by local organizers as part of their continual professional development. Experienced local leaders and clergy are also engaged in leading presentations to share their firsthand experiences around building people power.
Registration Information:
Registration for these events is done through local DART affiliated organizations. If you are a member of a local affiliate, please communicate about registration through your local organizer. If your community does not have a local DART affiliated organization please reach out to AnnMarie Silveira at annmarie@thedartcenter.org.
After the drop date, those who are registered but no longer able to attend will be charged the full registration cost due to non refundable deposits made to the hotel, printing material purchases, and other event related costs. We appreciate your cooperation in communicating any drops to AnnMarie Silveira ahead of time at annmarie@thedartcenter.org
Justice Ministry Conference
The annual Justice Ministry Conference provides an orientation to justice work and relational power building. Attendees learn how to conduct a grassroots listening process through house meetings and 1-1 conversations, how to build a justice ministry network in their congregation, and how to answer the common question “what is a justice ministry?”. This training is designed for leaders and clergy who are currently engaged with a DART affiliate, but is open to guests and denominational partners.
Location: Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel (3315 Scott Futrell Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208)
Dates: July 22nd – July 25th, 2025
Event and hotel costs are yet to be determined. Please check with us again soon.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Where will this event be taking place?
- July 22- 25, 2025 at the Sheraton Charlotte Airport Hotel (3315 Scott Futrell Dr, Charlotte, NC 28208)
How do I get to the event?
- Fly into the Charlotte Airport. More details to follow.
Is there parking on site?
- More details to follow.
What should I wear?
- Business casual. Bring a sweater, as it may be cool in the meeting rooms.
What meals are included?
- Tuesday dinner on your own. Wednesday breakfast/lunch/dinner, Thursday breakfast/lunch/dinner, and Friday breakfast (this is not finalized).
- Coffee / Snacks are available throughout the conference
What can I expect from this event?
- Leaders attending should leave with a solid foundation of justice ministry and justice ministry community organizing concepts. For example: Scripture (God requires us to do justice, but we have neglected it); Relationships (i.e. public/personal, how to build, one-on-ones); Power; Self-interest; Tension & Confrontation. Leaders will also learn how to effectively build the power of their congregations and organization by conducting effective 1-1s that engage others around their self-interest, how to build a strong justice ministry network and/or team, how to conduct effective house meetings, and will develop a deep understanding and ownership of the justice ministry network.
Who are the speakers and presenters?
- Local organizers, clergy, and lay leaders from across the DART network present from their experience and expertise.
What should I do to prepare?
- More details to follow.
Power Building and Negotiation Trainings
The regional Power Building and Negotiation Training focuses on getting grassroots leaders ready for their annual direct action assemblies (called Nehemiah Actions). Attendees are trained on power building through their congregational justice ministry networks and how to negotiate with public officials for solutions to serious community problems. This training is designed for leaders and clergy who are currently engaged with a DART affiliate.
2025 Power Building and Negotiation Trainings:
Dates, locations, and details of the 2025 Power Building and Negotiation Trainings will be shared soon.
Clergy Conference
The DART Clergy Conference is a gathering of clergy from local affiliated organizations, guests from denominational partners, and clergy from prospective member congregations. The conference prepares clergy to teach and preach on sacred texts “from the margins” and lead their congregations in developing strong justice ministries. Outside keynote speakers are invited to lead text studies and relationship building training is conducted. This training is designed for leaders and clergy who are currently engaged with a DART affiliate, but is open to guests and denominational partners.
Registration deadline, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be determined for 2026. Please check with us again soon.
Investment Drive Trainings
The regional Investment Drive Training focuses on grassroots fundraising and is divided into two workshops, the Corporate Drive Workshop and the Congregation Drive Workshop. Attendees learn how to build ownership for local organizations through their annual fundraising drives. This training is designed for leaders and clergy who are currently engaged with a DART affiliate.
2025 Investment Drive Trainings:
Florida:
Dates: Tuesday, April 29 at 12:00 PM – Thursday, May 1 at 12:00 PM
Registration & Hotel Reservation Deadline: Thursday, March, 27, 2025
Location: Holiday Inn Orlando SW Celebration Area Hotel (5711 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, FL 34746)
Cost: $250 – includes meals, coffee, printing, AV, and conference supplies | Corporate Drive Workshop ONLY Cost: $170 (Tuesday at 12 PM until mid-day break on Wednesday) | Congregation Drive Workshop ONLY Cost: $170 (Wednesday at 1 PM until Thursday adjourn)
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Midwest/Midsouth:
Dates: Tuesday, April 22, 2025 12:00 PM – Thursday, April 24, 2025 12:00 PM
Event Registration Deadline: Thursday, March 27th, 2025
Location: Holiday Inn & Suites Charleston West Hotel (400 2nd Avenue SW, Charleston, WV 25303)
Cost: $290 – includes meals, coffee, printing, AV and conference supplies | Corporate Drive Workshop ONLY Cost: $190 (Tuesday afternoon till lunch on Wednesday) | Congregation Drive Workshop ONLY Cost: $190 (Wednesday lunch break till Saturday)
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Great Plains:
Location, dates, registration deadline, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be determined. Please check with us again soon.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Where will this event be taking place?
- Florida: April 29-May 1, 2025 – Orlando, FL
- MidWest & MidSouth: April 22-24th, 2025 – Charleston, WV
- Great Plains: Dates and Location TBD
How do I get to the event?
- Reach out to your local to discuss details for your local organization.
What should I wear?
- Business casual. Bring a sweater, as it may be cool in the meeting rooms.
What meals are included?
- Tuesday dinner, Wednesday breakfast/lunch/dinner, and Thursday breakfast
- Coffee / snacks are available throughout the conference
What can I expect from this event?
- Expect to be inspired by other clergy and leaders in the field who are building powerful justice ministries in their local communities and winning significant systemic changes. You will build lifelong friendships with other colleagues who are passionate about making a difference in their local communities.
- Congregation Workshop: Leaders who will drive the Investment Drive in their congregation will be challenged to build a culture of ownership among their network members through financial investments in the justice ministry. They will practice engaging members around their self-interest and inviting them to attend the organization’s Justice Ministry Celebration (and, for those who cannot attend the JM Celebration, to effectively invite them to invest $200 or more)
- Corporate Workshop: Leaders and clergy who will be spokespersons for the organization in meeting with business leaders in the community attend to learn how to effectively negotiate and powerfully tell the organization’s story.
Who are the speakers and presenters?
- Local organizers, clergy, and lay leaders from across the DART network present from their experience and expertise.
What should I do to prepare?
- Read: The Liturgy of Abundance, The Myth of Scarcity by Dr. Walter Brueggemann
- Read: The Ethics of Collecting Dues by Cesar Chavez
- Meet with a local organizer to discuss details for your local organization
Views from DART Trainings
Learn more
Want to learn more about community organizing?
Listen to Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon, The Drum Major Instinct
Read Walter Brueggemann’s “The Liturgy of Abundance, The Myth of Scarcity“
Read Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter from Birmingham Jail
Read Marshall Ganz’s Why Stories Matter
Read Nehemiah 5
