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Events

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.

Specific location, registration deadline, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be determined for 2026. Please check with us again soon.

Location: Lake Mary, FL

Dates: July 21-24, 2026

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Frequently Asked Questions:

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.

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:

Florida:

Dates: Wednesday, November 5th- Friday, November 7th, 2025

Location: Holiday Inn Orlando SW Celebration Area Hotel | 5711 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy Kissimmee, Florida 34746

Registration Deadline: Monday, October 13th

Last date to drop without charge: Friday, October 20th

Midwest/Midsouth:

Dates: Thursday, November 20th – Saturday, November 22nd, 2025

Location: Holiday Inn Suites Charleston West | 400 2nd Avenue SW, Charleston, WV 25303

Registration Deadline: Monday, October 27th 2025

Last date to drop without charge: Monday, November 3rd, 2025

Great Plains:

Dates: Wednesday, November 12th – Thursday, November 13th, 2025

Location: Saint Paul United Methodist Church | 1144 M St, Lincoln, NE 68508, USA

Registration Deadline: Monday, October 20, 2025

Last date to drop without charge: Monday, October 27, 2025

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.

Dates: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, – Thursday, January 29, 2026

Location: The Florida Hotel; Orlando, FL

Registration Deadline: Monday, December 22nd, 2026

Hotel Reservation Deadline: Monday, December 22nd, 2026

Event 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. 

2026 Investment Drive Trainings:

Florida:

Dates: Wednesday, April 29 – Friday, May 1, 2026

Registration Deadline: April 7th, 2026

Drop Deadline: April 14th, 2026

Locations, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be announced. Please check with us again soon.

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Midwest/Midsouth:

Dates: Thursday, April 16 – Saturday, April 18, 2026

Registration Deadline: March 31st

Drop Deadline: April 7th

Locations, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be announced. Please check with us again soon.

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Great Plains:

Dates: Wednesday, May 13 – Thursday, May 14 2026

Registration Deadline: April 14th, 2026

Drop Deadline: April 27th, 2026

Locations, event costs, and hotel costs are yet to be announced. Please check with us again soon.

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Frequently Asked Questions:

Where will this event be taking place?

  • Locations are yet to be announced. Please check with us again soon.

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
Contact your local organization to sign-up or get more info

Views from DART Trainings

““I understand now that I can make a difference in my community. I have learned the value of people power and how we can collectively make an impact regardless of how much money we have. I no longer feel powerless to make a change.””

Justice Ministry Conference Participant

““As a first-time participant, this conference helped me to build confidence in my ability to tell others about the listening process and ways to support the justice ministry through organization.””

Justice Ministry Conference Participant

““The text studies and the conversations at tables were most inspiring and energizing. I love reading from the margins and it helped to hear how others were hearing, seeing and living the Scriptures."”

Clergy Conference Participant

““It was really great to interact with people from other groups who had different life stories but similar goals. I left feeling very much inspired.””

Justice Ministry Conference Participant

““The issues that we are bringing to the forefront are God’s work. I have new hope in the power of our organized numbers.””

Power Building and Negotiation Training Participant

““I am very excited and enthusiastic about doing justice. I have been looking all my life for a vehicle I could become involved in that would help everyone rather than someone. I have done a lot of mercy work, but there is not enough justice work being done… we have a lot to do.””

Justice Ministry Conference Participant

““The opportunity to do seminary level Bible study again was really inspiring, enriching, and empowering for me to be even better equipped to preach and teach on the scriptural underpinnings of justice. I enjoyed it, and it got a lot of creative ideas flowing.””

Clergy Conference Participant

““DART is an amazing organization and the time you all take to educate and pour into your leaders shines through their leadership, delivery, and effectiveness. I'm always extremely impressed by the work. Looking forward to many years to come.””

Power Building and Negotiation Training Participant

““I thought all the presentations were excellent! The organizers are well trained. It helped me understand my justice ministry organization so much better.””

Power Building and Negotiation Training Participant

““Energy in the room was real and palpable. I love relating to and learning more about other organizations… it was really nice to learn and spend time with others close to home that share a unique perspective.””

Power Building and Negotiation Training Participant
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