Training Showcase: Innovations and Lessons from the FICPFM Organizer Training Fellowship

On January 28th, 2022, we learned how the FICPFM Fellowship Training Team designed the curriculum, created new materials, and facilitated spaces of practice for the participants of the training for trainers program.

In our second year of the FICPFM organizing fellowship* to transform the criminal justice system in the United States, LCN trained 69 leaders from directly impacted communities in the organizing practices, out of which 15 leaders undertook the next journey of their leadership development in a training for trainers program.

*The fellowship was delivered in partnership with the Formerly Incarcerated, Convicted People & Families Movement (FICPFM) and Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, aimed to develop new leaders through four programs: organizing training, coaching program, community of practice, and training for trainers.

About the speakers 

Nneka Akubeze (Lead Trainer)

Nneka Akubeze was born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, to two incredible parents who taught her the value of faith, education, community, and justice. As a community organizer, Nneka works tirelessly with communities of color to secure collective liberation. In 2019, she launched her law practice, working in criminal law and immigration while earning her Master of Laws degree in Immigration and Nationality. Nneka works as an Of Counsel attorney with The Sparks Law Firm, handling anything from terroristic threats to federal drug charges. Nneka has years of experience in public narrative coaching and often works to prepare clients for testimony in court.

Kortni Malone (Head Coach)

Kortni Malone is a community organizer, strategist, and trainer, hailing from Detroit, MI. She has spent the past ten years fighting for the liberation of Black people in Michigan and across the country. She has worked at the intersection of issue advocacy and electoral strategy with organizations like Color of Change, NextGen America, and Elizabeth Warren for President. Throughout her career, she has trained thousands of folks from teachers in the classroom to professionals in the organizing world to volunteers and community members—always cultivating leadership and building power to fight for change. Currently she is the Director of Leadership Development at Coworker.org.