A global community of changemakers
Building organized people power toward a more just and equitable world
Theories of Change
VISION
A vibrant global community of organizing practice and learning that develops leadership across borders and generations to build people power towards a far more just, sustainable, and democratic world.
MISSION
To further the knowledge, capacity, and leadership of community organizers by connecting ideas, building learning spaces, and developing relationships to create organized people power.
OUR STORY
The Leading Change Network (LCN) grew from the organizing journey of Marshall Ganz, who began his work in the 1960s civil rights movement and later helped build the United Farm Workers alongside Cesar Chavez. After decades of organizing, Ganz returned to Harvard and developed a pedagogy that wove together theory and practice—planting the seeds for a global community of change leaders. In 2012, LCN emerged from a shared need for connection, learning, and community among organizers worldwide. Since then, LCN has hosted global gatherings, trained thousands of leaders, and supported campaigns in over 30 countries.
Relaunched in 2018 to address rising challenges to justice and democracy, LCN is now the home base for organizing—offering training, resources, coaching, and a vibrant community of practice to build people power and foster transformative leadership rooted in justice, equity, and collective action.
our values
- We stand for freedom, justice, and people-power.
- We develop leaders who act with courage, empathy, and deep community connection.
- We strive for a just, equitable, and sustainable world through collective action and continuous learning.
- And at the heart of it all, we center joy, generosity, and hope.
Still Got a
Question?
Answers are a click away!
- The Leading Change Network (LCN) is a global community of organizers, educators, and changemakers working to build organized people power for a more just and equitable world. LCN serves as a home for organizing, offering:
- Leadership training and capacity-building programs
- Campaign support for organizations, grassroots teams, social movements, and organizing initiatives
- A rich Resource Center with tools, case studies, and guides
- Unique spaces for our Community of Practice to connect, learn, build solidarity, and grow together
- Through our pillars, we connect leaders, tools, and stories to sustain and expand people-powered movements worldwide.
- 👉Read more about What We Do.
- Leading Change Network is registered in the United States as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and operates globally. Our agile team—of staff and board members—is distributed across the world. We are also connected to hundreds of rooted organizations, trainers, and coaches worldwide.
- By joining the Leading Change Network, you become part of a global community of change leaders committed to justice, equity, and collective action. Our members become better leaders through hands-on training, campaign coaching, year-round learning events, and diverse resources for building organized power on the ground and winning lasting change. You’ll also connect and build meaningful relationships with like-minded people, share stories and strategies, and learn from real-world organizing experiences—growing both your impact and your network. You can bring your team members too!
- Becoming a Leading Change Member is easy. You can choose between Individual Membership (just for you) or Organizational Membership (for you and your team). Simply visit our membership page, complete the application form, and select the tier that fits your needs. Once approved, you’ll receive a username and password to access the membership dashboard, where you can join events, explore resources, apply to trainings, and connect with our global community. Join us today!
- As a non-member, you’re welcome to join our open and free events or purchase a ticket for paid events. You can also browse our public resources on the Resource Center.
- However, if you become a member, you can attend member-only events, get free access to paid events, and discover premium resources.
- LCN Membership is not just a “subscription.” It is a relational commitment that holds our community together, nurtures the Network, and enables us to keep building leadership capacity and lead the change we all deserve. By becoming a member, you take part in our collective responsibility to build that power, together.
- 💡 If cost is a barrier, scholarships are available. Learn more on our Membership page.
- Membership is open to all individuals and organizations who share our vision and values. All members must adhere to our Membership Code of Conduct. Read our Membership Guidelines.
- Leading Change Network focuses on developing leadership, where our definition of leadership is: accepting responsibility for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty. The idea is to build the power we need to create the change we seek by organizing our people into the movement, instead of advocating on their behalf or mobilizing them around an issue. We work with those most impacted by a problem, helping them build the skills and structures they need to lead change themselves and grow their power on the ground. We don’t focus on quick wins or influencing policy through advocacy or short-term mobilizing; we invest in sustainable leadership, shared decision-making, and coaching, ensuring communities can drive meaningful change long-term.
- At Leading Change Network, we believe leadership is a practice anyone can learn and master. We also believe the people most impacted by a problem must be the ones to lead the change. We support community leaders and organizations in developing their leadership skills and capacity, which enables them to:
- Build trust and values-based relationships
- Work well together, in teams where responsibility is distributed
- Develop and implement effective change strategies
- Create structures that sustain momentum
- Mobilize people into action
- We also train and equip coaches and trainers with the highest-quality tools and methods so they can support communities and organizations in their leading change journey.
- We train people in the “People, Power, Change” framework. Our pedagogy is rooted in hands-on learning, reflection, and collective action. The framework focuses on five leadership practices of organizing developed by Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz and his associates, and adapted by world-class trainers globally. These five practices teach:
- How to articulate a story of why we are called to lead, a story of the community we hope to mobilize and why we’re united, and a story of why we must act.
- How to build intentional relationships as the foundation of purposeful collective actions.
- How to create structure that distributes power and responsibility and prioritizes leadership development.
- How to strategize turning your resources into the power to achieve clear goals.
- How to translate strategy into measurable, motivational, and effective action.
- Read more about the framework on our Resource Center.
- Yes! We regularly work with grassroots teams, networks and coalitions, and organizations, locally and globally, and across multiple languages, to design customized trainings and provide tailored support that meet their specific goals.
- 👉 Get in touch with us to explore how we can partner with your team or organization.
- The People, Power, Change framework is based on the five leadership practices of community organizing, developed by Harvard Professor Marshall Ganz after nearly three decades of on-the-ground organizing. Ganz and his associates shaped these practices into a framework that has since been evolved, adapted, translated, and taught by trainers and organizations around the world.
- Marshall’s journey into organizing began when he dropped out of Harvard in 1964 to join the Mississippi Summer Project, working with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement. Instead of returning to school the following year, he joined César Chávez in California to help unionize farmworkers, where he spent 16 years learning and refining the craft of organizing.
- After his time with the United Farm Workers (UFW), he went on to develop grassroots electoral strategies before finally returning to Harvard—after 28 years of “leave of absence”—to document and teach the lessons he had learned and the social change methodologies he applied. These experiences became the foundation of the People, Power, Change framework, which continues to inspire organizers worldwide and build organized people power toward a more just and equitable world. Read the full story.
- Absolutely! At LCN, we provide pathways for leaders who want to grow not only as effective organizers but also as skilled coaches, facilitators, and trainers of social change and power building. Once you’ve completed basic training in the People, Power, Change framework, you can apply to the LCN Academy to join our Building Coaches or Training of Trainers programs. Through our Community of Practice, you’ll also have opportunities to participate in Skill Practice Sessions to sharpen your skills or step up as a session facilitator. 👉 Explore how you can get involved and take your leadership journey to the next level!
- Yes! LCN offers a wide range of resources to support trainers and coaches in their leadership journey. These include:
- Full access to our Resource Center, which includes premium curriculum, training materials, sample agendas, template slide decks, video models, and more.
- Continued opportunities to learn and teach through the LCN Academy, where you can deepen your skills through structured programs and get opportunities to train or coach at workshops or support campaigns in real-time.
- Connecting with peers through our Community of Practice to exchange tools, skills, and experiences, as well as access to Skill Practice Sessions to refine your facilitation, coaching, and training techniques in a supportive environment.
- Whether you’re just starting out or looking to strengthen your practice, LCN provides the tools and community to help you succeed.
- Costs and fees depend on the program and your membership status: Some events are open and free to all. Non-members may need to pay for certain ticketed events. All Academy programs have tuition fees. That said, we believe cost should never be a barrier to building leadership for change. We offer scholarships for Academy programs, Community of Practice events, and Membership fees—based on need and alignment with our mission and values. 👉 Learn more about event pricing on our Events page and membership costs on our Membership page.
- You can explore several places to see how the People, Power, Change framework is making an impact:
- Read case studies from real-world campaigns on our Resource Center.
- Attend a Campaign Showcase event to hear directly from organizers about their stories and lessons learned.
- If you are a member, you can access recordings of past Showcases anytime through the Membership Dashboard.
- Check out our News section to stay updated on highlights and successes from across our community.
- 👉 Follow us on social media to get the latest updates, stories, and inspiration from our network!
- You can reach out to us anytime! Email us directly with your questions or request a 1-on-1 conversation with a member of our team for personalized support.
Lead the change for a more just world…
Let our power shine a light
Become a Leading Change Member Today
