Trainings — Houston in Action

Houston in Action's 2022 Training Series covers voter engagement, field organizing, and digital tools. Recordings are available for sessions on voter registration, storytelling, empathy mapping, election data, voter protection in Texas, Vote-by-Mail, and tools like MiniVan, Thru Talk, and Thru Text. Trainings were presented by the Reimagine Collective and Texas Toolbelt. The series is designed to help organizations build stronger community relationships and improve voter mobilization efforts.

View our 2022 Training Series below! These trainings cover anything from social media to data systems and field practices. Election Planning Series Field Practices 101 WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 10:00 AM - 12 PMPresented by the reimagine collectiveLearn how to create integrated voter engagement plans, the ins and outs of voter registration and education, and how to build your digital list. Watch Recording Field Practices 101 WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 10:00 AM - 12 PMPresented by the reimagine collective Learn how to create integrated voter engagement plans, the ins and outs of voter registration and education, and how to build your digital list. Field Practices 201 TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 11 AM - 1 PMPresented by the reimagine collectiveIn this training we will go deeper into building stronger relationships with communities on the ground. We’ll touch on creative tactics such as storytelling, building empathy maps and strategy charts for voter engagement and voter mobilization, which you will connect to digital base building and ladders of engagement. Watch Recording Field Practices 201 TUESDAY, JUNE 7, 11 AM - 1 PMPresented by the reimagine collective In this training we will go deeper into building stronger relationships with communities on the ground. We’ll touch on creative tactics such as storytelling, building empathy maps and strategy charts for voter engagement and voter mobilization, which you will connect to digital base building and ladders of engagement. Election Planning and Forecasting TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2 - 4 PMThis training is an opportunity for organizations that have been funded to do voter engagement to get up-to-speed on election data. We will review key performance indicators, look at community data to guide group goals, and review data submission systems. Watch Recording Election Planning and Forecasting TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2 - 4 PM This training is an opportunity for organizations that have been funded to do voter engagement to get up-to-speed on election data. We will review key performance indicators, look at community data to guide group goals, and review data submission systems. Voter Protection WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 10 AM - 12 PMPresented by the reimagine collectiveLearn what lessons we can take away from the 2020 general election. We will dig into scenario planning, looking at what tools are available to your organizers, and how to equip the community with best practices. We will also look at potential threats to Texas voters, assess how we should use Vote-by-Mail and how to help folks track their vote. Watch Recording Voter Protection WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 10 AM - 12 PMPresented by the reimagine collective Learn what lessons we can take away from the 2020 general election. We will dig into scenario planning, looking at what tools are available to your organizers, and how to equip the community with best practices. We will also look at potential threats to Texas voters, assess how we should use Vote-by-Mail and how to help folks track their vote. MiniVan and Events Management Systems Training MONDAY, JULY 25, 4 – 6 PMJoin Houston in Action and Texas Toolbelt to learn how to use MiniVan and manage your events! Watch Recording MiniVan and Events Management Systems Training MONDAY, JULY 25, 4 – 6 PM Join Houston in Action and Texas Toolbelt to learn how to use MiniVan and manage your events! Learn How to Use Thru Talk and Thru Text WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 4 – 6 PMThis training session will be led by Houston in Action and Texas Toolbelt. Attendees will learn how to use Thru Talk and Thru Text tools for their phone banking and text banking efforts. Watch Recording Learn How to Use Thru Talk and Thru Text WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 4 – 6 PM This training session will be led by Houston in Action and Texas Toolbelt. Attendees will learn how to use Thru Talk and Thru Text tools for their phone banking and text banking efforts. Narrative Strategy Narrative Strategy: What is it, how does it work, and why does it matter? WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 3 - 4:30 PMAttendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how public narratives are formed, how they work, and how those working for social change can influence narratives that support a vision for a just world. Following the completion of this training, participating organizations will be invited to join a Houston in Action network-wide Narrative Working Group. Narrative Strategy: What is it, how does it work, and why does it matter? WEDNESDAY, MAY 18, 3 - 4:30 PM Attendees will leave with a deeper understanding of how public narratives are formed, how they work, and how those working for social change can influence narratives that support a vision for a just world. Following the completion of this training, participating organizations will be invited to join a Houston in Action network-wide Narrative Working Group. Digital Communications Series Building Community Digitally 101 WEDNESDAY, June 8, 10:30 AM - 12 PMAttendees will be introduced to social media communications as a tool for engaging with and building community online. The session will include activities for those looking to establish their presence online. Watch Recording Building Community Digitally 101 WEDNESDAY, June 8, 10:30 AM - 12 PM Attendees will be introduced to social media communications as a tool for engaging with and building community online. The session will include activities for those looking to establish their presence online. Building Community Digitally 201: Relationships and Building the Funnel THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 3:30 - 5 PMAttendees will leave with specific tools and actions to use in their digital organizing and broaden relationships among their base. The session will end with planning a “funnel” or "ladder of engagement" two-week digital plan for an event. Watch Recording Building Community Digitally 201: Relationships and Building the Funnel THURSDAY, JUNE 16, 3:30 - 5 PM Attendees will leave with specific tools and actions to use in their digital organizing and broaden relationships among their base. The session will end with planning a “funnel” or "ladder of engagement" two-week digital plan for an event. Building Community Digitally 301: Content Strategy, Planning, and Coverage THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 3:30 - 5 PMAttendees will learn about finding their distinctive voice online, as well as the ins and outs of creating content efficiently, quickly, and meaningfully. The session will end with learning how to plan a week of content together. Watch Recording Building Community Digitally 301: Content Strategy, Planning, and Coverage THURSDAY, JUNE 23, 3:30 - 5 PM Attendees will learn about finding their distinctive voice online, as well as the ins and outs of creating content efficiently, quickly, and meaningfully. The session will end with learning how to plan a week of content together. Campaign Media Series Find Your Folks: Campaign Media Planning & Audience THURSDAY, JULY 7, 3:30 - 5 PMAttendees will learn to identify key audiences, how and when to reach them, and how to use this as a starting point for building a communications plan specific to their campaigns to maximize impact and effectively define strategies and tactics. Attendees will leave with a template communications plan outline and questions to help identify key audiences. Watch Recording Find Your Folks: Campaign Media Planning & Audience THURSDAY, JULY 7, 3:30 - 5 PM Attendees will learn to identify key audiences, how and when to reach them, and how to use this as a starting point for building a communications plan specific to their campaigns to maximize impact and effectively define strategies and tactics. Attendees will leave with a template communications plan outline and questions to help identify key audiences. Get Their Attention: Campaign Media Relations 101 THURSDAY, JULY 14, 4:15 - 5:15 PMAttendees will learn about communications tactics and tools for building media relationships. Attendees will leave with template communications materials and resources for media list development. Watch Recording Get Their Attention: Campaign Media Relations 101 THURSDAY, JULY 14, 4:15 - 5:15 PM Attendees will learn about communications tactics and tools for building media relationships. Attendees will leave with template communications materials and resources for media list development. Get Their Attention: Campaign Media Relations 201 THURSDAY, JULY 21, 3:30 - 5 PMAttendees will learn the differences between Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed) submissions and Letters to the Editor, how to use them, how and where to submit them, and how to plan and write successful Op-Eds. Session will include a practice workshop and breakout sessions. Watch Recording Get Their Attention: Campaign Media Relations 201 THURSDAY, JULY 21, 3:30 - 5 PM Attendees will learn the differences between Opinion Editorial (Op-Ed) submissions and Letters to the Editor, how to use them, how and where to submit them, and how to plan and write successful Op-Eds. Session will include a practice workshop and breakout sessions. Interviews and Pivoting Workshop: Pivoting tactics and taking on tough interviews THURSDAY, JULY 28, 3:30 - 5 PMAttendees will practice pivoting during interviews and leave with working materials to prepare and support them in high-intensity interview conditions. This session is good for those looking to hone their interview skills and prepare for potentially difficult interviews, whether in-person, live, on- or off- camera, or virtual. Interviews and Pivoting Workshop: Pivoting tactics and taking on tough interviews THURSDAY, JULY 28, 3:30 - 5 PM Attendees will practice pivoting during interviews and leave with working materials to prepare and support them in high-intensity interview conditions. This session is good for those looking to hone their interview skills and prepare for potentially difficult interviews, whether in-person, live, on- or off- camera, or virtual. PAST TRAININGS We have recordings for our Fundamentals of Organizing Series and other recent trainings available for you to review on our website. You can find links to these trainings below: Fundamentals of Organizing Fundamentals of Organizing Voter Registration Best Practices Voter Registration Best Practices Campaign Planning 101 Campaign Planning 101 Creating Informed Goals - Putting the ‘R’ in SMARTIE Creating Informed Goals - Putting the ‘R’ in SMARTIE PUBLIC TRAININGS We have links to recorded trainings covering a number of digital tools on our Member Resources page.

- Visit the Houston in Action trainings page and browse the full list of recordings. - Pick a track that fits your organization's current needs — start with 101-level sessions if you're newer to organizing. - Watch the Voter Protection session to learn about Texas-specific voting rights and Vote-by-Mail. - Use the MiniVan and Thru Talk/Thru Text sessions to get your team ready for phone and text banking. - Share the recordings with volunteers or staff who couldn't attend in person. - Reach out to Houston in Action if your group wants more support or wants to connect with their network.