• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
Unleash SONG Power

Unleash SONG Power

Come Out. Destroy Fear. Unleash Power.

  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • Why We Do What We Do
    • Historical timeline
    • Kindred Spirit Organizations
    • For the Press
    • Contact Us
  • Our work
    • Leadership Development
      • Lorde’s Werq: Summer Project
      • Organizing Schools
    • Organizing Tools
    • Free from Fear Campaigns
      • Crack Graham in South Carolina
      • Take Action, Get Power in Georgia
  • Updates
    • News
    • Events
  • Take Action
  • Donate
  • Join Us
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Lorde’s Werq Summer Project

In 2017, SONG launched the BLM Cohort leadership development project as a pilot in the state of North Carolina. SONG’s North Carolina BLM cohort sought to develop, sharpen, and strengthen a body of 15 Black queer, trans and gender non-conforming leaders across the state. Over the course of a year, these member-leaders have loved on, supported, and lifted up Black leadership, fortified connections to each other for the road ahead. From Asheville, Charlotte, to Durham, BLM Cohort members led work on the ground, including freeing Black mothers and caregivers from jails across the state during SONG’s Black Mama’s Bail Out Action. In the process, cohort members gained skills in healing practices, communications, base-building, and direct action campaign organizing. In 2018, the cohort transformed into a regional cohort that was made up of 50 Black queer, trans, and gender non-conforming leaders from 21 cities/towns across the Southeast; and was renamed “The Lorde’s Werq.”

This year, the Lorde’s Werq will encompass a 10-week summer organizing assignment known as the Lorde’s Werq Summer Project as part of SONG Power

We are selecting 35 Black queer, trans, and gender non-conforming leaders to build Southern Black power, advance democracy, and inspire a social revolution. During the project, members will explore and expand upon what it means to engage our communities to build a stronger, more radical tomorrow.

Program Description

The reward for this work is beyond just monetary compensation. Instead, our main objective is to gain skills and build and strengthen new relationships. Our hope for this cohort is to have a transformative organizing experience that creates righteous work and leaves the local community stronger. While we expect the Lorde’s Werq Summer Project participants to bring their offerings in service to the local work, the concrete program work will be determined by local leadership in your assigned city/town. The summer assignment will last from June 1, 2020, to August 8, 2020, with a May 31st arrival date.

Participants must be able to commit to the full 10-week organizing assignment and be willing to raise funds to help cover daily living expenses. We estimate the full costs to be roughly $200 per week or $2000 for the full 10 weeks. We will also be providing a $2000 stipend to participants in addition to community housing and food (unless folks can support themselves). Travel to and from the summer project location will also be covered. If you are not able to commit to the full 10 weeks, please support the program by raising money, volunteering, sponsoring an organizer’s expenses or donating supplies.

Three Core Areas of Work

  1. Building Alternatives to Community Violence (ex. restorative practices, de-escalation tactics, arts & culture for sustained movement, etc.)
  2. Issue-based Civic Engagement (ex: canvassing to end pretrial detention, combating voter suppression, mass mobilizations, direct action, etc.)
  3. Political Education and Skill Building (ex: Black history, the abolition of the Prison Industrial Complex, understanding social movements, direct action, facilitation, outreach, tutoring, etc.)

The Timeline

  • Week 1: Orientation to the local community, skill ups, relationship-building, and assignments
  • Week 2-5: Doin’ the Lorde’s Werq
  • Week 6: A selection of members will be sent to the M4BL Black National Convention in Milwaukee, WI to represent their local community.
  • Week 7-9: Doin’ the Lorde’s Werq
  • Week 10: Closing Celebration
  • OPTIONAL Week 11: 7th Annual Gaycation, August 13th to 16th (free registration!)

Our goal is to have a summer cohort of 35 people from across the region.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Shahidah Jones at shahidah [at] southernersonnewground.org

songpowerc4 Follow

SONG Power is the political and advocacy arm of Southerners on New Ground (SONG). We are organizing to shift power and build beloved community in the South.

songpowerc4
Retweet on Twitter songpowerc4 Retweeted
therealnews The Real News @therealnews ·
14 Jul

Poverty can be its own form of voter suppression. So these organizers, with the group @songpowerc4, are using mutual aid to help get out the vote: by @jaisalnoor w/ @soljourno https://therealnews.com/you-cant-think-about-voting-if-youre-thinking-about-feeding-your-kids

Reply on Twitter 1547651391375622149 Retweet on Twitter 1547651391375622149 20 Like on Twitter 1547651391375622149 30 Twitter 1547651391375622149
songpowerc4 songpowerc4 @songpowerc4 ·
12 Oct 2021

We're hitting the streets again!

This fall we're Canvassing For Survival and Liberation – a 6 week base building program focused on canvassing across the region through 3 selected sites ran by paid Local Power teams!

Learn more + apply to be a site >>> http://songsouth.info/c4survival

Reply on Twitter 1447963060665294848 Retweet on Twitter 1447963060665294848 Like on Twitter 1447963060665294848 Twitter 1447963060665294848
songpowerc4 songpowerc4 @songpowerc4 ·
7 Oct 2021

We're hitting the streets again!

This fall we're Canvassing For Survival and Liberation – a 6 week base building program focused on canvassing across the region through 3 selected sites ran by paid Local Power teams!

Learn more + apply to be a site >>> http://songsouth.info/c4survival

Reply on Twitter 1446226733712216065 Retweet on Twitter 1446226733712216065 Like on Twitter 1446226733712216065 Twitter 1446226733712216065
songpowerc4 songpowerc4 @songpowerc4 ·
1 Jul 2021

Help us sharpen the tools in our toolbox for liberation by completing this survey that will allow us to push our demands further, drastically build our base & contend directly for power across the South

Survey >>> https://bit.ly/songsurveyesp

Reply on Twitter 1410670559332114432 Retweet on Twitter 1410670559332114432 1 Like on Twitter 1410670559332114432 Twitter 1410670559332114432
Retweet on Twitter songpowerc4 Retweeted
ngpaction New Georgia Project Action Fund @ngpaction ·
25 May 2021

on holding law enforcement accountable, protecting the right to vote, fighting employment discrimination, and increasing equity to housing and education for marginalized communities.

Reply on Twitter 1397279695415152646 Retweet on Twitter 1397279695415152646 3 Like on Twitter 1397279695415152646 20 Twitter 1397279695415152646
Load More...
SONG Power

Copyright © 2023