chapter building toolkit

SURJ is a national network of affiliated groups working together to expand our collective capacity to organize White people for racial justice. Through community organizing, mobilizing, and education, SURJ groups and affiliates aim to move White people in motion to take action as part of a multi-racial majority for racial justice.  Work on the ground for each of SURJ’s chapters and affiliates varies from place to place, but each affiliate is committed to SURJ’s core values and mission.

​We’re so glad you’re interested in starting a chapter. Here's a bit of background information on chapters and affiliates:
What are SURJ Chapters and Affiliates?
  • A SURJ chapter is guided by the SURJ shared values. Their primary work is undermining white support for white supremacy through accountable partnership with local organizations led by people of color. A chapter can be a pre-existing organization or a newly-formed entity to carry out this work.
  • A SURJ affiliates are pre-existing organizations that are, at least in part, focused on undermining white support for white supremacy, and/or supporting racial justice work through leadership development, trainings, education, base-building, research, fundraising, etc. SURJ affiliates agree with our mission, our theory of change, and our values.
Both chapters and affiliates:
  • Pay organizational dues, sliding scale based on chapter size (this is in-process; while there are no chapter dues right now, we anticipate launching this program in 2018)
  • Have an active representative in one of our national working groups and caucuses
What to Expect from SURJ National?
We are currently in the process of expanding our infrastructure to support local affiliates and chapters. Keep a look out for new updates, but right now, you can expect to:
  • Be connected with SURJ contacts in your area in order to build a base of folks within the chapter
  • Be connected to other organizers in your region through regional listervs, Facebook pages, and regional calls/gatherings
  • Receive support on chapter-building, working through big questions and barriers, and leadership development/base-building
  • Be connected to national campaigns and to organizers nationally through SURJ National conference calls
How to Get Started
If you've read through this page and want to start a SURJ chapter in your area or align an existing organization as an affiliate of the SURJ network:
DOWNLOAD THE CHAPTER-BUILDING TOOLKIT
You can learn more about how to start conversations in your community about a SURJ chapter by reading our SURJ Chapter and Affiliate Group Building Toolkit.
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