October 18th, 2025
This week, we close our journey together. We begin by looking outward, exploring how to build power through coalitions and collaborations. Then, we turn inward one last time for a capstone session focused on integration, commitment, and resilience. The work of liberation is long and difficult; this final week is about synthesizing our learning, solidifying our purpose, and preparing to sustain ourselves and our movements for the journey ahead, fortified by the community we have built together.
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Joe Worthy is a community organizer and strategist who works alongside community members to build power through Strategic Nonviolent Action. Partnering with leaders and local groups, he drives systemic change through his roles with the Strategic Nonviolence Academy, the Albert Einstein Institution, and Light House | Black Girl Projects. His support has led to landmark victories, from coaching a community group in Côte d'Ivoire that successfully shut down a coal mine to helping end Zero Tolerance Policies in Boston and expand healthcare for mothers in Mississippi. Previously, at the Children’s Defense Fund, he focused on dismantling the Cradle to Prison Pipeline. Joe studied at Heidelberg University and the University of Oxford and was a Community Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.
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This session examines the power of coalitions and collaboration in nonviolent movements, using historical examples such as the Indian National Congress and the Khudai Khidmatgar (Servants of God) movement. Participants will explore how these groups successfully united diverse communities to challenge British colonial rule in India. The Indian National Congress, led by figures like Mahatma Gandhi, and the Khudai Khidmatgar, led by Abdul Ghaffar Khan, demonstrated the strength of coalition-building by bringing together Hindus, Muslims, and other groups in a shared struggle for independence.
Additionally, the session will draw on other historical nonviolent campaigns that exemplify effective coalition-building, such as the American Civil Rights Movement and the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. By analyzing these case studies, participants will gain insights into the strategies and tactics used to forge strong alliances, mobilize diverse communities, and sustain collaborative efforts. This understanding will equip attendees with the knowledge to build and maintain effective coalitions in their nonviolent movements, fostering unity and amplifying their impact.
Participants will be able to analyze historical and contemporary nonviolent movements to identify effective strategies for building and sustaining coalitions and collaborations among diverse groups, thereby amplifying their impact in challenging oppressive systems. This involves understanding the dynamics of successful historical alliances and applying those lessons to current contexts.
This final session is not about learning new content, but about integrating what has been learned and preparing for the journey ahead. It is a space for participants to stand in their full capacity as leaders, reflect on their transformation, and make a conscious commitment to their work, their well-being, and their community. Drawing on the principles of servant leadership and beloved community, this session guides participants through a process of personal reflection, peer witnessing, and collective dedication. It is the moment we transition from being a cohort of learners to a lifelong network of committed, interdependent practitioners.
Participants will synthesize their learning from the Academy, articulate a clear and grounded commitment to their future work, and solidify their relationships with the cohort as a continuing source of support and accountability.