The College of Constructive Hell-Raising                  

Civil Rights legend Peter Johnson with the 2022 class

 

 

The Class of 2025 graduated in May. We’re now looking for enough support to sponsor the Class of 2026. It costs approximately $20,000. If you want to help make that happen, please send your contribution via our pay portal. If you want to be on the waiting list for that class, please fill out and send in the application at the very bottom of this page. By October, we should be able to let you know if we can hold class next year. Thanks.

Since 2017 The  College of Constructive Hell-Raising, has offered an annual semester-long class about how to win grassroots Change. We draw on our three decades of experience as well as the history of those DFW elders and peers who’ve taught us with their own examples.

Unlike other seminars for political activists, the College isn’t issue or skill-specific. It’s about the mechanics of how you win grassroots fights with grassroots resources, no matter the cause.  Our goal is for graduates to “think like an organizer.”

Each of the sessions from January thru May are a discussion of the same principles taught to professional organizers at the nation’s oldest schools of community organizing,  combined with lessons in DFW social change history told by the people who made it.

Guest lecturers include original Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) organizer the Reverend Peter Johnson, as well as other well-known local legends like John Fullinwider, Dr. Marsha Jackson and West Dallas organizer Luis Selpulveda.

As impressive as our speaker line-up is, it’s also the diversity of students who’ve fueled the success of the class – urban aggies, animal rights and police brutality activists, peace and immigration activists, labor, LGBT, transit rights and anti-gentrification activists. Not plugged into a cause? We welcome students who are just curious about learning an alternate DFW history, or want to explore what a commitment to real Change means.

Graduates become part of a larger network of alumni in DFW, many of whom lead their own change-making organizations. We’re growing relationships that transcend single-issue silos and connect us to larger struggles through our philosophy of How Change Happens.

Interested? Another class begins January 2025 with enrollment beginning October 30th. The cost is $150 and includes two books and lots of material that add up to your very own Community Organizing handbook. Full and half scholarships are always available, so cost is never a reason not to apply

For weekly content you might find interesting as well as give you further insight into the College, please check out our FB page.

The Particulars

Class meets every other Saturday from Mid-January to Mid-May, 10:30AM to 12:30 PM beginning Saturday, January 18th, 2024

We also have an informal social component of the class that begins after class ends that takes place at a local bar/restaurant around the corner. We invite our guest lecturers to join us, so it’s a good opportunity for students to have one-on-one time with real life living legends. Attendance at this social portion of the class isn’t mandatory but is highly encouraged to help build community within the class, build your networks, and give you quality time with our history-making Change Makers.

Besides the important lessons taught in class, students have an opportunity to choose a small local nonprofit to follow for the entire length of the semester and apply those lessons to an analysis of the group’s mission, targets, and strategy. We’re calling this “shadowing.” Shadowing is not an internship. It’s research, observation, recording, and reporting strategically about a local non-profit for its own purposes and as a lesson for the entire class over the course of the whole semester. Students can choose from a list of groups who’ve signed up to  be considered for or suggest one of their own. Out-of-class assignments to interview the non-profits leaders, attend group functions, and assess the group’s capacity and goals over a five month period are intended to give the student an insider’s perspective, force you to critically weigh tough choices, and “think like an organizer.” 

COST

The cost is $150. It includes two books, and lots of reading material. Half and full scholarships are available, so there aren’t any financial barriers excluding anyone from the class that wants to take it.

EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT: Sign-up  Before December 1st and the cost is only $90.

LOCATION:

Classes are conducted at Good Co-Working , 1808 South Good Latimer, Dallas 75226

ATTENDANCE POLICY:   

There are only nine content-filled sessions plus graduation each semester. Absences are costly to you and your classmates. They’re also demoralizing to the instructors and lecturers. We understand our location in central Dallas makes it harder for those living and working outside metro Dallas to attend, but that’s one of the reasons why we start at 7 pm. Make sure you allow for DFW traffic in order to arrive on time. If you miss more than three classes, you’re welcome to keep attending classes but you will NOT graduate.

GRADUATION:

Besides enjoying notable speakers and entertainment, graduation is the culmination of the semester-long student research into the local grassroots non-profits of their choice. Students present short pitches on behalf of their non-profit, making the case for the funding of what, in their opinion, is the group’s most pressing need, whether its a position, event, or project. In this way the College attempts to match the groups’ priorities to the local foundations that could be potential funders.

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2025 Class Schedule 

Session One: Saturday, January 18th 10:30am -1:30pm

What is Constructive Hell-Raising? Introductions to the class, one another, and the College’s theory of change.

Session Two:  Saturday, February 1st 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson:  One-on-Ones – the Building Blocks of Community Organizing

History Lesson/Guest Lecturer: Rev. Peter Johnson, Case Study: The First Fair Park Fight

Non-Profit Shadowing Assignment: Conduct at least three one-on-ones with the leadership of your non-profit by March 1st

Session Three: Saturday, February 15th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson:  The Four Dirty Words of Organizing

History Lesson/Guest Lecturer: John Fullinwider, co founder Mothers Against Police Brutality and former Bois D’arc Patriot, The Relationship of Power to Policy

Session Four: Saturday, March 1st 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson: Internal Organizing (building your group to fight and win)

Guest Lecturer: Ruben A. Arellano,  Dallas College Professor Of History, Case Study: The Rise of the Chicano Movement

Non-Profit Shadowing Assignment: Attend at least of your two non-profit’s events or meetings by March 29th

Session Five:  Saturday, March 15th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson: Strategy and Tactics

History Lesson/Guest Lecturer: Luis Sepulveda, Founder, West Dallas Environmental Justice Coalition. Case Study: Getting the lead out of West Dallas, the nation’s largest Superfund Sie.  

Session Six: Saturday, March 29th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson: Effective Outreach – persuasively telling your story

History Lesson/Guest Lecturers: Patti Fink, former president of the Dallas Gay and Lesbian Alliance  and Lee Daughtery, Stonewall Democrats of Dallas and Democratic Socialists of America, Case Study: Why has LGBTQ organizing in Dallas been so successful?

Non-Profit Shadowing Assignment: Identifying your non-profit group’s priorities/needs assessment by April 12th

Session Seven: Saturday, April 12th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson: “Perception is Everything”

History Lesson/Guest Lecturer: Meghan Greene, Frisco Unleaded, Case Study: Shutting down an outlaw lead smelter in “Red” Frisco

Session Eight: Saturday, April 26th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson:  Applying Critical ThinkingThe College of Constructive Hell-Raising

History Lesson/Guest Lecturer:  Changa Higgins, Dallas Action, Case Study: How Dallas residents won a Police Review Board

Non-Profit Shadowing Assignment: Identifying plausible solutions to the most pressing needs of your non profit group by May 10th

Session Nine: Saturday, May 10th 10:30am -1:30pm

Organizing Lesson: Real World Civics Lessons

Guest Lecturer: Dr. Marsha Jackson , Case Study: The fight to close and clean-up Shingle Mountain 

Non-Profit Shadowing Assignment: Producing final pitch/Campaign Strategy Charts and poster for projects up to $50,000

Session Ten: Week of May 20th GRADUATION TBD

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Administration

Jim Schermbeck, Dean of Instruction

Jim Schermbeck is a Fort Worth native. He was a professional community organizer in DFW from 1989, when he opened the Dallas office of the National Toxics Campaign, to June 2024 when he retired from his job as Director of the environmental justice group Downwinders at Risk. During that time he helped build an unprecedented series of successful grassroots campaigns that cleaned-up local Superfund sites, stopped hazardous waste-burning in DFW cement kilns, closed an outlaw lead smelter in Frisco, effectively banned gas and oil drilling in Dallas, and closed and cleaned-up the illegal Shingle Mountain dump site in Southern Dallas. He founded the College of Constructive Hell-Raising in 2017.

College Alumni Include:

Rachel Albright, former Director of Tarrant Transit Alliance

Kim Aman, Program Director, Moss Haven Farms

David Carranza, Co-Chair, Kleberg Neighborhood Associaton

Janie Cisneros, Chair, Singleton United/Unidos

Clarice Criss, National Democratic Party campaign consultant

Alap Dave, Dallas Sunrise Movement

Paul Dill, Dallas Peace and Justice Center

Patrice Jones, Director, Southside Community Garden

Steve Kinder, Co-founder, Good Work co-working space

Rebekah Kornblum, Board, Dallas Bicycle Coalition

Adam Lamont, founder, Dallas Neighbors for Housing

Anne Lott, President & Executive Director · The Inclusive Communities Project

Susie Marshall, Executive Director, GROW North Texas

Misti O’Quinn, North Texas Organizer, Sierra Club Beyond Coal

Richard Perez, Chair, Fort Worth Northside Air

Jennifer Rangel,  Director, Rayo Planning

Jessica Ramirez, Co-Chair Kleberg Neighborhood Association

Corey Troiani, Senior Campaign Strategy Director at The Texas Campaign for the Environment

Collin Yarbrough, Author, “Paved a Way, Infrastructure, Policy and Racism in an American City”

Student Evaluations :

“It made me move away from thinking of myself as an activist – someone who subscribes to a particular set of beliefs or positions, but doesn’t necessarily push forward a policy or action. Now, I think of myself as someone who has the tools to translate opinions into action. Now, I’m concerned with being effective, not just being right.”

“This class was amazing! I learned so much about other social movements in Dallas that I did not know about previously such as the Chicano movement and the civil rights movement in Dallas.”

“The information and knowledge gained from the College is invaluable for anyone at any stage of outreach, political gaming, activism, or simply in business or life.”

“The volume of the materials that were provided alone is worth quite a bit. The instruction was helpful, and the privilege of getting to hear from and visit with the guest speakers is invaluable. Throw in a good group of classmates and free pizza and it’s over the top.”

“The College is the best way to learn about historic progressive battles in Dallas, connect with a diverse group of committed citizens, and learn how to be a pragmatic, effective organizer.”

“The College is an incredible opportunity to meet and learn from other passionate organizers and leaders looking to make Dallas a better, more equitable place.”

“I didn’t anticipate how quickly I would become informed on the history of progressive politics in Dallas; I didn’t anticipate getting to meet so many incredible organizers in the city (both lecturers and students).”

The depth of the class, as well as the opportunities to actually discuss and learn from those “in the trenches” and behind the scenes of significant events of the past couple of decades. It was invaluable seeing the different strategies and techniques used to accomplish goals.

“I loved learning more about the organizing history of Dallas. It gave me important context to frame my work. Meeting other organizers also helped me understand how to be a better advocate for the organizing community and speak to how different people approach frustrations with the City, industries and corporations, etc.”

“…the camaraderie and connections with other local activists that, despite my extensive network, I had never met before, was immeasurably important to the work I’m currently doing and plan to do in the future.”

“I really, really loved learning more about the distinction between activism and organizing, and how to use your power as an organizer to empower and uplift community members in their fights.”

“The level of insight that Jim has from his years of organizing was invaluable and very well organized/structured. The resources, thoughts behind each class topic, and chance to both connect with fellow aspiring organizers and meet/network with veteran difference-makers more than met what I was hoping for this course.”

“I absolutely loved your class and feel like I still touch on so many aspects of the things we learned. Now that I work at the ACLU of Texas, I feel like your class was the most valuable training I received in prep for this work.  I’ll recommend your class  because I feel like your class offers such a diverse range of experiences, resources, and lessons. I also just found out that they did not know about Peter Johnson’s work and he alone is a reason to join your class.”

“This class was incredible! It was informative, fun, and inspirational! I definitely feel ready to raise hell and be a better advocate.”

Click Here: Application Form for the Class of 2026