2024 Volunteer Training
(At Common Power, we stay ready for elections that can happen all year. We offer training for all levels of volunteers to work in the 2024 Presidential Election. Our live trainings are wrapped up for the year but you review all of our trainings with recordings below.
While our techniques will change and evolve each year, volunteering the CP Way is evergreen.
Special guidance for Fieldwork Fall ‘24
Why we’re talking to Republican and Independent Voters…
A summary of how we work, for you last minute crammers…
Final stretch, 7 days to go! Here’s what to expect…
Explore our trainings below (all recorded)
101: Intro to CP Fieldwork
New to Volunteering at CP?
For new and returning volunteers to learn about how we do Fieldwork at CP. We introduce the CP way with our values and fieldwork principles, how to navigate our remote action and door-knocking opportunities, and what's coming up for volunteers to plug into.
101 Recording
Don’t have time to attend a live training? Watch the recording here on your own time, or view the entire Fieldwork training series on our YouTube channel.
102: A Guide to Voter Engagement
How do you get past the polite “No thank you, I’m busy”?
Here are the nitty-gritty tactics for voter engagement in a variety of conversations with voters live or remote. Get trained on techniques for engaging with voters: A community sharing space to share challenges, solutions, and strategies to talk to voters in all our actions.
102 Recording
Don’t have time to attend a live training? Watch the recording here on your own time, or view the entire Fieldwork training series on our YouTube channel.
103: Traveling with CP
Interested in traveling with us to doorknock?
The training will cover what you can expect from a voter door knocking trip, the steps involved in preparing to travel with us, and what a CP Fieldwork trip looks like once we are on the ground.
103 Recording
Don’t have time to attend a live training? Watch the recording here on your own time, or view the entire Fieldwork training series on our YouTube channel.
104: Engaging with Latinx Voters
Talking to Latinx voters at the doors or on the phones?
Join members of our Poder Comun group for experienced guidance on talking with Latinx voters in Washington State, and around the country.
104 Recording
Don’t have time to attend a live training? Watch the recording here on your own time, or view the entire Fieldwork training series on our YouTube channel.
201: Building (a Just and Inclusive) Community
Working across difference at Common Power
This highly interactive workshop aims to support Common Power volunteers in navigating diverse spaces and interpersonal dynamics with fellow volunteers and potential voters.
New training dates for the fall are now active!
201 Recording
Don’t have time to attend a live training? Watch the recording here on your own time, or view the entire Fieldwork training series on our YouTube channel.
202 Series: Talking to Red and Purple voters
The 202 training series is collection of diverse offerings created to prepare volunteers for canvassing Republican, Independent, and undecided voters.
Our goal is to provide a variety of one-time trainings for volunteers so they can equip their tool kit with whatever they need!
Talking to voters with different political beliefs
Tech Training and Resources
Volunteering is digital. We organize volunteers through Zoom and Slack, navigate Mobilize.us, and doorknock using the MiniVan app. But just because it’s the default doesn’t mean it’s easy. Familiarize yourself with the platforms and don’t let a few clicks stop you from saving democracy!
CP Tech Assistance Office Hours
Every Saturday at 10am PT.
Drop into our office hours with Jenni to get assistance on anything to do with tech!
From how to navigate our website, how to join State Teams, trainings and CP events on Mobilize, using Slack and more!
MiniVan Resources
Progressive volunteers and organizers use the app, MiniVan, to facilitate door-knocking. Familiarize or refresh yourself with the app before hitting the ground!
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Generally not before traveling. Team Leads will have a MiniVan training and refresher course during the trip, usually on the first day. They will be happy to troubleshoot any problems that comes up.
It is notoriously hard to troubleshoot MiniVan virtually. We recommend you familiarize yourself with the tutorial video and receive support in-person during the trip!
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You need a "list number" to access the map and address view with voter information. Lists are a way of organizing houses and neighborhoods for volunteers to doorknock. Common Power receives "lists" from our partner organization when we arrive and your Team Leads will organize these lists for you all on the ground.
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YES! MiniVan is how our partners provide us the voter's address, voter information and polling place, and our script. We will try to accommodate for those whose devices cannot support MiniVan but understand that it would be much harder to canvass without the app.
Slack Resources
Slack is our community communication platform (see more here). Volunteers join our Slack to interact with each other, talk to our volunteer leads live, and be in community between action and trips. We also use Slack as the on-the-ground communication tool when we travel to doorknock in swing states.
But it can be a learning curve! Check out our video on navigating our Slack channel.
TRAINING CALENDAR
See when trainings are available and signup! Check out our full Fieldwork Calendar here.
Hear it from our community members:
What it’s like on the ground?
Testimonial: Matthew
Matthew shares a story about his first time door knocking ever.
Testimonial: Carrie
Carrie tells us what it’s like working across race and age differences with CP in the field.
Testimonial: Mary
New to Common Power, Mary talks about how she sees the organization and the community we’ve built.