Minnesota DFL launches an organizing training, paid fellowship program

(ABC 6 News) – The Minnesota DFL Party announced on Wednesday they are launching a paid fellowship program that will help train the next group of Minnesota political organizers.

The Wellstone Academy, named in honor of the late Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, will consist of a diverse group of 25 individuals who will learn to plan and execute direct voter contact events, how to recruit, train, and retain volunteers, how to use political data and digital organizing tools, and more.

“I am extremely proud to be launching the Wellstone Academy and doubling down on the DFL Party’s commitment to grassroots organizing,” said DFL Party Chairman Ken Martin. “I learned from Senator Paul Wellstone that the best way to win elections is door-to-door and neighbor-to-neighbor, and that holds true to this day. The DFL Party is launching this organizing training program to equip the next cohort of political organizers with the skills needed to expand on our historic victories and maintain our trifecta in the next election.”

Each Wellstone Academy Fellow will be provided compensation to participate in this program. The DFL says by making this a paid fellowship, the party aims to remove many of the barriers that prevent historically under-represented communities from entering a career in politics. The program will also include a mix of online and in-person classes to help recruit a geographically diverse cohort of fellows.

“My dad taught me that organizing is how we turn our values into votes,” said Paul Wellstone’s son, Dave Wellstone. “When he ran for the Senate, he was a college professor with big ideas and a beat-up bus running against a powerful, well-funded incumbent. He won because he had a team of fantastic organizers who engaged their friends, neighbors, and communities. My dad gave us a blueprint for how to win even the most difficult campaigns, and I am thrilled the Wellstone Academy will be using that blueprint to train a new and diverse group of organizers to fight for our values.”

The application process is open and will run through Mar. 17. For more information and to apply, CLICK HERE.

On May 2, the Wellstone Academy will begin holding classes, which will run through Dec. 12. Then, the Wellstone Academy will work to place Wellstone Fellows in a full-time paid organizing position.