Presents

Team Harmony Virtual Institute for Activism (VIA)

Team Harmony Foundation has partnered with Emerson College, an internationally recognized communication college, to create and conduct the Team Harmony Virtual Institute for Activism (VIA). VIA is comprised of ten select courses taught by established college professors, prominent educators and community organizers. The goal of this innovative Virtual Institute is to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and tools necessary to be an effective advocate for racial and social justice.

We are looking for committed change makers! Enrollment will be limited to 200 select and committed students (14-20 years) from around the world.

The accepted 200 students will be placed into 10 groups or “cohorts” of 20 students each, and each “cohort” will be tasked to develop, organize and implement an activity designed to foster bridge building and dialogue between diverse groups and to advocate for peace and justice for all. Students will have to make an official presentation of their Action Plan at the conclusion of the Institute and their presentation will be reviewed and judged by a panel of community activists and issue experts. The prestigious Team Harmony Award will be presented to the top three Action Plans.

All Institute participants will be presented with The Team Harmony Virtual Institute for Activism (VIA) Certificate at the conclusion of the Institute.

The Virtual Institute for Activism convened on Saturday, January 23, 2021 and ran through April of 2021.

VIA Course Offerings:

1. Building Bridges: This course offering will focus on the tactics and activities that can be utilized to bring diverse groups together to dialogue and foster an atmosphere of better understanding.

2. Using Social Media for Social Good: Students will learn about the platforms and tactics they can use to promote and spread important messages of mutual respect, bridge building and understanding and to advocate for equality and justice for all. Tools and platforms to be discussed include: Blogs; digital storytelling, maximizing the use of Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat, and other platforms.

3. Public Relations 101: This course will cover the most effective ways to get media attention and have your message heard! Whether it is writing a press release, opinion editorial, letter to the editor or securing media coverage for an event, students will learn how to successfully engage with the media.  

4. The Art Of Organizing: This course offering will cover key steps and approaches to being a good organizer and how one can build an effective organization using both in-person and online strategies. Historical and contemporary case studies from around the world will be used to demonstrate these organizing principles.

5. Art of Public Speaking: This course offering will train participants on the art of public speaking and being interviewed in the media.

6. Creating Visibility for the Cause: This course offering will explore the key tools and tactics for creating high visibility for your campaign and messaging.   

7. Starting a Movement or Campaign: This course offering will offer insight and direction on how to go about starting a campaign. Students will examine the best practices to establish a campaign effort and the challenges and obstacles one may encounter along the way. Simply, a step-by-step approach to creating and launching a diversity campaign.

8. INFLUENCING the INFLUENCERS: This course offering will discuss the tools and tactics one can use to deliver your campaign message to elected officials and community leaders. Use of phone calls, letter-writing campaigns, email campaigns and in-person visits are some of the tools to be explored.

9. The Art of Organizing a PEACEFUL Demonstration: In this course, students will explore the best practices for organizing and conducting a peaceful march/demonstration.

10. The Art of the Difficult Discussion: This course offering will examine the art of the difficult discussion. How to most effectively engage a person of a different opinion without having the discussion dissolve into an argument.