Anti-Oppression Academy
Where everyday heroes build social power and lead community change
What is Anti-Oppression Academy?
Anti-Oppression Academy is The Chiron Project’s community learning program for everyday heroes who are building social power and leading change in their communities Our Academy offers accessible workshops that explore how identity and inequity shape people’s experiences and opportunities.
Our workshop offerings are designed for people who want more than awareness. Whether you’re working to better understand what’s happening around you, strengthen your leadership, or collaborate more effectively toward shared goals, Anti-Oppression Academy supports learning that translates into real community impact. Topics include racism, economic disparities, gender and sexuality, disability, immigration, and other social and community issues that influence how power, resources, and responsibility are shared.
Workshops rotate throughout the year in response to current conditions and community needs. Some sessions introduce foundational ideas, while others support deeper skill-building—especially for community members and organizers who are often expected to lead without access to formal training.
Current & Upcoming Workshops
Who is Anti-Oppression Academy For?
Anti-Oppression Academy is for community members, community leaders, and community organizers who are engaged—formally or informally—in addressing social and community issues.
This includes people who are newly aware of these issues, as well as those who are already organizing, leading, or supporting change in their communities. You do not need professional credentials, formal training, or organizational backing to participate.
Participants often include:
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parents, caregivers, and neighbors
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faith and community leaders
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volunteers and mutual aid participants
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workers and small business employees across many industries
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community organizers, activists, and union members
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people directly impacted by social and community issues
If you care about what’s happening in your community and want practical ways to build social power, work with others, and lead change with care and accountability, you belong here.
Focus Areas for Community Learning
Anti-Oppression Academy workshops focus on four core areas.
You can engage with any focus area based on what feels most relevant to you.
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Understanding Power
Recognizing how power, identity, and inequity shape everyday experiences and outcomes.
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Community Leadership
Building leadership skills for people leading change in their communities—formally or informally.
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Building Alignment
Strengthening collaboration, navigating group dynamics, and working across differences.
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Responsible Action
Making thoughtful decisions about when and how to act, grounded in accountability and care.
Why This Work Matters
Communities are already responding to the social and community challenges they face. Parents, neighbors, organizers, faith leaders, and volunteers are showing up every day—often without access to the same learning, leadership development, or strategic support available to professionals working within institutions.
At the same time, meaningful change depends on alignment between communities and the organizations, systems, and professionals that shape policies, resources, and public life. When learning and development are siloed, efforts stall or move out of sync—even when values are shared.
Anti-Oppression Academy exists to help close this gap. By offering accessible, professional-grade learning for community members, leaders, and organizers, the Academy strengthens shared understanding, leadership capacity, and collective action—so communities and institutions are better equipped to work in partnership toward lasting change.
Community Partners & Sponsors
“One cannot expect positive results from an educational or political action program which fails to respect the particular view of the world held by the people. Such a program constitutes cultural invasion, good intentions notwithstanding.”
- Paulo Freire
Keeping Quality Community Learning Accessible
Anti-Oppression Academy is designed so that community members can participate without cost being a barrier. Most workshops are 60–90 minutes, capped at around 30 participants, and offered at no more than $30 per session.
When participants pay out-of-pocket, $5 of each registration is donated to a relevant nonprofit, connecting learning directly to community impact.
In some offerings—such as our Community-Led Book Study model—50% of the workshop cost goes directly to compensating the facilitating community members, supporting leadership and labor that is often expected to be unpaid.
Sponsor contributions* help make this model possible. For example:
Contributions of any amount help ensure that Anti-Oppression Academy can offer professional-grade learning while honoring community leadership, redistributing resources, and maintaining access.
*Transparency note: Contributions to The Chiron Project are not currently tax-deductible, as we are not a 501(c)(3) organization. We are actively exploring fiscal sponsorship options and hope to offer tax-deductible giving in the future.
We also welcome non-financial contributions, including volunteering time or expertise, offering event space in the DC area, providing food for in-person workshops, or donating learning materials. For non-financial support, please email us.