THE APPLICATION IS DUE AUGUST 12, 2024, MIDNIGHT EST

National Community Safety and Security School Overview
In June 2020, Vision Change Win received over one hundred (100) urgent security and safety training requests from several national networks and foundations.  In order to fully support over one hundred (100) organizations in deepening safety and security VCW launched the National Community Safety and Security School in August 2020. Now in it’s fourth year, this collaborative learning program is built on the understanding that no one organization can navigate safety, security, and surveillance threats in isolation.  

The school is a ten (10) – month training program which meets on the first (1st) Tuesday and Thursday of each month from September 2024- June 2025. Trainings are each three hours long (3:30pm-6:30pm EST) and focus on giving participants an introduction to foundational community safety and security practices.

Participation in the program includes:

  • Personalized organizational safety and security assessment
  • Fifteen standardized virtual training sessions (over fifty hours of training)
  • In-person three-day training
  • Up to two implementation coaching sessions
  • Access to our rapid response system
  • Access to office hours held three times monthly on Thursdays
  • Accompanying security and safety toolkit.  

The 2024-2025 training dates are as follows: 

  • Tues, Sept 3, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, Sept 5, 3:30-6:30pm EST*
  • Tues, Oct 1, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, Oct 3, 3:30-6:30pm EST 
  • Tues, Oct 29, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, Nov 7, 3:30-6:30pm EST (Tues, Nov 5th’s session has been moved to Tues, Oct 29)
  • Tues, Dec 3, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs Dec 5, 3:30-6:30pm EST 
  • Tues, Jan 7, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, Jan 9, 3:30-6:30pm EST 
  • Tues, Feb 4, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, Feb 6, 3:30-6:30pm EST
  • Tues, March 4, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, March 6, 3:30-6:30pm EST 
  • Fri, April 4 – Sun, April 6 (Time TBA)**
  • Tues, May 6, 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, May 8, 3:30-6:30pm EST
  • Tues, June 3 , 3:30-6:30pm EST | Thurs, June 5, 3:30-6:30pm EST 

*Open to the public
**We are assessing the possibility of an in-person session amidst the uncertainty that COVID brings. We will be updating participants on this session as the school processes. Session topics are subject to change but session dates are firm. 

Organizations may apply to send between two (2) – five (5) representatives to join the school. Organizations may request to send more than five (5) representatives, and these requests will be approved or denied based on space and capacity. Each organization must have at least one (1) confirmed representative in order to apply.

Organizations will be asked to submit a nonrefundable $100 deposit by August 30, 2024.
Organizations will be asked to confirm all representatives by September 20, 2024. 

School Training Topics 

  • Legacy of Safety and Security Work Panel 
  • Safety and Security Values
  • Verbal De-escalation
  • Direct Action Security Teams
  • Disability Justice and Healing Justice within Safety Teams
  • History of Security Culture Panel
  • Organizational Safety
  • Digital Security
  • Implementing Safety and Security Practices
  • Safety Team Sustainability 
  • Transformative Justice
  • Graduation

Cost
The total true cost per organization to participate in Security School is $10,000, however in order to make our trainings as accessible as possible Vision Change Win offers scholarships to groups representing BIPOC, low-income folks, Immigrants, Queer or Trans folks, Disabled folks or other marginalized communities as well as volunteer-run groups. As such, VCW offers Security School tuition on a sliding scale based on the applying organization’s budget:

  • Tier 1: Organizational Budget $5 Million and above | $10,000.00 tuition for 2-5 representatives
  • Tier 2: Organizational Budget $1 Million – $5 Million | $6,000.00 tuition for 2-5 representatives
  • Tier 3: Organizational Budget $500,000- $1 Million | $2,000.00 tuition for 2-5 representatives
  • Tier 4: Organizational Budget under $500,000| $1,000.00 tuition for 2-5 representatives

Solidarity scholarships are offered for organizations with budgets under $1 Million. Payment Plans are available for all Tiers. Information on Solidarity Scholarships and payment plans can be found in this application.

Who should fill out the application? The organization application should be filled out by (or in coordination with) someone who is also planning to be a representative of your group in the school. This application includes payment information and scholarship information. (All organizations, including those who have been sponsored by a funder, must fill out both the organization applications) 

What information is needed to fill out this application?

  • Total annual Organization budget amount
  • General information on Organization (mission statement, communities served, organization age)
  • Name and contact information of organization’s finance point person
  • Name and contact information of at least one (1) Security School Representative 

Who should be a Security School representative? Do all representatives need to be confirmed now?
Organizations may apply to send between two (2) – five (5) representatives to join the school. Organizations may request to send more than five (5) representatives, and these requests will be approved or denied based on space and capacity. Each organization must have at least one (1) confirmed representative in order to apply.


Organizations will be asked to submit a nonrefundable $100 deposit by August 30, 2024.
Organizations will be asked to confirm all representatives by September 20, 2024. 

Questions? Reach out to [email protected] for more information

Open House

Drop in open houses will be held on the following:

Wednesday at 5-6pm EST: July 31.

 Feel free to stop by with questions, stay for the whole time, arrive late, or leave early.

View the full application as a downloadable PDF: Security School Application 2024-2025