Trainer Roster
Connect with Backbone’s network of trainers HERE!
From EarthFirst!ers innovating technical blockades and tree-sits, to community organizers building alliances between longshore workers and environmentalists, the trainers who are a part of Backbone’s network have incredible hard-won experience, amazing success stories, and are eager to help you amplify your activism.
Whether you come to our Annual Localize This! Direct Action Camp, host a workshop, are looking for mentorship, or support with action or campaign design, we’ll connect you with some of the most incredible organizers innovating and pushing the limits of creative interventions for justice.
Connect with Backbone’s network of trainers HERE!
Chris Lutter
Artful Activism & Imagery Construction Trainer
Affiliated Organization: Puppet Farm Arts and Backbone Campaign allied ArtistAreas of Training: Artful Activism, Puppet Building, Crafting Compelling Stories and catchy social justice oriented shanties!
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Sweetwater Nannauck
Spiritual Activist
Affiliated Organization: Idle No More WAAreas of Training: Spiritual Activism, Lighting the 7th Fire - Working Well With Natives
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Odin Lonning
Cultural Worker & Artist
Affiliated Organization: Xudzidaa Kwaan dance group, Institute of American Indian Art, Juneau Tlingit DancersAreas of Training: Native American cultural work and art
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Ruddy Turnstone
Climb Training Team Lead
Affiliated Organization: Global Justice Ecology Project, Everglades Earth First!Areas of Training: Climb Training, Direct Action,
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Heather Milton-Lightening
Native Led Direct Action Organizing
Affiliated Organization: Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign, Aboriginal Youth with Initiative, Native Youth Movement, Indigenous People's Power Project, Areas of Training: ...coming soon
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Jim Diers
Workshops on Building Power Through Assets-Based Community Organizing
Affiliated Organization: Faculty at the University of Washington Assets Based Community Development InstituteAreas of Training: Building Power and Leaders Through Community Organizing
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Steph Cascadia
Affiliated Organization: Trans' & Womyn's Action Camp, Backbone Campaign Areas of Training: Non-Violent Direct Action, Intro to Blockades, Advanced Blockading Tactics, Tripod Blockades, Climb Training, High-Rise Banner Deployment, Community Organizing and Group Development, Security Culture, and Supporting Political Prisoners
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Elizabeth Lakes
Affiliated Organization: Earth First!, Michigan Coalition Against Tar Sands, Deep Water Earth First, Tar Sands Blockade, and Backbone CampaignAreas of Training: Intro and Advanced Climb Training
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Trip Jennings
Direct Action Climb Trainer & Independent Media Making
Affiliated Organization: Rising Tide North America, National Geographic, Balance Media
Areas of Training: Extreme Extraction Around The Continent, Media Making, & Working With The Press
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Kim Marks
Training Coordinator | Areas of Training: Strategic Campaigning and Avoiding Burnout, Direct Action Planning, Blockades, NVDA, Non-traditional Allies, How to Organize Against Corporations, How to Start a Group, How to Run a Meeting, Climate Justice, Know Your Rights, Security Culture 101
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