Major Trainings and Presentations I’ve Given
Power Through the Paper: Writing an Effective Letter to the Editor
Kelso, WA, March 2016
- I gave a workshop on crafting an effective Letter to the Editor and how to use LTEs in grassroots campaigns, delivered at the Community Organizing and Coal Exports workshop sponsored by the Sierra Club and other organizations.
Social Change and Climate Action
Missoula, MT, July 2013, July 2014, July 2015
- For three years in a row, I gave an approximately hour-long presentation about the role of nonviolent direct action and mass protest in social movements, and the need for more of this type of activism in the modern-day climate movement.
- This presentation was given for the Wild Rockies Filed Institute’s annual summer course on climate change in Montana.
Direct Action and the Fight Against Coal Exports
Tacoma, WA; Portland, OR; Walla Walla, WA; Spokane, WA; Missoula, MT, March-July 2013
- In March-July, 2013 I gave a series of presentation for student groups and environmental studies classes as the University of Puget Sound, Reed College, Whitman College, Gonzaga University, and University of Montana.
- Presentation focused on direct action in the climate movement, with an emphasis on the fight against Northwest coal exports
Grassroots Environmental Organizing Training
Missoula, MT, July 2013
- On behalf of Blue Skies Campaign, I co-led a training in grassroots organizing techniques for the Study of the US Institute, an annual program that brings college students from five Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam) to the US to study environmental issues
- Training covered campaign planning, messaging, organization building, and running a successful meeting
Letter to the Editor Writing Workshop
Helena, MT, August 2012
- During the Coal Export Action, I gave a skills-building workshop on writing an effective letter to the editor
- Topics covered in the workshop included how to make your LTE stand out, rules for submitting LTEs, effective opening and closing lines, and the three major components of a good LTE
Workshop on Coal Export Campaigns
Missoula, MT, February 2012
- As part of the Rocky Mountain Power Shift conference, I ran a workshop on organizing to challenge coal export projects
- Components of the workshop included an overview of campaign strategy, examples of effective tactics, and discussion of effective campaign recruitment
Presentation at University of Puget Sound Focus the Nation
Tacoma, WA, February 2011
- I gave an approximately 40-minute presentation on grassroots opposition to coal export projects in the Pacific Northwest, and ways that students can get involved.
Presentation to Environmental Studies Class at Pacific University
Forest Grove, OR, September 2010
- I gave an approximately hour-long presentation on activism the youth environmental movement to the Environmental Studies Seminar introductory class at Pacific University
- Components of the presentation included a personal narrative about my own experience as an activist, an explanation of the importance of activism and political engagement for environmentalists, and dispelling some common myths about youth activism
Training on Writing an Opinion Piece for Publication
Seaside, OR, July 2010
- At a Sierra Student Coalition advanced training workshop, I gave an hour-long presentation on how to write a convincing op-ed piece for publication in a newspaper
- Presentation included breaking down the structure of a well-written op-ed into parts, providing an example of a publishable piece, and explaining how this type of writing can enhance an environmental campaign
Major trainings I’ve attended
Community Organizing and Coal Exports Workshop
Kelso, WA, March 2016
- Training on grassroots organizing skills sponsored by the Sierra Club and other organizations, for volunteers working to stop fossil fuel export projects in southern Washington and northern Oregon
350.org Climate Leadership Workshop
Missoula, MT, October 2013
- Two-day training on planning, organizing, and developing climate campaigns, with a focus on issuWeeklong training in direct action and grassroots organizing, convened and coordinated by Greenpeace USA
Greenpeace Direct Action Training Camp
San Fernando, CA, March 2012
- Weeklong training in direct action and grassroots organizing, convened and coordinated by Greenpeace USA
Rocky Mountain Power Shift
Missoula, MT, February 2012
- Regional, student-led conference on environmental activism and sustainability in the Rocky Mountain region
Sierra Club Media Training
Seattle, WA, February 2011
- Training on how to be an effective media spokesperson for the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign
Washington Environmental Priorities Coalition Legislative Workshop
Seattle, WA, January 2011
- Annual training on working with legislators to pass bills selected as priorities by the Washington Environmental Priorities Coalition
Rebooting Democracy Conference
Bend, OR, March 2010
- Conference on people-powered democracy and grassroots organizing, sponsored by the Oregon Bus Project
Sierra Club Coal Campaign Volunteer Training
WA, April 2010
- Training sponsored by the Sierra Club’s Coal Free Northwest campaign, focused on using grassroots activism to push for an early closure date for the Pacific Northwest’s two major coal plants
Power Shift West
Eugene, OR, November 2010
- Regional conference on climate activism and organizing in the western United States, held in conjunction with other Power Shift regional conferences sponsored by the Energy Action Coalition
Power Shift 2009
Washington, DC, February 2009
- National conference attended by 12,000 youth activists from across the country, focused on building the youth climate movement and pushing for national climate and energy legislation
Cascade Power Shift
Eugene, OR, February 2008
- Regional conference on climate organizing and activism in the Pacific Northwest, concluding with a climate lobby day in the state capitals of Oregon and Washington
ICLEI/City of Hillsboro Local Climate Action Workshop
Hillsboro, OR, January 2008
- Workshop on sustainability in local government and how cities and counties can reduce the causes of climate change
Sierra Student Coalition Summer Training Program
WA, July 2006
- Annual training on effective campaign planning and organizing, sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition
Nick Engelfried 