Next System Teach-In Organizer Workshop: Why Next System Teach-Ins?

Speakers:

  • Dr. Ben Manski, Director of Next System Studies at George Mason University
  • April Doner, Director of Programs at the Center for Next System Studies
  • Matt Epperson, Founder of the Georgia Cooperative Development Center, Board Director with HiveMind Community Investment Co-op and Shared Capital Co-op
  • Lizah Makombore, Leadership for the Ecozoic Fellow and PhD candidate

Facilitated by Deissy Perilla and April Doner, Center for Next System Studies

In this session of the Next System Teach-Ins Organizer Workshop Series, participants explored the origins of the Next System framework and the history of teach-ins as movement-building tools, as well as ideas and possibilities for what a teach-in might look like in their area.

Dr. Ben Manski framed the current moment as a system crisis, traced the legacy of teach-ins from the anti-Vietnam War movement to the first Earth Day, and showed how organizing a Next System Teach-In can deepen existing campaigns while mobilizing communities to imagine and build the system we do want. April Doner (CNSS) reported on highlights and lessons learned from the November 2025 wave of NS Teach-Ins. Organizers Matt Epperson (Athens, GA) and Lizah Makombore (UVM, Vermont) shared their visions for how the local Teach-Ins they are currently planning as part of the April 2027 wave will serve to advance work they and their partners are deeply invested in around local issues like housing, climate justice, and solidarity economies.

Speaker, Lizah Makombore, at “Why Next System Teach-Ins?”

Speaker, Matt Epperson, at “Why Next System Teach-Ins?”

 

Participants then reflected and brainstormed small groups and, later, as a one large group to imagine teach-ins in their own communities, using these prompts:

  • Who in your community is already building something different – even if they don’t call it a ‘next system’? What does that look like?
  • How might a Next System Teach-In — and the process of organizing one — help you advance your community or campus in addressing their local issues?

The exchange yielded rich and exciting energy, possibilities and insights from the group. Several new organizers stepped up and declared their intention to host a teach-in in their area. Two participants offered helpful suggestions for making this wave-building process as easy and engaging for on-the-ground organizers and their teams as possible — even offering to partner with the CNSS Team to make that happen. The group also considered the question of what local teams might do in the lead-up to April to build momentum in their area, such as hosting a gathering this year with their existing or intended local partners that includes a goal of building toward a gathering in April of 2027 (inspired in part by the work of organizers at University of Minnesota, Duluth).

 

REFLECTIONS FROM THE GROUP

“This was the best hour I’ve ever spent.”  – Maria Luisa Picard-Ami, Faculty at University of Texas, El Paso

“Two things that excited me about today are: the arts being involved to envision new systems. I’m excited about that, being an artist, and also working beyond college campuses, you know, involving churches and community groups, that kind of thing is very exciting to me. I don’t have connections with the university here, but I plan to make them and hopefully get somebody there involved.”  – Fran Belvin, Louiseville KY

“The idea of alternatives to higher ed is not anything new; many of them still exist. So what we’re going to do is kind of merge what we’ve already been doing around these higher ed alternatives, with trying to recruit some of these folks doing the work to organize at their universities, to enhance what they’re already doing, but to now tie it into the specific goals of their Next System Teach-Ins.”  – Aimee Loiselle, Scholars for a New Deal for Higher Education:

A massive thank you to our interpreters, Adriana and Tammy of The Interpreters’ Co-op, for their critical work in ensuring that this event was accessible and honored the internationalist orientation of the Next System Teach-Ins!

WORKSHOP ARTIFACTS

TEACH-IN ORGANIZING RESOURCES
to inspire, support and inform your local organizing in your community or campus:

To learn about and register for upcoming workshops, see the NSTI Organizer Workshop Series.

WHAT’S NEXT:

We encourage you to keep taking action with these steps:

  • SIGN ON TO THE CALL for Next System Teach-Ins,  where you can also let us know the role(s) you want to play: hosting a local teach-in in your area, participating in one, and/or involving your organization.
  • SAVE THE DATE & register for the next NSTI Organizer Workshop on August 28th, “Practical First Steps in Organizing Your Teach-In”
  • Explore the Resources below to support and inspire your local organizing

 

Not sure where to start?

The CNSS Team is here to support your planning process all along the way. We offer direct consulting, coaching, and help connecting you with others in your area who are also working toward a next system and may be interested in partnering with you. To connect with us, email: dperilla@nextsystem.org