Workshops

We are building out a range of workshops and training options!

Check out our 8-week online leadership and candidate training program designed with the National Guild for Community Arts Education. Our first Cohort began October 9, 2025. We are thrilled to be working with 23 artists and creative managers from across the USA!

We also offer a three hour workshop called “The Artist as Leader? A Call to Service“ that can be delivered online or in person. Here is the outline:

• Reliving the Culture Wars (we won the battle and lost the war) – Do you know who Jesse Helms, Pat Robertson, and James Dobson are? We will have creativ work in response here.
• Creative spaces as civic spaces – What things might we do in our theaters, galleries, and studios to build power for the common good?
• Artists as Visualizers/Translators – We will collectively do research and renderings to help visualize the current state of the community where we doing the workshop. For online sessions, we will select a location from one of the attendees. You can’t improve something until you know what the current state is.
• Are you a leader? What values, experiences and skills do you call on regularly for your creative work? Do you think any of that stuff is desperately needed in civic life right now?
• Are you a viable candidate for local office? Some brave volunteer will demonstrate that you are. Be prepared!
• Campaign Time – We will do creative work and someone or ones will be delivering a one-minute stump speech backed up by graphics and music created on the spot. Consider it a campaign rally performance!
  Here is a video documenting a version of this workshop delivered in July of 2025 with conversations and creative work time edited out…

To learn more or to book a session, please contact Tom Tresser at [email protected]. You can also book a Zoom call with Tom by using this link and selecting any convenient 30-minute block.

Here is some tetimony from people who have taken Tom’s civic training over the years…

• ​”On behalf of the Egan Office, Steans Center at DePaul University, we want to say thank you so much for this incredible training today (“Civic Engagement 101”). I know I left the space with more tools in my activist toolkit. Thank you so much again! Happy Holidays! Peace and Light.” Cree Noble, Administrative Program Coordinator, Egan Office, Steans Center
• After an intensive workshop on Chicago political history and the budget for the Chicago Avodah Social Justice Fellows. Attendees said “I learned more Chicago history and politics in two hours with Tom than I learned in months of living in this city.” “I loved this workshop! I learned more about Chicago in one night than had learned in three years living here.” “Fantastic!”
• “You are the definition of a true Servant Leader for the city of Chicago. You shed light on the complex issue of TIFs and continue to push for more transparency to inform taxpayers where their tax dollars are being underutilized for those in most need is simply remarkable. Citizens of Chicago are fortunate to have people like you. Best wishes!” – From the organizer of the 23rd Ward Forum.
•  “Your ‘Chicago 101’ training was great last night!! It was the boost I needed. It reminded me of what I really care about and where I come from in terms of activism and my roots. In our activism we are working with a lot of people who have never engaged so conversation is tough because they aren’t aware of the history, there is no context. We often get caught up in nonsense and focus is lost as we try to get the newly engaged to act. Being with seasoned pros was so nice. I gained some new perspective and knowledge as well as reaffirmation of my values and goals. It was energizing and gave me some clarity, just what I needed for the burnout I’ve been feeling. I’m really looking forward to the next two sessions!” – Meaghan McAteer, Co-founder Indivisible Brookfield
• “As a Lecturer of Political Science at Saint Xavier University, I am always looking for new ways to get students excited about politics and participation…Tom came up with “Civic Engagement 101” to challenge participants to think about civics as action involving knowledge, passion, and courage. The workshop got participants excited about the taking the next steps – towards action. I would encourage anyone interested in increasing civic engagement in their community to partner with Tom and the CivicLab.” – Elizabeth Alejo, Lecturer, Political Science, St. Xavier University
• “Thank you for once again giving your talk “Memo to Chicago’s Next Mayor – Chicago Is Not Broke!” for the Future of Chicago Lecture series on October 24th. It was very timely with the Mayor’s race underway in Chicago and the early voting. The students learned a lot from your presentation, especially about the costs of corruption, police abuse and Toxic Bank Deals.  Equally importantly, they learned about the alternative ways of funding Chicago and how to resolve the problem with TIFs. Thank you for highlighting the issues of budgeting and more efficient ways to collect money in Chicago. These are issues which the students are still discussing. Your experience as a civic educator will inspire them to engage in the future civic activities.” – Prof. Dick Simpson said this after my October 24, 2018 presentation at the University of Illinois Chicago.
• “Tom routinely receives rave reviews from his graduate students in Adler University’s Nonprofit Management Program, educating and pushing them to be effective and persuasive advocates and activists. He ‘lights a fire’ under them, showers them with resources and is generous and effective in his wisdom and guidance for how to activate communities for social change.” – Dr. Leslie Starsoneck, Program Director, Adler University’s online Master’s Degree Program in Nonprofit Management.
• “I wanted to tell you how much I believe that you are a great teacher. In one assignment you have already affected the way I am an advocate in the real world. I am able to see your impact in the faces of the people that I influence in a positive way. It is such an awesome experience to see the look on their faces as they come to be a part of positive change. They actually have the tool they need to be a part of something big. The instant they feel it there is a small smile and a lightness that can be felt. The other lessons that you teach then reinforce what the person has learned and the person joining the group has something to hold onto and to share. Its like a chain reaction, fast and powerful.” – Student from a class I taught at Adler University on nonprofit advocacy and social change.

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