Generation NOW

Overview
Generation NOW is a dynamic year-long cohort training by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), designed to equip emerging leaders with the knowledge, skills, and spirit needed to carry forward the civil rights legacy. Rooted in our pillars of Legacy, Leadership, and Love, this program blends historical perspective, proven movement strategies, principled nonviolence, relational outreach, resource development, and faith-grounded justice. Over twelve months, fellows will engage in immersive in-person and virtual sessions, on-site commemorations, fundraising project

Five Core Components

1. Civil Rights History and Movement Strategy

   This combined component explores the movement’ s heroes, milestones, and strategic blueprint. Through first-hand testimonies from living legends alongside archival materials, participants will trace how careful planning, goal setting, and tactical actions secured landmark victories. By understanding both the human stories and the organizational design that dismantled segregation and advanced voting rights, fellows learn to apply these time- tested strategies to today’s challenges.
   
   

2. Kingian Nonviolence

   Introduced by Dr. Bernard Lafayette Jr. and Charles Alphin, this module immerses participants in the six principles of Dr. King’s nonviolent philosophy. From self-purity in purpose to unity of means and ends, trainees will practice role plays, reflective dialogues, and scenario planning. This foundation not only honors Dr. King’s moral clarity but also demonstrates how principled nonviolence remains a potent tool for social change in modern advocacy.
   
   
3. Relationship Building
   
   Lasting movements depend on trust, mutual respect, and authentic connections. This session guides participants through exercises in active listening, cultural humility, coalition-building, and conflict resolution. Fellows will learn to map their own networks, identify strategic partnerships, and nurture accountability circles that uphold integrity and solidarity over time.
   
   

4. Fundraising

   Successful campaigns require sustainable funding and resource stewardship. In this component, participants receive hands-on training in donor cultivation, grassroots giving strategies, grant writing basics, and transparent stewardship practices. They will draft real fundraising plans to underwrite their participation in subsequent convenings, gaining practical experience in articulating mission, engaging supporters, and managing funds with integrity.
   
   
5. Faith and Justice
   
   Anchored in our commitment to Love, this module explores how faith traditions can inspire and guide justice work. Featuring theologians, community pastors, and justice advocates, sessions will examine scriptural imperatives for compassion, prophetic witness against oppression, and the role of spiritual disciplines in sustaining long-term activism. Fellows will craft faith-based action plans that integrate prayer, worship, and service into their leadership journeys.

Conclusion
Generation NOW is a comprehensive program that equips participants with a deep understanding of the civil rights movement’s history, strategies, and philosophies, while also providing practical skills for leadership and relationship building. By connecting today’s leaders with the lessons of the past, Generation NOW ensures that the principles and strategies that powered the civil rights movement will continue to inspire and guide the fight for justice in the 21st century. This program is an invitation for a new generation to step into the legacy of the SCLC, armed with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.