The Laboratoria

Sustained by solidarity since 2017:

We continue to grow
a just, community-led Puerto Rico.

Laboratoria para

Organizar

Our History

The Laboratoria para Organizar was created in response to the needs expressed by community leaders and organizations we collaborate with.

A 2022 survey among grassroots groups identified three key priorities: expanding and retaining their base, strengthening organizational skills, and fostering leadership development. Recognizing the crucial role of organizing in grassroots work, we convened a 2023 cohort including leaders from Taller Salud, the Puerto Rico Teachers’ Federation, IDEBAJO, and Casa Tallaboeña—organizations with over 15 years of experience. Their discussions on power analysis, challenges, and strategic organizing reaffirmed the need for a dedicated space to develop these skills.

Maria Fund launched Laboratoria para Organizar to provide advanced training, equipping leaders with tools to build effective campaigns and expand strategic efforts. The program is specifically designed for Maria Fund’s current partners.

What we are doing now.

Today, Laboratoria para Organizar is a collaboration between Maria Fund and Midwest Academy, , an organization specializing in training people to build powerful organizations and achieve meaningful change, prioritizing underrepresented groups, including low-income communities, Black leaders, and the working class.

Program Objectives:

Strengthening
Organizational Efforts:

Tailored training to sustain and expand organizing work for long-term impact.

Advanced Organizing
Techniques:

Participants refine campaign-building and strategic skills to enhance mobilization and
advocacy.

Collective Learning
and Exchange

A space for organizers to share
methodologies and strategies, fostering collaboration.

Key Outcomes:

Shared Framework
and Language:

A unifited approach across gender, racial, climate, and socioeconomic justice movements.

Network Building:

Relationships with fellow organizers and Maria Fund, creating lasting support.

Strategic Campaign
Development:

Training in power analysis and structural assessments to drive change.

Base Expansion
and Retention:

Strengthening outreach and recruitment for greater community engagement.

At the program’s conclusion, we will compile a manual documenting participants’ experiences, to be unveiled at the closing event as a resource for future initiatives.

Resources:

Organízate: Herramientas para organizar tu comunidad

Coming Soon: Manual on Local Leadership Experiences from Laboratoria para Organizar

Maria Fund's

ecosystem

9 Millones
ACUTAS
AgitArte
Aldea Urbana/Huerto Callejón Trujillo
Alianza de Mujeres Viequenses
Amigxs del M.A.R. Inc.
Ayuda Legal Puerto Rico
Barrioization
Brigada Solidaria del Oeste
Brigada Solidaria del Oeste
Caminando la Utopía
Casa Comunitaria de Medios
Casa Tallaboeña de Formación Comunitaria y Resiliencias (Casa Tallaboeña)
Central General de Trabajadoras y Trabajadores (CGT)
Centro de Apoyo Mutuo Bucarabones Unido, Inc.
Centro de Periodismo Investigativo
CEPA (Center for Embodied Pedagogy and Action)
Ciencia Pa' Todes
Colectiva Feminista en Construcción
Colectivo Educar-T y más
Colectivo El Ancón de Loíza
Colectivo Ilé
Colectivo Moriviví
Colectivx Colectivx
Comedores Sociales de Puerto Rico
Comisión Ciudadana por la Auditoría de la Deuda
Construyamos Otro Acuerdo
El Hangar en Santurce
El Panal, Colmena Cimarrona
El Puente Puerto Rico
EntrePutxs
ESCENAS
EspicyNipples
ëstudio
Euphoria Project
Fideicomiso de la Tierra del Caño Martín Peña
Fideicomiso para el Desarrollo de Río Piedras
Filmes Casa LLC
Federación de Maestrxs de Puerto Rico
HASER, Inc.
Huerto Semilla
IALA (Instituto para la Investigación y Acción en Agroecología)
Iniciativa de EcoDesarrollo de la Bahía de Jobos
Jornada por la Tierra
Junte Metamorfosis de la Montaña
Justicia Salarial
Kilometro 0
La Escuela de Liderazgo Político y Comunitario
La Futura Rosario
La Maraña Corp.
La Otra Laboratoria
La Red Transmasc de Puerto Rico
La Sombrilla Cuir
La Tejedora
Laboratoria Boricua de Vogue
MATRILINEO
Mentes Puertorriqueñas en Acción, Inc.
Micelio Abolicionista
Movimiento Anansé
Mujeres de Islas, Inc.
PANGEA PR
Parceleras Afrocaribeñas por la Transformación Barrial (PATBA)
Piñones Aprende y Emprende Corp
Pólvora Colectiva Cuir
Pueblo Crítico
Sembrando Resistencias
Sembrando Sentido
Semillero de las Artes, Inc.
SIEMPRE VIVAS Metro
Somos Espejos
Todas PR
Taller Salud
Urbe Apie

The María Fund is housed at Tides, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Funds are disbursed to organizations and initiatives that are driving critical work on the frontlines to meet immediate relief needs and organizing for the building of an equitable Puerto Rico. Contributions are tax deductible. Read Tides’ full state-by-state disclosure page HERE.

Tides Center
c/o María Fund
1014 Torney Avenue,
San Francisco, CA 94129

mariafund.org

Sustained by solidarity since 2017:

We continue to grow
a just, community-led Puerto Rico.

Laboratoria para

Organizar

Our History

The Laboratoria para Organizar was created in response to the needs expressed by community leaders and organizations we collaborate with.

What we are doing now.

Program Objectives:

Strengthening
Organizational Efforts:

Advanced Organizing
Techniques:

Collective Learning
and Exchange

Key Outcomes:

Shared Framework
and Language:

Network Building:

Strategic Campaign
Development:

Base Expansion
and Retention:

Maria Fund's

ecosystem

Subscribe

Contact

Donate Now

Our Evolution

Puerto Rico’s Current State

Our Recent Work

Tending to the Soil: Our Strategy

SylC Cohort

Make a Donation

Contact Us

Sustained by solidarity since 2017:

We continue to grow a just, community-led Puerto Rico.

Laboratoria para

Organizar

Our History

The Laboratoria para Organizar was created in response to the needs expressed by community leaders and organizations we collaborate with.

What we are doing now.

Program Objectives:

Strengthening Organizational Efforts:

Advanced Organizing Techniques:

Collective Learning and Exchange

Key Outcomes:

Shared Framework and Language:

Network Building:

Strategic Campaign Development:

Base Expansionand Retention:

Maria Fund's

ecosystem

Subscribe

We continue to grow
a just, community-led Puerto Rico.

Strengthening
Organizational Efforts:

Advanced Organizing
Techniques:

Collective Learning
and Exchange

Shared Framework
and Language:

Strategic Campaign
Development:

Base Expansion
and Retention: