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Arena Academy 201
Arena Academy 201 is for experienced campaign staff who want to deepen their management or technical skills. The core Arena Academy 201 program teaches leadership and team-building alongside hard skills like planning, budgeting, and hiring. Specialized Arena Academy 201s are also offered throughout the cycle, focusing on topics like data and digital skills. The condensed, two-and-a-half day schedule is perfect for campaign leaders who need to learn while they are on the job.
There are no Arena Academy 201 applications open right now.
Your Arena Academy 201 Journey
Learn more about your Arena Academy 201 journey from application to career support.
How to Apply
Ready to attend Arena Academy 201? The first step is to apply! The application provides space to tell us about your passions and professional goals. We want to hear about what makes you unique, what you hope to gain from Arena Academy 201, and your aspirations as a change agent. Heads up: You’ll need to submit a pdf of your resume as part of the application. Read our application guide for more tips!
Arena Academy 201 is meant for people with at-least three consecutive months of experience on a campaign or with a movement organization. Specialized Arena Academy 201s may have additional qualifications. If you’re not there yet, check out Arena Academy instead.
Cost and Scholarships
Tuition for Arena Academy is $200, but we never let cost be a barrier to entry. Arena offers a wide range of scholarships to ensure that anyone who is accepted to Arena Academy can attend. The majority of past participants have received a full or partial scholarship, and in our commitment to build an inclusive community, we also offer childcare grants. Scholarship need does not impact acceptance. We’ll ask you to apply for scholarships as a part of your application.
Before the Training
Prior to Arena Academy, you’ll start to get to know the Arena team, our trainers, and your cohort via email and Slack. We’ll provide opportunities for you to request accessibility accommodations and tips for a successful training, including reminders to block your calendar and request time off from work, if needed. We’ll also prompt you to complete some short pre-work and attend optional pre-training sessions.
Training Details
You’ll come away from Arena Academy 201 with new skills and a trusted community of values-aligned political practitioners. The core Arena Academy 201 program teaches leadership and team-building alongside hard skills like planning, budgeting, and hiring. Specialized Arena Academy 201s are also offered throughout the cycle, focusing on topics like data and digital skills. At Arena Academy 201, you’ll spend most of your time in plenary sessions with a cohort of 100-200 participants, and you will also have the opportunity to dig deep in smaller, topically-based choose your own adventure sessions.
After the Training
After graduating from Arena Academy, our Arena Careers team is there to help you navigate your career in politics. Whether you’re working to land your first-ever role or score that big job you’ve been dreaming of, we’re here to help. Learn more about our career services.
Upcoming Events
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Arena Trainers
Arena trainers are a diverse, creative, and strategic group of practitioners who’ve led winning campaigns up and down the ballot. You’ll learn from and connect with leaders who understand and support your passions, aspirations, and values.
INTERESTED IN TRAINING WITH ARENA? FILL OUT THIS INTEREST FORMAlexandria Coburn
National Radical Education Field Manager, Working Families Party
Carli Stevenson
Assistant Director of Communications, Politics, SEIU
Catherine Kahle
Deputy Chief Technology Officer, DNC
Cayana Mackey Nance
Digital Strategist
Jade Tacka
Head of Development, Swing Left
Jose Nuñez
National Organizing Director, DNC
Dr. Kira Banks
Professor of Psychology and co-founder of the Institute for Healing Justice and Equity, Saint Louis University
Kayci Moodie
National States and Organizing Director, NextGen
Luis Ávila
President, Iconico
Regina Monge
Former Campaign Manager, Jessica Cisneros for Congress
Ruby Sarron
Training Director, ActBlue
Ryanne Brown
Digital Paid Media Director, Priorities USA
Sarah Blahovec
Co-Founder and President, Disability Victory Fund
Sean Ward
Executive Director, New Mexico Democratic Party
Shripal Shah
IE Director, House Majority PAC
Stephanie Medina
Deputy Director, Partner Engagement, ZINC Collective
Terry Bermea
Executive Director, Battleground Texas
Arena Academy 201 kicked propelled me to where I am now. I joined the staff management track. It helped me build the skills to support staff and reach campaign with clarity and rigor. You can tell a lot of thought and intention went into the content. I’d attend all over again. Speaking of which, when is the next one?
“Arena Academy 201 was an amazing opportunity for me to network and process after the 2022 cycle. The discussions we had during Arena Academy 201 helped me identify my strengths and areas where I want to grow.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Arena holds two to three Arena Academy 201 programs each calendar year, all of which are held online. You can expect to be in the company of 100+ current and experienced campaign staffers who are excited about leveling up their skills.
Arena Academy 201 is intended for people who have worked at least one cycle as a full-time paid staffer on a campaign, in any position. We consider a cycle to be 3+ months working on a campaign or multiple campaigns. If you do not meet this criteria, please consider applying to Arena Academy, where we accept applicants from all backgrounds and experience levels.
We also ask that applicants demonstrate their interest in continuing to work on campaigns. If you currently hold a management position, you are strongly encouraged to apply, and if you don’t yet hold a management position, we want to know that that is something you aspire to.
No. Arena Academy 201 is open to anyone who wants to manage people or programs on campaigns.
Arena Academy 201 registration costs $200.
Yes! Arena ensures that financial need is never a barrier to participation, and two-thirds of Arena Academy participants receive some form of scholarship. Just complete the scholarship section of the application. If you’re accepted, we’ll let you know what level of scholarship we’re able to offer. If you have other questions as you consider your decision, just email hello@arena.run.
The scholarship will cover the registration fee. In the past, we’ve also offered childcare and technology grants. Participants are eligible to apply for this additional support once they’ve been accepted into Arena Academy 201.
Arena has trained thousands of people online, and we specialize in creating effective learning environments and building community in virtual spaces. Even though you won’t be in the same physical location as other participants, you should expect training to be interactive, participatory, and engaging.
No. The majority of time will be spent in plenary sessions. On the second day of training you’ll be able to choose which advanced sessions you’d like to attend.
Yes. Each day will have at least two short breaks, a lunch break, and optional workshops and social events in the evenings. However, Arena Academy 201 will take up most of the day, and you should expect to take off work during this training.
Yes. Slides will be made available to participants after the course.
If you have other questions as you consider your decision, just email hello@arena.run. Alternatively, if you receive a text message from our team about your application, just text back. We’re a small team and will get back to you as soon as possible.
What People are Saying
Recap of Arena Academy Houston
Watch this short video to get a behind the scenes look at an in-person Arena Academy.
Instagram Live About Arena Academy 201
Arena Academy 201 graduate Gabriel Samuel joins Arena Training Director Jess Weldon and Deputy Training Director Jess Angima to reflect on how the training helped them as a manager.
Launch Your Political Career
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