The Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP) is developing the Chicago Community Learning Partnership (CLP) program together with community organizing, advocacy, and funder allies across Chicago. The first class was held September 26th, 2023. SWOP Organizer Joel Rodriguez led the class with an introduction of all the participants, a review of the syllabus, and an introduction to the idea of what community organizing can be. Chicago CLP aims to arm its participants with many different public life skill. This will grow their ability as organizers through dynamic classroom instruction and field training in community engagement, community organizing, and community leadership. With a goal of expanding leaders’ capacity and building successful careers in the nonprofit, community engagement and community organizing sectors, the first day of class served as the appetizer to what is clearly much more to come.