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Western States Center's mission is to build a progressive
movement for social, economic, racial and environmental
justice in the eight Western states of Oregon,
Washington,
Idaho,
Montana,
Wyoming,
Utah,
Nevada
and Alaska.
Our vision is of a just and equitable society governed
by a strong, grassroots democracy. We work on three
levels: strengthening grassroots organizing and
community-based leadership; building long term,
strategic alliances among community, environmental,
labor, social justice and other public interest
organizations; and developing the capacity of informed
communities to participate in the public policy
process and in elections.
WHAT WE DO
- Train grassroots organizers and community leaders
in advocacy and public policy skills
- Consult on education and organizing campaigns,
strategy and organizational development
- Strengthen local community based organizations
and build statewide public policy coalitions
- Encourage citizen leaders to seek and hold
public office
- Provide research and policy analysis to western
leaders, the press and the public
HOW WE
DO IT
| Leadership
Development and Community Organizing Program
The Leadership Development and Community
Organizing Program expands the capacity and
impact of grassroots and statewide organizations
and their leaders by providing both established
and emerging leaders with training, leadership
development, and strategic organizational
assistance. This program includes Community
Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI),
an annual summer training institute for over
400 community leaders; the Western
Institute for Leadership Development (WILD),
an intensive year-long organizing and leadership
development training program; and targeted
technical assistance to organizations across
the region. |
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Photo
(c) Derrick Pereira, Carpe Diem
Photography - CSTI 2005 |
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| Building
Political Power Program
Our Building Political Power Program helps
build relationships and develop common strategies
among community, environmental, labor, social
justice, and other public interest organizations
to address vital public policy issues. The
program supports the development of permanent,
multi-issue statewide coalitions and provides
training and strategic support that builds
the capacity of informed communities to participate
in the public policy process and in elections.
It also includes special initiatives such
as the Voter
Organizing Training and Empowerment (VOTE)
Project. |
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Photo
(c) Western States Center, VOTE Project
Convening in 2004 |
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Research
and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) Program
The RACE Program supports research,
education and action on race-related issues
at the community level. It includes issues
research and education; strategic convening
of allied organizations working towards
racial justice, including immigrant and
refugee rights; and focused organizing
and organizational support within communities
of color. We currently have two initiatives
under this program: the Base
Building Cluster, focusing on people
of color-led membership organizations
committed to expanding their base and
leadership and WILDIR,
an immigrant and refugee leadership and
organizing project.
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Photo
(c) Western States Center, Base Building
Cluster Convening, Federal Way, Washington
- October, 2005 |
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Gender
Justice Program
Our Gender Justice Program builds regional
capacity to advance work on issues rooted
in gender oppression. Through building shared
language and analysis and providing organizational
support, the program increases the tools and
resources available to organizations moving
a gender justice agenda. The program also
supports the development and leadership of
people affected by gender injustice. In 2005,
the Center launched the Family,
Community and Sexuality Project, a regional
project that integrates responses to marriage,
family, and sexuality into a cohesive progressive
strategy and supports ongoing organizing. |
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Photo
(c) Derrick Pereira, Carpe Diem
Photography - "It's a Family
Affair" Roundtable at CSTI 2005 |
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Read
about our history.
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