September 2009 E-newsletter

Dear Friend,

The mainstream media gave prominent coverage to angry conservatives who packed town hall forums this summer, but ignored often large progressive turnout. In Oregon and Nevada progressive organizations turned typically subdued  forums into sizzling hot organizing opportunities! Our gender justice staff was also busy with the launch of our new reproductive justice project, Groundwork.

Enjoy,

Dan Petegorsky, Executive Director

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Sizzling Town Hall Forums

This summer temperatures were high not just on the thermometer, but also at the Congressional Town Hall forums. Typically subdued events that serve as photo-ops for elected officials with their constituents, this year’s forums were different. Progressive organizations leveraged the excitement and momentum of the 2008 elections to turn first time voters into “civic activists” and continue to raise their voices on issues they care about. The attendance by thousands of people was unprecedented.

For highlights from the work across the west read more here...

Groundwork: Addressing Disparities

According to the Center for Reproductive Rights: 

	"Western States Center and EMERJ are doing incredibly thoughtful work to make our local activism connect to a larger movement with intersecting issues!"   - Nitika Raj of Chaya, Seattle, Washington
This stark racial disparity is one of many reasons that Western States Center developed our Gender Justice Program and launched our new Groundwork project in partnership with EMERJ (Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice). Read more...

State Immigration Policy Issues

State immigration laws can help or hinder new immigrants from fully contributing to their communities, our very own Dan Petegorsky and Kalpana Krishnamurthy wrote in "State Immigration Policy Issues" for the Nonprofit Quarterly’s Special Coverage in Nonprofits and Immigration. Read more…

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Center Travel: Picture of the Month Sarah visits her elementary school in Montana while in Billings for the Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) conference.