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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. Here's how we do
it:
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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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Civic
Participation and Political Power Program
Our Civic Participation and Political Power Program is built on the belief that through integrated civic engagement work underserved and marginalized communities can move from being legislated about to becoming equal partners and leaders in governing and community structures. To that end we provide training and strategic support that builds the capacity of community based organizations to expand their civic engagement programs. The program also supports permanent, multi-issue statewide coalitions and seeks to build relationships and develop common strategies among community, environmental, labor, social justice, and other public interest organizations to address vital public policy issues. Through the generous support given to us by a local family foundation, we also have the expanded ability to do long term strategic investment in the civic engagement work of community based organizations in Oregon. The program also includes special initiatives such as the Voter Organizing Training and Empowerment (VOTE) Project.
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Photo (c) Western States Center, Korean
American Voters Alliance (KAVA), a 2004
VOTE Project participant group
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Research
and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) Program
TheThe RACE Program supports organizations that seek to build power in communities of color. It includes focused campaign and organizational support to groups working in communities of color and immigrant and refugee groups; strategic convening of allied organizations working towards racial justice, including immigrant and refugee rights; and issue research and education. Our major program priority is the Base Building 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 - 2004 Women of
Color Gathering
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Read
about our history.
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