Movement Building for Reproductive Justice
On a national level, Western States Center is a Strategy Team member of a new collaboration called EMERJ (Expanding the Movement for Empowerment and Reproductive Justice). Led by Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice (ACRJ), EMERJ is a new national initiative to build the capacity and leadership of grassroots organizations and communities. In this way, EMERJ provides opportunities to develop strategic alliances and build the power of grassroots communities to take action for reproductive justice over the long term. Western States Center’s history of cross-constituency, cross-issue movement building is critical to this collaboration. EMERJ provided trainings on reproductive justice at our 2007 Community Strategic Training Initiative.
Find out more about EMERJ
Capacity Building Project
The Gender Justice Program is working to develop the capacity of women of color, LGBTQ people of color, and low-income women’s groups. These organizations and the communities they represent are disproportionately affected by public policies that define and enforce sexism, racism and LGBTQ oppression. In our region, these groups also tend to be small, isolated and under-resourced. The leadership of these organizations is critical to moving a gender justice agenda in the region. Increasing their stability and power will ensure that they have the capacity to provide leadership at decision-making tables and help to define a regional gender justice agenda. This project provides tailored organizational development support and creates opportunities to network and build skills at our annual Women and Trans People of Color Capacity Building Institute. |
