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.

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.

Research and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) Program

The 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; and issue research and education.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 Project, focusing on people of color-led membership organizations committed to expanding their base and leadership, and Raíces, a multi-state project to support rural Latino capacity building in Oregon and Idaho.

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.