Western States Center

Leadership Dev & Organizing Program Civic Participation & Political Power Program Gender Justice Program RACE Program


	The Center's affiliate organization, Western State Strategies, is continuing our traditional work on campaign finance reform, supporting voter-owned elections and promoting a more transparent election system that expands democracy.



	Help Western States Center support and grow the progressive movement in the West!

WESTERN INSTITUTE FOR ORGANIZING AND LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT (WILD)

Download the WILD Brochure

The Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development (WILD) is Western States Center's intensive, year-long organizing and leadership training program. Through residential training sessions and field work, participants develop critical skills and lasting relationships with a network of colleagues that crosses constituencies, issues and geography.

The Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development uses an intimate, small-group format to provide participants with broad development of their skills and a deeper understanding of the political context of our region and our times. Three intensive sessions at a residential retreat center and interim field work create a learning environment where leaders and organizers can experiment with new ideas and strategies.

The Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development is a key component of Western States Center's work to build the progressive movement in the West. The goals of WILD are:

To create a critical mass of organizers and leaders who share a broad progressive analysis and have the skills to strengthen, lead and staff essential organizations in the Western States region.
To connect progressive leaders and organizers to each other—across issues, constituencies, and geography—and to a broader vision and movement.
To deepen organizers' and leaders' commitment to racial justice and progressive social change.

WILD is designed for emerging leaders and organizers, and those who are changing roles in the movement. Participants are drawn from the staff and leadership bodies of racial justice groups, women's organizations, labor unions, low income groups, human rights organizations, environmental justice groups and progressive coalitions in our region. Particular emphasis is on organizations working in poor, rural and people of color communities.

Building off our successful WILD program, the Center launched WILDIR (a WILD program designed for Immigrants and Refugees) to meet the needs of these diverse community leaders. During our 2006/2007 WILDIR class, sixteen first generation immigrant and refugee leaders participated in organizing training, skills building and developing a shared analysis of regional challenges and opportunities facing their communities. Participants also completed a local project to apply and refine their skills with support of Center staff. Read More.