RESEARCH REPORTS

Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development for Immigrants and Refugees October, 2007 Report from the Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development for Immigrants and Refugees (WILDIR), Crossing Borders, Crossing Barriers reports on the lessons learned from WILDIR; stories from participants; and recommendations for building a strong, coordinated immigrant and refugee movement.

WILDIR Report

Family, Community & Sexuality Project - Gender Justice Summit Report April, 2006 Report from the Family, Community and Sexuality Project Summit, which took place in Boise, Idaho March 31st through April 1st, 2006. Building a Movement from the Ground Up tells the story of how 17 organizations in our region conducted grassroots research on challenges and opportunities facing our families and communities and then gathered to develop a set of progressive family values principles.

FCS Summit Report

Anti-Immigrant Ballot Measures - Case Studies from Western States
October, 2005
In this memo to Washington State immigrant and refugee rights organizers, Western States Center Field Director Kalpana Krishnamurthy provides lessons learned from previous anti-immigrant ballot measures and perspectives on continuing to build power beyond ballot measure fights in the region.

SOUNDINGS II: A Survey of the Progressive Movement in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming
August, 2005
Commissioned by Social Justice Fund NW, this research project, SOUNDINGS II, provides a broad regional overview of major shifts, challenges and organizing opportunities that have emerged for progressives over the last two decades.

Sharing the Lessons Learned: Reflections on six years of anti-racism work
March, 2005
This 12-page document provides the context for the dismantling racism work that Western States Center undertook from 1998-2004 and, given the Center's political framework and long-term goals, how those lessons may shape future work of the Center. The report also contains a concise index of tools and resources that the Center found useful over this period of time.

Opening a Dialogue: An Invitation for Community Action December, 2004 The Nonprofit Assistance Center partnered with Social Justice Fund NW (formerly ATR) and Western States Center in December 2003 to conduct a six-month Washington State Immigrant and Refugee Scoping Project. The project emerged from a shared concern that the environment for immigrant rights work in Washington had shifted dramatically. Even before 9/11, the political and social climate had been getting worse for immigrants and refugees due to the stockmarket plunge and the economic recession affecting the U.S. as a whole. The aftermath of 9/11 brought many more challenges to immigrant and refugee communities in the form of hate crimes, harassment, and a deterioration of civil rights. In this environment, the project's vision was to "scope out" the gaps, common threats and opportunities, and potential for mutual aid and collaboration in the arenas of organizing and advocacy among immigrant and refugee organizations in Washington State.

Washington State Immigrant & Refugee Scoping Project Report

Money in Western Politics
In 2000, Western States Center spun off our money in politics research work and created the Institute on Money in State Politics, which now houses a national database of state level political contributions and continues to conduct critical research. The Center continues to work with organizers around the region, as well as organizations such as Public Campaign, to support public financing of elections. Publications we produced during our money in politics research work include:

• The Prison Payoff (A joint publication with the Western Prison Project) - November, 2000
  
• Impact of I-134 On Money In Washington Politics - October, 1998
  
• Effect of Campaign Finance Spending Limits in Oregon (Measure 9) - February 1997

Wise Use Public Exposure Project
From 1992 through 1999, Western States Center ran a Wise Use Public Exposure Project. These archives contain research and information that provided strategy for environmental activists to counter the threats and intimidation that they faced.

• Countering the Threat: A Handbook for Environmental Activists
  
• Timber Industry a Major Force in Republican Politics
  
• The Wise Use Radicals: Violence Finds New Bedfellows
  
• Extremists and the Anti-Environmental Lobby: Activities Since Oklahoma City
  
• Dangerous Territory: The Attack on Citizen Participation and The Environmental Movement
  
• Western States Coalition Summit VIII: The Anti-Environmental Lobby and Environmental Education