Momentum
Democracy must be defended where threats take root and where resistance has the power to lead.
Community Leadership and Resistance
Momentum is Western States Center’s frontline program for strengthening local responses to authoritarianism and organized bigotry. From rural towns to regional and national coalitions, Momentum supports courageous, values-driven leadership and fosters connected, resilient communities.
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How We Work
Bolstering Local Leaders
We strengthen local and regional resilience by partnering with civic institutions, community groups, and public leaders at the state, local, and municipal levels.
Resourcing Rapid Response
Working with local leaders and partners, we support rapid response to threats with strategies, resources and tools tailored to community needs.
Investing in Targeted Regions
We invest in the people and places authoritarian movements often target—recognizing that community-built leadership is what makes resistance possible and lasting.
Momentum’s Impact
Our unique lens on anti-democracy mobilization helps us show up when communities and leaders become the focus of bigoted actors and when authoritarian forces create a crisis. These moments can be critical inflection points. Sometimes communities build strength by taking courageous action to defend inclusive democracy—and each other. Or sometimes bigoted actors build momentum, far-right intimidation pushes leaders out of their roles, and authoritarian mobilization gains ground.
Rapid Response
Our rapid response team is in place to make sure that when those inflection points come, communities have the organizing, strategy, and security support they need to take action for democracy and against hate.
Courtesy of Port of Coos Bay
Rapid Response: Organizing Partners
When a known white nationalist was poised to purchase key infrastructure in Coos Bay, we were able to alert local officials and the media through our partnership and meticulous information gathering of organizers on the ground.
Rapid Response: Movement Leaders
We coordinated hundreds of organizations and elected leaders across Oregon and Washington to sign onto solidarity letters for Minnesota’s statewide day of action against ICE. The letters were later sent to U.S. Senators calling on them to speak out against ICE abuses and commit to voting against additional funding for ICE and CBP.
Courtesy of Fibonacci Blue
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