Today, many on the democratic left would like to believe that a dynamic, progressive America is only a Presidential election away. But it wasn't George W. Bush and the right wing in Congress who created the conservative movement; it was the conservative movement that created them.

We believe that lasting gains for social justice happen when progressives join together at the grassroots to craft creative responses to the problems in their own communities.  By deliberately building power through broad-based community-labor coalitions, we can drive decision-making on a whole host of critical issues at the regional level -- from sensible development policy to affordable health care, workers rights, education, environmental justice and more.

It's already happening -- and the people who are making it happen formed Building Partnerships to help activists in other cities do the same.

Peer-to-Peer, City-to-City

What none of us can accomplish alone, all of us can achieve together. But many community and labor leaders who could be allies don't talk to each other, let alone work together.  Building Partnerships helps get leaders from diverse backgrounds into the same room, to overcome lingering divisions, assess community needs, and begin to develop powerful, integrated organizing strategies.

Through our leadership development and technical assistance programs, Building Partnerships helps grassroots leaders find the common ground and common agenda they need to change the balance of power in their regions--and put the broader public interest back in public policy.

Working together with local activists, Building Partnerships is helping to build a new progressive movement from the grassroots up. And we don't have a moment to spare.