If an organization mobilizes its constituents for
particular actions, but has no permanent mechanism
to develop leadership and build relationships,
then it is not truly building for power.

To achieve structural change, our work needs to
be cumulative, informed & inclusive. Each campaign
we undertake must contribute to a common agenda and
be shaped by a widely-held and deeply felt
vision of social and economic justice.

Building Partnerships USA works with organizations that are prepared to serve as the anchor of a lasting alliance between labor and community groups.
Our programs are designed to help community-labor coalitions move beyond temporary, transactional alliances to forge deep and lasting partnerships to build regional power for working families.

Through an innovative model of civic education, we help labor-community coalitions develop strategies for collaboration on research, policy analysis, organizing and advocacy that will enable them to shift the political debate on issues of equity and social justice.

The Civic Leadership Institute (CLI) is our primary vehicle for supporting grass-roots leaders as they begin to think about their regional landscape in a more strategic way.

These intensive workshop programs are designed to help local leaders:

• build relationships across diverse constituencies;
• develop a common vision and vocabulary for regional economic growth;
• identify common policy interests and joint organizing opportunities; and
• enhance leadership skills for base-building and political advocacy.

Civic Leadership Institutes provide a space and a structure for grass-roots leaders to build long-term relationships and shared vision at the same time as they are waging individual campaigns on issues like affordable housing, living wage jobs, sustainable growth and access to health care.

A relationship-building and leadership development program such as the Civic Leadership Institute is crucial for the long-term success of emerging labor-community collaborations. To achieve lasting social change and real gains for working families, campaigns need to focus around a common, long-term progressive agenda that links issues in a comprehensive way.