Western States Center's 2020 Report to the Community

A MESSAGE FROM ERIC K. WARD

mourn. rage. organize. celebrate.

Our problems are real. But we are winning.

More Americans than ever support our vision of an inclusive, multiracial democracy.

We came together in 2020, even as we were physically apart. We came together in grief and anger over the lives taken needlessly by the pandemics of racial and economic disparity, police and hate violence.

This is a time of unprecedented mobilization for change.

We came together around our common values. Artists, activists, educators, elected officials, organizers, civil society leaders – locally, across our region, nationwide.

Together, we galvanized our communities in defense of democracy.

When the pandemic hit, Western States Center was one of the first organizations to shut down travel and pivot our programming.

It was one example among many of how we aligned our operational decisions with our values in 2020.

Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon reclaims park marred by hate symbols.

I am incredibly proud of how much we did with so little, of how we rose each day in the most challenging of times.

Our work is only possible with you – the courageous partners and generous donors and foundations – who fuel our work to build movements, develop leaders, shift culture, and defend democracy.

Together, we are building the foundation of a 21st century civil rights movement.

Thank you for your steadfast partnership and support,

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

We We We We

Eric K. Ward Executive Director

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A redemptive vision of governance as the means by which we take care of each other.

Expressing our core values, protecting everyone’s basic rights, no exceptions…

WHO ARE WE, AMERICA? Including all people, and the planet, in a shared vision of health and prosperity.

It’s what we work for everyday at Western States Center.

A world where everyone can live, love, worship and work free from bigotry and fear.

At a moment when the crisis of extremism is clear, there are few organizations that have as direct an impact. Western States Center not only provides a vital moral voice – it does the hard work of movement building that is central to the fight for justice.

On July 4th Western States’ Director Eric K. Ward and Southern Poverty Law Center Chief of Staff Lecia Brooks published “We Want the Flag Back: Celebrating Black American Patriotism” on westernstatescenter.medium.com

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Inclusive democracy: of, by, and for the people.

~ Amy Spitalnick, Executive Director, Integrity First for America 5

WE DEFEND DEMOCRACY

That was the question we posed six days after George Floyd’s murder ignited a global uprising for racial justice.

“America is on a precipice. Whether we go over the edge into the abyss of a full-blown authoritarian state or find firm ground on which to construct an inclusive democracy depends on what we do right now.” ~ Eric K. Ward

When unidentified federal agents snatched Portlanders off the streets into unmarked vans, we issued the clarion call “NOT HERE. NOT ANYWHERE.” and filed suit in federal court to protect protesters’ constitutional rights.

Throughout 2020 we mobilized elected and organizational leaders to speak in a unified voice against threats to inclusive democracy.

We delivered a major blow to the Trump administration’s authoritarian overreach with a lawsuit that secured an injunction against federal enforcement agents in Portland and served as a litigation model for other cities.

We provided behind-the-scenes support for communities under attack, including a two-part training on white nationalism for Portland’s city council and bureau chiefs. Our 21 Day Pledge for Inclusive Democracy, digital action platform #WeDefendDemocracy, toolkits, message guidelines, research briefings, and online presentations engaged and equipped thousands of activists, organizers, educators, and civil society leaders across the country.

Ahead of a Proud Boys rally at a site significant to Portland’s Black community, we mobilized a unified response from state and local leaders.

The City of Portland responded with anti-hate messages in strategic locations.

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

Authoritarian State or Inclusive Democracy?

Western States Center plays an essential role in helping communities across the country organize to promote inclusive democracy and confront violent white nationalists and alt-right extremists.” ~ Wajahat Ali, Western States Center Senior Fellow

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mariotta Gary-Smith, Chair - Oregon Lecia Brooks, Secretary - Alabama * Laura Martin - Nevada Mary Morten - Illinois * WESTERN STATES CENTER

Leslie Warren - Oregon * *Joined in 2020

STAFF, SENIOR FELLOWS + CONSULTANTS Eric K. Ward - Executive Director

Stephen Piggott, Program Analyst + Trainer/Organizer Rebekah Camm, Executive Office + Event Coordinator Wajahat Ali, Common Good Senior Fellow

Convergence Networks, IT Jitasa Group, accounting StrategyWorks NW, organizational development Stuart Collective, program strategy

Jessica Acee, Confronting White Nationalism in Schools Senior Fellow

Chris Orrick, special project support

Amy Herzfeld-Copple - Deputy Director of Programs & Strategic Initiatives

Adrienne van der Valk, Confronting White Nationalism in Schools consultant

Steve Mayes, Deputy Director of Operations

Jessica George, Inclusive Democracy Culture Lab Senior Fellow

Nanci Champlin, Director of Development

Josie Raphaelito, Indigenizing Love Senior Fellow

Megan Black, Common Good Program Director

Yee Won Chong, NW Racial Equity Leadership Project consultant Brink Communications, digital organizing

Program Partners, Training + Workshop Hosts

Tusk Consulting, strategic planning West End Strategy Team, media relations

Nora Flanagan, Confronting White Nationalism in Schools Senior Fellow

Leadership Cohorts + Networks and Senior Fellows

Snell & Wilmer, legal strategy

Simon Greer, Cambridge Heath Ventures, Common Good consultant

Jill Garvey - Chief of Staff

Lindsay Schubiner, Momentum Program Director

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Kate Bitz, Program Manager + Trainer/Organizer

Based in the Pacific Northwest & Mountain states, we serve as a national hub to engage partners committed to strengthening inclusive democracy.

Rapid Response + Organizing Support

Tito Crafts, communications Holly Pruett, strategic communications Ben Unger, program strategy Julia Xiong, special project support In Memoriam: Shon Quannie, graphic design consultant Appreciation to recent exiting board members Bookda Gheisar and Scott Winn; former staff Angela Pearson and Marley Pierce; and Common Good program consultant Jenna Weinberg for their contributions to Western States Center in 2020.

Western States Center consistently punches above its weight class, shaping narratives, crafting strategies, and developing leaders rooted in the lived experience of the Pacific Northwest & Mountain States that influence the entire country. That’s why SPLC counts on WSC as a core program partner and I’m proud to serve on the board of directors. ~ Lecia Brooks, Southern Poverty Law Center Chief of Staff

READ MORE: Leadership Cohorts

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Programs

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Program Partners

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Funders

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Donors

Pg. 24

By the Numbers

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2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

WHO WE ARE

Our staff, Senior Fellows, and consultants deliver innovative strategies through a national network of leadership cohorts and program partners, guided by our Board of Directors and supported by committed funders and donors.

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Our innovative fellowships, cohorts, and networks serve as laboratories for 21st century civil rights movement-building strategies.

Inclusive Democracy Culture Lab WESTERN STATES CENTER

15 singer-songwriters from CA, ID, KY, NY, OR, TN and TX developed strategies for Americana musicians to engage fans around anti-bigotry work

20 multimedia artists from around the country combating racism, antisemitism and antidemocratic movements through their art

Leadership Initiative to Combat Antisemitism

NYC cohort of 27 Black, Jewish, and Muslim leaders exploring why we must address antisemitism to combat authoritarianism

NW Racial Equity Leaders Project

23 practitioners from the Pacific NW strengthening EDI capacity and building a community of practice

Confronting White Nationalism Educator Network

Oregon Inclusive Democracy Network

Senior Fellows

Defending Democracy + Movement Building Fellows

Common Good Masterclass for Jewish Funders

89 trained educators

Uniting communications and program staff from 12+ organizations throughout the state to counter antidemocratic activity

Developing multi-sector influencers as leaders on anti-hate, social inclusion and inclusive democracy in

10 fellows in FL, GA, ID, OH, MT and WA receiving tools, training, and building connections to peers

20 funders in conversation about threats to inclusive democracy from white nationalism, racism and antisemitism

151+ network participants 11,000+ Confronting White Nationalism in Schools toolkits distributed 10

Common Good Masterclass for Artists + Cultural Workers

AL, DC, IL, KY, MO, NY + OR

Northwest Racial Equity Leaders Project Western States Center’s 2003 Dismantling Racism Resource Book and accompanying training models were foundational for systemic racial justice work for a decade.

Since then, the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion field in the U.S. has changed and grown tremendously.

Our new project engages twodozen practitioners in (re)centering racial justice as a strategic lens that connects the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion field to systems transformation, social movements, and societal consciousness. Using a peer coaching model, the project created space (to the beat of a great soundtrack) to address realtime dilemmas of organizational leadership during a time of pandemic, racial justice uprising, and authoritarian crack-downs.

Participating in the Northwest Racial Equity Leaders Project expanded my network, gave me new tools and resources in approaching crucial work in the communities I belong to and serve, and further reinforced the importance of carving out intentional time for reflection, information sharing, and healing.

~ Tyler TerMeer, CEO, Cascade AIDS Project

Project Participants Alexandra Manuel WA Professional Educator Standards Board | Ben Duncan Multnomah County Diversity & Equity Office | Bookda Gheisar Port of Seattle Office of Equity, Diversity & Inclusion | Carol Cheney Meyer Memorial Trust | Déja Fitzgerald Cascade AIDS Project | Emil Tsao Oregon Department of Education | Erica Hernandez-Scott WA Professional Educator Standards Board | James Parker Oregon Native American Chamber | Jenee Myers Twitchell Washington STEM | Kim Feicke Consultant | Latricia Tillman Washington County Equity & Inclusion Office | Laura John City of Portland Office of Tribal Relations | Mariko Yoshika SEIU 503 | Mariotta Gary-Smith Health Share of Oregon | Rut Martinez-Alicea Oregon Food Bank | Scott Winn Consultant, Seattle | Steven Nakana Port of Portland Social Equity Program | Swathi Massar Mercy Corps | Tamar Zere City of Seattle Race & Social Justice Initiative | Thuan Duong Portland Housing Bureau | Tricia Brand Portland Community College | Tyler TerMeer Cascade AIDS Project | Yoko Shimomura Washington STEM | Yolanda Sanchez-Marquez City of Portland Office of Equity & Human Rights

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

DEVELOPING INTERCONNECTED LEADERS

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WESTERN STATES CENTER 12

Supporting communities and democratic institutions to counter white nationalism

Rapid Response & Municipal Support Local governments and democratic institutions are an essential counterbalance to rising authoritarianism. We conduct strategy sessions and emergency briefings; design creative campaigns and sign-on actions. In 2020 we delivered a twopart training on white nationalism to Portland’s elected and appointed leadership, partnered with Southern Poverty Law Center to close space for political violence in four states, and galvanized a unified response to the large white nationalist mobilizations that served as dress rehearsals for the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

The fellowship expanded my thinking about the intersection between white supremacy, white nationalism, reproductive health, LGBTQIA rights, immigrant rights, and the far right. It was both fascinating and frightening to see these issues play out in real time during the 2020 elections. ~ Christina Bruce-Bennion, Idaho Office for Refugees Defending Democracy & Movement Building Fellows Fellows from six states built relationships, strengthened skills, and designed projects with the potential to influence statewide movements. Planned Parenthood of Greater Washington & Northern Idaho’s Sarah Dixit created a training guide on the connection between anti-abortion and white nationalist movements to sharpen the focus of college-based organizing. NARAL Pro-Choice Washington’s Gabbi Nazari presented on this same nexus to staff and leadership, resulting in an action plan to mobilize coalition partners to counter far-right movements.

Research, Narrative & Strategic Leadership We help shape the way civil society understands and acts on anti-democratic threats through participation in coalition tables, writing, public speaking, and work with the news media.

Tools like our bi-weekly Democracy Alert and PlotAgainstImmigrants.com provide background and analysis developed through monitoring and original research in partnership with local antihate activists, the Oregon Inclusive Democracy Network, and national allies.

Confronting White Nationalism in Schools Toolkit & Educator Network With our groundbreaking toolkit endorsed by the National Education Association, covered

by The New York Times, Washington Post, and PBS NewsHour, and in use across the country, we engage on an ongoing basis with a large private online community and the 89 educators who completed our train-the-trainer certification program in 2020 to support them in delivering this material locally. One educator told us, “I joined out of heartbreak and began to feel a more realistic sense of hopefulness.” Another said of the three-day training, “I feel less and less alone and more supported.”

One of the best professional development events in my 15 years of education. ~ Chris Penna, Loyola Academy, IL

“My Child Is Sharing Conspiracy Theories and Racist Memes. What Do I Say?” With the pandemic exposing young people to more bigoted internet content than ever, we released a new set of tools on our Medium channel to empower parents and caregivers to discuss online propaganda with their kids in ways that help them discern fact from fiction, grow their empathy for others, and help them become better media consumers and overall better community members.

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

MOMENTUM

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WESTERN STATES CENTER 14

We began 2020 on the Brooklyn Bridge at a 25,000 person solidarity march following a spate of antisemitic violence around New York City. Hate crimes had already reached record levels. Then the global pandemic ushered in new waves of deadly conspiracy theories targeting Jews, the Asian community, and democracy itself. Understanding antisemitism as the fuel that drives white nationalism, our Common Good programming equips leaders, organizations, and communities with innovative insights, tools, and strategies to respond.

Leadership Initiative to Combat Antisemitism We piloted a new approach to addressing the “hot button” issues that help to perpetuate antisemitism with our inaugural transnational cohort of twodozen leaders from a range of sectors. In 2020, we held our first convening of our second cohort – 27 Black, Jewish, and Muslim leaders from the New York City area – just before the pandemic paused plans to travel together to civil rights legacy sites in the American south. We will resume this leadership cohort when in-person gatherings become possible.

Your ability to bring Jews and Blacks together to understand the forces that continually try to tear us apart is extraordinary. All of us left feeling inspired to take action. One person said it was the best talk she ever heard; another couldn’t wait to share the recording with her college students.

~ Sara Weinberger, Congregation B’nai Israel

Eric’s seminal essay Skin in the Game: How Antisemitism Animates White Nationalism is now a video at WesternStatesCenter.org/leadership

A united fight against antisemitism is critical to the elimination of all forms of hatred. Your leadership is critical and greatly appreciated.

The Coalition of the Future: How We Combat White Nationalism & Weave the Fabric of Democracy, A Seminar in Practice We devoted part of 2020 to developing a new college course – launched at Oberlin in spring 2021 – to help students grapple with the intersections between antisemitism and racism and engage in the difficult conversations necessary to build alliances for change.

Common Good Masterclass for Artists & Cultural Workers Twenty multi-media artists from around the country convened over 14 weeks to develop a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between antiBlack racism and antisemitism. For research-based playwright and teaching artist Rachel Atkins, the timing was perfect. “I hope we can look back someday and see this as a period of positive transition and lasting social change,” she says.

Illustration by Masterclass participant Kedar Reddy @Organiz. hierarchies.

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

COMMON GOOD

Building common ground in response to rising antisemitism, racism, and anti-democratic movements

~ Ronna Greff Schneider, President, Cincinnati Jewish Community Relations Council

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INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY CULTURE LAB

I believe in an inclusive democracy, the opposite of the white nationalist agenda. And I believe in the power of music to unite people across space, time, and all imagined or real divides.

Enlisting artists as agents of change to reach into the middle

Musicians and other culture-makers have always been agents of change. Their work connects through values instead of ideology and belief. Americana music, with its politically diverse fan base spanning rural and urban communities, has the potential to interrupt outdated narratives and reduce demographic anxiety.

To test this theory, we recruited 15 Americana singersongwriters who began convening as a national cohort in 2020. The majority are continuing into

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Being involved with Western States Center has been one of the most rewarding and enlightening experiences of my life. Our discussions and meet-ups have given a hard spine to the themes and suspicions that have run throughout my work, that exclusion contributes to all sorts of failings and dangers. Part community organizer, anti-racism team, reasonable voice, and education source, Western States Center is doing important and necessary work during this incredibly fractious time. ~ Matthew Ryan

2021 to develop a music industry toolkit to share their learnings through case studies and concrete actions that other artists can take. Topics they’re tackling include resisting the myth of urban/rural divide, belonging and inclusion, breaking isolation, addressing backlash, and collaborating with justice movements.

~ Ana Egge Tony-award winner Anais Mitchell tweeted her 29k followers, “It’s so hard to write a good protest song.

My Friend Ana Egge did it tho.”

The Ripple Effect of The Cohort Ana Egge’s “This Time,” written during her time with the cohort, got a shout out from Tony-award winner Anais Mitchell who tweeted the song to her 29k followers. The next day, Salisbury University kicked off their first-ever Anti-Racism Summit with a viewing of the song’s video.

The Daily Beast’s feature “Is Country Music Turning on Racism and QAnon?” quoted Michaela Anne and Clay Steakley. Clay is featuring more conversations on equity on his “Outer Voice” podcast. Peter Mulvey used Facebook Live to speak to fans about the nation’s pain following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And Dan Bern’s latest, “Ivan’s Barbershop,” draws inspiration from his cohort experience.

Inclusive Democracy Culture Lab Inaugural Cohort Michaela Anne, Nashville, Tennessee* Dan Bern, Soquel, California Maya de Vitry, Nashville, Tennessee* Ana Egge, Brooklyn, New York* Rebecca Gates, Portland, Oregon* Sara Hickman, Austin, Texas* Catherine Irwin (Freakwater), Louisville, Kentucky* Eilen Jewell, Boise, Idaho* Peter Mulvey, Milwaukee, Wisconsin* Nate Query (The Decemberists), Portland, Oregon Rench (Gangstagrass), Brooklyn, New York* Matthew Ryan, Nashville, Tennessee* Nathan Salsburg, Louisville, Kentucky Joan Shelley, Louisville, Kentucky Clay Steakley, Nashville, Tennessee*

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

WESTERN STATES CENTER

At Western States Center we work 24/7 to reach as many people as we can with our analysis of threats to democracy and tools that organizers and civil society leaders can use to combat bigotry. But we ourselves can’t reach the one-third of Americans who are susceptible to white nationalist appeals to their anxieties and the antisemitic misinformation and stereotypes that have become so normalized. We can’t – but artists can.

* Continuing in 2021 (11) 17

In 2020 we reached over 30,000 people through 147 keynote and panel presentations, cohort classes, workshops and trainings for a wide range of organizations and events nationwide:

Hope Not Hate podcast Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center Illinois School Counselor Association Interfaith Worker Justice Integrity First Klickitat County Coalition

justice and solidarity.

Media Democracy Fund

~ Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann, SAJ

Meyer Memorial Trust Museum of the African Diaspora

WESTERN STATES CENTER

Nancy & David Wolf Holocaust and Humanity Center

FAITH + CIVIC EVENTS Congregation Ahavath Chesed - Florida Congregation Beth Israel - San Diego Congregation B’nai Israel - Northampton, MA Countering Islamophobia Roundtable Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice Jewish Community Relations Council - Florida

Executive Director Eric K. Ward kicks off 2020 with a call for unity in the face of division.

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You brought the fire! Our interview was a strategic way for me to advance the conversation in our synagogue towards

Religious Action Center of Reform JudaismCincinnati Society for the Advancement of Judaism Temple Shalom- Naples Temple Wise- Cincinnati T’ruah UJA Federation of NY

NAACP MLK Jr. Dinner, Florida

Training presented by Nora Flanagan, Confronting White Nationalism in Schools Senior Fellow, earns local news coverage.

Oregon Small Farms Conference

City of Portland

Race Forward’s Facing Race Conference

Clatsop County Democrats

Southeastern Family Office Forum

Columbia University

Smith College

Daphne Foundation

Southern Poverty Law Center convening

Diné Pride

Southridge High School Community Conversation on Race

EngageNY Ford Foundation

Jewish Community Relations Council, Cincinnati

Washington State 7th Congressional District

Jewish Council for Public Affairs

CONFERENCES + FORUMS

Jewish Family Services of Spokane

American Civil Liberties Union - NJ

Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester

Bend the Arc: Pursuing Justice Conference

Jewish Federation of North America

Building Movement Project - Upswell Conference

Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center

Creating Change 2020 Conference

Levine Center to End Hate/Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester Summit

National Council Jewish Women- Greater Long Beach

Edward Waters College

Washington Refugee Symposium

No Hate. No Fear. March and Rally Against Antisemitism - NYC

Milton & Ruth Stern and James A. Samuels Social Action Lecture

BRIEFINGS + TRAININGS

NM Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice

Northern California Grantmakers 2020 Annual Conference

Center for American Progress

Idaho Conference on Refugees Anti-Defamation League

Facing History and Ourselves Gonzaga Law School, Center for Civil and Human Rights Greater Spokane Progress Help Tech Stop Hate Coalition

New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice One Oregon Open Society Foundations Oregon Community Foundation Peace & Justice Action League of Spokane People’s Action Portland Community College Sounds Like Hate podcast

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

TRAINING + EDUCATION

Southern Poverty Law Center Spokane County Human Rights Task Force University of Oregon University of Puget Sound West Central Development Group Whidbey Island Social Justice Network World Oregon

Holocaust Center Seattle, Powell Advanced Institute 19

Our programs engaged, supported, and relied on partnerships with nearly 200 tribal, state, and local governments, and racial, gender, and economic justice organizations:

Portland Housing Bureau

NARAL Pro-Choice Oregon

Port of Portland, Social Equity Program

Neighborhood Health Center

Port of Seattle, Office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion

Next Up & Next Up Action Fund

Portland YouthBuilders

OHSU Institute on Development and Disability

Professional Business Development Group

OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon

Professional Educator Standards Board

Open Signal

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

Lifting Our Spirits, Feeding Our Souls

WESTERN STATES CENTER

Our far-flung teams stayed connected through regular virtual happy hours supported by homedelivered care packages, sourced from these local Black, Indigenous, brownowned or women/trans/ non-binary-led small businesses:

NATIONAL PARTNERS

REGIONAL, STATEWIDE + LOCAL PARTNERS

Common Cause Oregon

Oregon AFL-CIO

Red Door Project

All* Above All

Includes groups active in our networks, cohorts and/or signers to our joint statements condemning hate and political violence.

Crag Law Center

Oregon AFSCME Women’s Committee

Rural Organizing Project

Disability Rights Oregon

Oregon Education Association

Renew Oregon

Eastern Oregon Legacy Lands / Wallowology

Oregon Department of Education

SAGE Metro Portland

Bard Center for the Study of Hate at Bard College

Accountable Northwest

Greater Hells Canyon Council

Oregon Council on Developmental Disabilities

SEIU 49

APANO

Fair Shot Oregon

Oregon Food Bank

SEIU 503

Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council

Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians

Family Forward Oregon

Slingshot Fund

Greater Spokane Progress

Springfield-Eugene Showing Up for Racial Justice

• DB Dessert Company

Classrooms Without Borders

Basic Rights Oregon

Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education

Beaverton School District, Beaverton, Oregon

First Unitarian Church of Portland

Oregon Justice Resource Center

Unite Oregon

Beyond Toxics

Health Share of Oregon

Oregon Latino Health Coalition

United Vision for Idaho

• Enchanté Chocolatier

Business for a Better Portland

Oregon League of Conservation Voters

Cascade Aids Project

Idaho Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Violence

Oregon Native American Chamber

University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities, OHSU

Cascadia Wildlands

Idaho Office for Refugees

Oregon Peace Institute

Verde

Causa Oregon

Interfaith Movement for Immigrant Justice

Oregon Recovers

Voz Workers’ Rights Education Project

Centro Latino Americano

Jewish Community Relations Council, Cincinnati

Oregon Tradeswomen

Washington County, Equity & Inclusion Office Washington STEM

Jewish Federation of Greater Portland

Oregon Women’s Investment Network (WINPAC)

City of Portland, Office of Government Relations

Latino Network

Oregon Wild

Zen Community of Oregon

Latinx Alliance of Lane County

Our Oregon

350 Eugene

City of Seattle, Race and Social Justice Initiative

League of Women Voters of Oregon

Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon

350PDX

Climate Solutions

Meyer Memorial Trust

Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane

Mercy Corps

PCUN, Oregon’s Farmworker Union

Montana Human Rights Network

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Oregon

American Association of Teachers of German Anti-Defamation League

Common Cause Facing History and Ourselves Fellowship of Reconciliation USA Fight Back Table Forward Together National Education Association People’s Action Race Forward Sierra Club Smith College Roots of Reproductive Justice Curriculum Advisory Group Southern Poverty Law Center / Teaching Tolerance

City of Portland, Office of Equity & Human Rights

Coalition of Communities of Color Coalition of Community Health Clinics 20

Portland Community College

Multnomah Education Service District

Planned Parenthood of Southwestern Oregon

Willamette River Network

We appreciate the 66 elected, government and civic leaders in Oregon who signed on to our statements rejecting hate and political violence in 2020.

• Hibisbloom • Honeybee Sparkling Lemonade & Syrups • Jacobsen Salt Co.

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

THANK YOU, PARTNERS

Multnomah County

• Missionary Chocolates • Nomad Mix • PDXPOP! • TeeMart Apparel

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We’re grateful for the 28 steadfast funders whose investments over the last few years helped WSC test the new strategies, tools, and narratives that prepared us for the challenges of 2020; and to the 26 new grantmakers and donor-advised funds whose support and solidarity buoyed our spirits and work!

WESTERN STATES CENTER

Alan Preston, Proteus Fund *

Foundation to Promote Open Society

All* Above All

General Service Foundation

American Immigration Council, Center for Inclusion & Belonging *

Groundswell Catalyst Fund G S Humane Corp

Borealis Philanthropy REACH Fund

Max F. & Allison G. Roberts Fund, National Philanthropic Trust *

Hochberg Family Foundation *

Collins Foundation

Meyer Memorial Trust

C.R. May Fund *

Howard & Geraldine Polinger Family Foundation

Morrill Family Charitable Fund *

DBEK Fund of the Common Counsel Foundation

Joseph & Debra Weinberg Family Foundation *

Edith G. and Walter A. Socolow Philanthropic Fund of the Jewish Communal Fund *

Joyce & Irving Goldman Foundation *

Evans Guidry Foundation *

Kano Family Fund at East Bay Community Foundation *

Faegan Fund at Social Justice Fund NW

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Julie Sissman and Phil Richter Fund at FJC

Fight Back Collaborative Fund at Tides Foundation *

Klarman Family Foundation

Flower Hill Fund at the Boston Foundation

Lynne Gerber Fund *

Ford Foundation

Libra Foundation Marjory Hamann and Ben Lischner Fund at MRG Foundation *

Maurice S. Surlow Memorial Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation

Neggaz Charitable Fund * Next Fund at the San Francisco Foundation *

~ Wendy Feliz, Center for Inclusion and Belonging, American Immigration Council

Reich Meyer Family Fund of the Jewish Community Federation *

Stephen and Lusia Hornstein Family Fund #2 of the Greater Cincinnati Foundation *

Righteous Persons Foundation

Sobelstein Fund at Amalgamated Charitable

Natan Fund

Riley Charitable Fund

Nathan & Lillian Weinberg Family Foundation

Robbie Kunreuther & Anita Hampton Fund

Neighborhood Funders Group

Sugahara Foundation * The Trust Web * Tow Foundation *

Oneatta Fund of Oregon Community Foundation *

Pop Culture Collaborative, a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropic Advisors *

One8 Foundation

Rosenzweig-Coopersmith Foundation

Overbrook Foundation

Unitarian Universalist Veatch Program at Shelter Rock

Schubiner-Leigh Family 2011 Fund

* New in 2020

Proteus Fund

UJA Federation of NY

Values-Aligned Business Partnerships Committed to expressing our values administratively as well as programmatically, we were pleased to forge new relationships in 2020 with B Corporation business partners like Amalgamated Bank, Blackbird Benefits Collective, and Jitasa Group.

We’re grateful for our 2020 Give!Guide sponsors: Snell & Wilmer, LLC and Convergence Networks.

To those who made an anonymous gift and everyone who contributed through social media fundraisers hosted by WSC supporters: THANK YOU!

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

BIG THANKS FOR BIG SUPPORT!

I am in awe of what you are building. The potential of your cohort to change hearts and minds outweighs the power of fact sheets, economic reports and policy analysis by a factor of 1 million. We believe in you all and your power to change America for the better and will do anything we can to help.

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Our work is supported at the grassroots level by these generous donors giving on a monthly or annual basis:

WESTERN STATES CENTER 24

Abby F Acasia B & Monte J Adam C Adam D & Hana L Adjoa S T Akosua A-A Alan & Patti H Alex S Alexandra K Alexis B Alfred G Alicia P Alicia P- H Alisa R R Alison A-H Alissa & Neal K-G Allison B Allison H Allison J Allison R Allison V Altaf H. R Jr. Alysha G J Amanda Y Amie & Jon W Amy & Shannon H-C Amy J Amy R Amy S

Ana E Andrea & Richard I Andrew R Andrew T & Lola B Andryce & Tyler A Andy R Aneisa L Angela J Angela P Angela U Angeli B Anita R Ann & Pierre d V Ann C F & David F Ann D Anna D Anne & John S Anne P Anonymous Anthony D Anthony J A Asa W Ashley R August F Barbara H Barbara I Barron P Barry G Bel-Ami M & Mark M

Benjamin & Mackenzie W Benjamin C Bennett G Bentley W Beth L Beth R M Bethany B Betsy D & Chip C Betsy T Bettina M Bev B Bob L & Elaine F Bonnie R Bonnie S Bookda G Brad M Brad R Britta H & Lucila C Brooke Z Bruce P Burke S Caitlin R Capri H & Christopher J Carisa W Carla D Carol & Ed E Carol C

Carol H & Steven M Carol P Carolyn & Seth S Carrie K Carrie T-J Carter M Cassandra S Cassie F Catherine P & David K Cathleen W Cathy M Celsea W Chandra L & Eric A Charlene W Charles M Charles P Chelsea E Cherie W Chris M Chris W Christina B Christina C Christine C-W Christine D Christine R Cicely J Claudine K-M Clifford D

Colby P Colette L Colleen M Collin B Constance P & Kevin M Cori B Corinne L J Craig H & Megan H Cynthia S L Dagan R B Dahnesh M Dan G Dan R Dan Y Dana & Carolyn B Daniel & Lisa Z Daniel B Daniel E & Kathryn D-D Daniel H Darryl M Daryl M & Jim H David & Rebecca S David D David G & Jennifer J David K & Lee K David O David S & Sarah S David S & Janet B

David W Dean C & Melanie M Deb P Deb R & Brandt Debbie D Deborah P Debra K Dennis & Barbara J Dennis L Desiraju K R Diana R & Jim C Diane W Diane W Dominick M Donna M Donna R Donna T Dorian B Dorothy P Doug B Edith C Edward F Eileen L H Elaine N Elena V & Anthony B Eleyna F & Nathaniel H Elinor L

Elizabeth G Elizabeth M Elizabeth S Elizabeth W Ellen F Ellen F Ellen H Ellen S Ellen S Ellie H Emily & Robert K Emily K Emily W Emmy J C Eric & Kathleen O Eric L Eric W & Jessica A Erin T Erin Y Faith G & John D Florence E J Francine R Frann M Fred & Diane O Fred N Gabriel & Barbara A Gabriella R Gabrielle H Gay Y

~ Rabbi Menachem Creditor, Pearl & Ira Meyer Scholar in Residence, UJA Federation of New York

Geoffrey G Gillian B Gregory T Hanni H Harold M Harriet F Harry H Hassein K Hayley A Heather P Heather W Helen K Helene B Holly P Holly P & Amber W Howard & Alice S Howard S & Valerie O Ilisia K Ira H Isla J D Israa D JC&JS

JH O Jack H & Phoenix G Jack P Jackie C Jacqueline Y Jain E Jake A James M W James M James W Jan & Ric M Jan R & Bill B Jan S Jan S Janice D & Frank C Janice S Jeannie L Jeff J & Sandy M Jeffry G Jennifer E Jennifer H Jennifer H Jennifer M

Jenny D Jessica G Jessica J Jeyn L Jill A Jill F Jill G & Dan W Joan B Jocelyn F Jodie N & David I Jody M John A John M Jon H & Ryan L Jonathan P & Rachel W Jonelle A & Nick B Joseph G Joseph M Joshua G Joshua R Joyce W Judith A

Judith C Judith M Judith M Judith W Judy H Judy J & Paul L Judy M & Steve W Julia R B Julie N Julie S Justine H Kaitlin H Karen & Bob W Karen & Paul H Karen B Karen E Karen S & Barry L Karen T Kari A Kari G Kassandra T Kate B Katharine & Alan C

Katharine & Colin H Katharine B Katherine C S Katherine J Katherine Q Kathleen & Robert J Kathleen B Kathleen S Kathy B & Barbara W Kathy C G & John G Katie B & Ryan G Katje W & Benn K Katrina & Ian G Kayla G Kaylyn B & Evan M Kelda C Kelli & Chad K Kelli B Kellyann M L Ken & Ann E Ken B Ken L & Katherine M Kenneth & Paula K

Kenneth S & Marjorie S Kevin C Kim A Kim B Kim B & Ari R Kim F Kim F Kimberly B Kimberly P Kitty K Kjell M Kristan K & Janna A Kristen C Kristen E & Evan B Kristie D Kristin B Kristina M-A Laoni & Bob D Larry Dean V N Laura A Laura Evelyn L Laura H Laura H Laura M Laura S Laura T Lauria C Lawrence B & Stephanie H Leah H Lecia B Lee C Lee M Len N Leslie & Daniel H Leslie A Leslie F & Larry K

Leslie S Leslie W & Tom D Levi R Libby M Lillian T Linda B K & Louis A Linda H Linda L Linda M Linda N Lindsay R Lisa F Lisa S Lisa S Liz L Liz S Liz V Loren G Lori B Lori M Lori V & Lorelei V Luke N Lynn B & Eve L Lynn M & Greg S MM M. Cris L & Terrie Q Madelyn E Maggie S Mara Z Margaret E Margaret H Margaret M Margery D Margo M Marguerite S Maria C Marilyn B

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

THANK YOU, DONORS

The impact of Western States Center’s work is impossible to measure, given its ideas have been internalized and adopted by networks and communities in numbers beyond the reach of most small organizations. WSC is a key leader in preparing a wide coalition of willing hearts to respond to this uncertain American moment with grounded and passionate hearts.

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Mike A Mike B Mike R Mindy S-B Miriam A & Shelley G Miriam W Molly C Molly W Monique R Balbuena & Mathew Q Morgan C & Daniel M Murphy M Mustafa A Myla T & Mark B Nadia A Nadia T Nanci C Nancy & Frank W Nancy N Nancy T Nancy Y & Andrew S Naomi K B Nari B Nathalie O Niani D Nicole B-C Nicole F Niklas A Nitika R Nora & Matt F Nurit R F Oakley B

Obinna N Omar E Pamela O Patricia & Edward K Patricia B Patricia K Paul E C Paul G Paul K & Carol P Paul P & Joanne F Peter G P Peter K Phil G Philip W Phillip M. R Rachel B Rachel F Rachel H Rachel M Rachel M Rachel W Rachel Z Ravid R Raymond S Rebecca C Rebecca R Richard B Richard F Richard M & Ellen R Riley W Robert B Robert Charles C Robert S Robin C & Meredith S Roger S

Ronald T B Ronnie K Rose G Rose W Roxanne D Roxanne R Rut M-A Ruth K Ryan & Katy K Ryan D & Lorelei J Ryan G Ryland P SWC Sabena S Sally L & James D Sally R & Andrew F Samantha G & Zach B Samuel J Samuel T Sandi Sandra D Sandy G Sandy P Sandy T Sara Ryan Sarah & Duncan Y Sarah C & Amy D Sarah H Sarah H Sarah June R Sarah K & Marc J Sarah K Sarah W & Caleb C Sarah W Scot N & Jon P

Scott W Sean J & Jason H Sean P Sean P Shana C Shannon C Shar L Sharon G-S Sharon M Sharon S & Jody A Shava & Michael F Shawn F R Shelly T Sheryl H Shira H-H Shuli P Sogene M & Mel K Sophie B-J Soya J Spencer M Stacey T & Dwayne J Stan S Stephanie K Stephanie W Stephen B-N Stephen O Steve A Steven B Steven G Steven L K Sunday D S Susan B Susan D Susan G F

Susan H Susan L Susan P & Mark B Susanne G Suzanne S Sven B T Paul F Tabitha B Talma S Talya H-H Tamara H Tammy M Tania N Taryn W Ted S Teresa L Teresa M Thea C Theo B Thomas & Catherine B Thomas E R Thomas H Thomas N & Marisol F Thomas W & Kalpana K Tim B & Alejandra F Tim M & Anne E Timur E Tina A Tina K Tippi P Tom A Tom F Tom L Toni B

Toni S Tony & Davida J Tony D Tova S Tracy A Tracy C Tracy Z Travis T Trevor C Trina N Trish S Trudy C Tyler A & Laura K Ullas S Uma R Valery K Vanessa M & Teyo L Vernon & Rebecca J Virginia & Don C Virginia P Wayne A Wendy B & Dawn B Wendy Dawn F Wendy W William & Barbara H William B William B William D M William H William Van E Xia W Xuan-Trang T-T Yee Won C Yitzhak H-H

2020 BY THE NUMBERS

BUILDING MOVEMENT

DEVELOPING LEADERS

SHIFTING CULTURE

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY

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9 cohorts and networks developing 281 leaders throughout the US

260 citations of WSC in the news

28 rapid response interventions including 1 federal lawsuit

national, regional & local partners

147 educational presentations and workshops reaching 30,000+

89 Schools Toolkit trainers in 26 states and 2 Canadian provinces

35 creatives graduating our cohorts ready to move inclusive narratives

66 local, state and regional electeds united against hate and political violence

2020 REPORT TO THE COMMUNITY

WESTERN STATES CENTER 26

Marion M Mariotta G-S Mark H Mark H Mark L & Pamela S Marla M-L Marsha & John R Martha M Mary & Nathan W Mary C M Mary H Mary Lynn O’ Mary M & Lieselotte Z Mary M & Willa T Mathew D Matt D Matthew C Maureen L McKee A Melinda W Merri R Michael A P Michael A Michael B Michael D & Jaqueline B Michael E Michael H & Jimena M Michael L Michael W Michelle D & Nathan S Michelle H & Robert S

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Western States Center has played a catalytic role in building people-centered movements for social justice since 1987

PO BOX 40305 PORTLAND, OREGON 97240

BUILDING MOVEMENTS We strengthen the organizing capacity of often-marginalized communities, with a particular emphasis on gender justice, racial justice, and tribal sovereignty work.

DEVELOPING LEADERS We provide training, leadership development, and organizational capacity support to social movements and leaders committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

SHIFTING CULTURE We convene culture-makers to shift the narrative and use culture as a vehicle for base and power building in non-traditional social change spaces.

DEFENDING DEMOCRACY We assist communities and civil society to uphold the rule of law by effectively responding to social movements that exploit bigotry and intolerance.

Help build a world where everyone can live, love, worship, and work free from bigotry and fear.

PLEASE GIVE TODAY WesternStatesCenter.org/donate