Peoples Action Institute

THE MISSION OF PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE IS TO ADVANCE A LONG-TERM AGENDA FOR RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND GENDER JUSTICE BY INVESTING IN POWERFUL STATE AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS AND CAMPAIGNS THAT WIN REAL CHANGE IN PEOPLE'S LIVES.

SEE SCHEDULE OPROGRAMSRESEARCH AND POLICY SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S ANALYSES OF VARIOUS PUBLIC POLICY ISSUES FOR THE ORGANIZATION'S CAMPAIGNS AND PROGRAMS. WE PROVIDE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADVANCE OUR CAPACITY TO CUT ISSUES WITH A RACE ANALYSIS, BUILD MULTIRACIAL ORGANIZATIONS, DEVELOP THE LEADERSHIP OF STAFF OF COLOR, AND ORGANIZE EXTERNAL CAMPAIGNS THAT ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE. POWERBUILDING AND TRAINING DRIVE ALL OF PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE'S WORK, SO THEY ARE AT THE CORE OF OUR ORGANIZING REVIVAL. IN 2022, WE INTRODUCED OUR BASE-BUILDING BOOTCAMP, A NEW 12-WEEK INTENSIVE COURSE FOR ORGANIZERS TO EMPOWER NEW LEADERS WITH THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO FIND AND RECRUIT MEMBERS, PROPOSITION THEM INTO LEADERSHIP, AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY TURN THEIR PAIN INTO POWERFUL COLLECTIVE ACTION. PARTICIPANTS LEARNED TO MANAGE THEIR ENERGY, FACILITATE EFFECTIVE MEETINGS, AND STRENGTHEN THEIR WORK BY CONNECTING TO THEIR OWN MOTIVATION.TO BUILD FORWARD MOMENTUM, PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE LAUNCHED AN ORGANIZERS COHORT TO ENCOURAGE GRADUATES OF THIS BASE-BUILDING BOOTCAMP TO STAY CONNECTED ON AN ONGOING BASIS, PROBLEM-SOLVE WITH PEERS, AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER THROUGH MUTUAL ACCOUNTABILITY. IN 2022, SEVEN ORGANIZERS FROM SEVEN STATES MET EVERY OTHER MONTH THROUGH THIS COHORT.WE ALSO CREATED AN ANALOGOUS ORGANIZING DIRECTORS COHORT TO ADDRESS AN IMPORTANT GAP IN TRAINING SO SENIOR STAFF AT MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS CAN CONTINUE TO GROW AND STRENGTHEN THEIR ORGANIZING SKILLS THROUGH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. SINCE THE LAUNCH OF THIS COHORT IN THE SUMMER OF 2021, ORGANIZING DIRECTORS FROM 23 ORGANIZATIONS MEET EVERY OTHER MONTH FOR THREE-HOUR SESSIONS TO FOCUS ON ISSUES RELEVANT TO THEIR MEMBERS, TO DEVELOP THEIR CORE MANAGEMENT SKILLS, STRATEGIC CAMPAIGNS, AND GROUND THEMSELVES IN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASE BUILDING.WE ALSO REVIVED OUR WEEKLONG TRAINING INSTITUTE IN 2022, WHICH HOSTED 35 INDIVIDUALS TO TAKE THEIR LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL. THIS TRAINING FOCUSED ON THREE PRIMARY TOPICS: IDEOLOGY AND METHODOLOGY, SKILLS, AND POLITICAL EDUCATION. WE ALSO CONDUCTED ONE-ON-ONE COACHING SESSIONS WITH MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS WHO SHARE IN OUR POWERBUILDING WORK. THIS COMBINATION OF TRAINING, TARGETED COACHING AND NEW LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES RESULTED IN REAL IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND BASE-BUILDING CAPACITY OF OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS.

LOBBYING - A SUPPORTIVE PROGRAM THAT FOCUSES ON THE ORGANIZATION'S LOBBYING EFFORTS TO ENGAGE LEGISLATORS INVOLVED IN AREAS OF INTEREST TO THE ORGANIZATION'S OTHER PROGRAMS. THIS INCLUDES THE ORGANIZATION'S GRASSROOTS LOBBYING EFFORTS.

SEE SCHEDULE OCAMPAIGNSSUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S NATIONAL CAMPAIGN WORK WHICH FOCUSES ON SUPPORTING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF LOW AND MODERATE-INCOME FAMILIES INCLUDING HEALTH CARE COVERAGE; FOOD SECURITY FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES; WOMEN'S ECONOMIC AGENDA; CLIMATE JUSTICE, WITH A FOCUS ON CLEAN ENERGY INVESTMENTS THAT BENEFIT COMMUNITIES OF COLOR; REVERSING THE TRENDS OF MASS INCARCERATION AND BRINGING A RACIAL AND GENDER JUSTICE ANALYSIS TO CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM WORK; AND HOUSING JUSTICE, WHICH FOCUSES ON ENSURING ACCESS TO QUALITY, SAFE AND TRULY AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL.HEALTHCARE: HEALTHCARE FOR ALL:IN 2022, WE DEEPENED OUR EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH KEY ALLIES AND HEALTH CARE PARTNERS INCLUDING THE CENTER FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY (CPD), HEALTHCARE FOR AMERICA NOW (HCAN), COMMUNITY CATALYST, PROTECT OUR CARE, PUBLIC CITIZEN, FAMILIES USA, SOCIAL SECURITY WORKS, DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE, HARM REDUCTION COALITION, LOWER DRUG PRICES NOW, AND LABOR PARTNERS LIKE NATIONAL NURSES UNITED (NNU) AND SEIU. TO BETTER SUPPORT OUR MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, WE ALSO RESTRUCTURED OUR HEALTH CARE FOR ALL COHORT IN CONSULTATION WITH POWERLABS, A FIRM THAT SUPPORTS ORGANIZATIONS' WORK TO DESIGN AND RUN CAMPAIGNS.OVERDOSE PREVENTION:PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE WAS PROUD TO CONCLUDE 2022 WITH A VICTORY THAT WILL HELP TURN THE TIDE ON THE OVERDOSE CRISIS AND BRING MUCH-NEEDED HELP TO PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH ADDICTION. THE MAINSTREAMING ADDICTION TREATMENT (MAT) ACT WAS SIGNED INTO LAW AT THE END OF DECEMBER, AS PART OF THE FY2023 OMNIBUS APPROPRIATIONS BILL. THIS WILL INCREASE ACCESS TO PROVEN, EVIDENCE-BASED TREATMENTS SUCH AS BUPRENORPHINE FOR PEOPLE WITH OPIOID USE DISORDER AND REMOVES BUREAUCRATIC BARRIERS THAT KEPT HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS FROM BEING ABLE TO PRESCRIBE LIFESAVING TREATMENTS. UPON PASSAGE OF THE MAT ACT, THE NUMBER OF PRACTITIONERS PRESCRIBING BUPRENORPHINE JUMPED FROM 130,000 TO 1.8 MILLION NATIONWIDE.PEOPLE AND PLANET FIRST:IN 2022, WE SUPPORTED AND STRENGTHENED FRONTLINE GROUPS TO ORGANIZE AND DEVELOP A POWERFUL AND DIVERSE BASE OF DIRECTLY IMPACTED GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY LEADERS TO WIN GOOD GREEN JOBS AND EQUITABLE INVESTMENTS IN COMMUNITIES. THROUGH OUR WORK, WE RESOURCED GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS TO FINALIZE 12 REGRANTS TO FRONTLINE GROUPS WHICH ARE CURRENTLY ORGANIZING AND DEVELOPING COMMUNITY LEADERS. PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE ALSO PROVIDED SUPPORT IN CAPACITY BUILDING AND TRAINING TO THE MEMBERS OF OUR PEOPLE AND PLANET FIRST (PPF) COHORT, WITH A FOCUS ON CAMPAIGN PLANNING AND STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT.LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDS:OVER THE PAST YEAR, OUR LEVERAGING FEDERAL FUNDS CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON ADVANCING A FEDERAL POLICY AGENDA THAT WINS CONCRETE VICTORIES THAT HAVE REAL IMPACT ON PEOPLES' LIVES. WE BUILD THE CAPACITY OF MEMBER GROUPS TO UNDERSTAND AND LEVERAGE FUNDS THAT ARE ALLOCATED TO STATES TO ENSURE THAT RESOURCES ARE USED EFFECTIVELY TO BENEFIT OUR PEOPLE IN THEIR LOCAL COMMUNITIES.PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE'S NATIONAL STAFF AND THE LEADERS OF ALL OF OUR CAMPAIGNS DID SIGNIFICANT WORK TO CREATE THECONDITIONS THAT FACILITATED THE HISTORIC PASSAGE OF APPROXIMATELY $4 TRILLION IN FEDERAL INVESTMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR. OUR POWER-BUILDING EFFORTS ACROSS THE NATION AND UNIQUE POSITION AS A CONVENER OF STATE-BASED ORGANIZATIONS THAT UNITE AROUND KEY ISSUE AREAS AND FEDERAL POLICIES CONTRIBUTED TO THE FIGHT FOR INCREASED FEDERAL RESOURCES TO SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES, AS EVIDENCED BY OUR SIGNIFICANT VICTORIES IN HOUSING AND DRUG POLICY REFORM IN 2022.HOUSING JUSTICE, HOMES GUARANTEE:IN 2022, WE GAINED MOMENTUM AS WE ORGANIZED AND MOBILIZED OUR MEMBERSHIP BASE TOWARD THE GOAL OF THE HOMES GUARANTEE CAMPAIGN, WHICH SEEKS TO ENSURE THAT EVERYONE HAS A HOME. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, HOMES GUARANTEE LEADERS LAUNCHED A CAMPAIGN TO WIN TENANT PROTECTIONS THROUGH EXECUTIVE OR AGENCY-LEVEL ACTION. WE ORGANIZED WITH MORE THAN 50 TENANT-LED GROUPS IN 24 STATES AND BUILT A CAMPAIGN TEAM OF OVER 100 TENANT LEADERS, 25 ORGANIZERS, AND A TEAM OF POLICY AND POLITICAL PARTNERS. OUR HOUSING JUSTICE TEAM WORKED THROUGHOUT 2022 TO BUILD A BASE OF POOR AND WORKING-CLASS TENANTS AND DEVELOPED COHORT MEMBERS' STAFF LEADERSHIP AND BASE-BUILDING SKILLS THROUGH WEEKLY CALLS AND INVESTMENT IN TRAINING AS A CONSISTENT PRACTICE. THE HOMES GUARANTEE CAMPAIGN BROUGHT TENANTS TO MEET WITH WHITE HOUSE STAFF TO DISCUSS TENANT PROTECTIONS, AND RELEASED A DRAFT EXECUTIVE ORDER ON RENT REGULATION SIGNED BY MORE THAN 260 ORGANIZATIONS. IN EARLY 2023, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED NEW TENANT PROTECTIONS, WHICH WERE A DIRECT RESULT OF OUR ORGANIZING.RURAL ORGANIZING AND DISINFORMATION:TO FIGHT THE GROWING THREAT OF AUTHORITARIANISM IN RURAL COMMUNITIES, PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE AND OUR MEMBERORGANIZATIONS DEVELOPED A STRATEGY THAT INTEGRATES DEEP CANVASS PERSUASION CAMPAIGNS WITH DIGITAL ORGANIZING TO DISRUPT THE SPREAD OF DISINFORMATION. TO DO THIS, PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE DESIGNED A DEEP CANVASS AND DIGITAL EXPERIMENT TO INOCULATE VOTERS FROM DISINFORMATION ABOUT THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS, FOCUSING ON MAIL-IN BALLOTS. THE MOST IMPORTANT INSIGHTS WERE DEVELOPED BY THE 'SCRIPT ITERATION TEAM' OF DEEP CANVASSERS FROM PARTICIPATING MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS AND ALLIES.DEEP CANVASSING: CONVERSATIONS THAT MOVE PEOPLE:IN 2022, WE INTEGRATED DEEP CANVASSING - THE INNOVATIVE USE OF EXTENDED, RELATIONAL CONVERSATIONS TO CHANGE HEARTS AND MINDS AROUND DIVISIVE ISSUES - INTO OUR POWERBUILDING STRATEGY. WE BUILDT SUPPORT FOR BOTH ISSUE CAMPAIGNS AND THE SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS THAT HELP INDIVIDUALS PROCESS CONFLICT, BUILD EMPATHY, AND BREAK DOWN THE "ISMS" THROWN AT US. WE DID THIS THROUGH THE WORK OF THE DEEP CANVASS INSTITUTE (DCI), A COLLABORATIVE INITIATIVE BETWEEN PEOPLE'S ACTION INSTITUTE AND THE NEW CONVERSATIONS INSTITUTE, WHICH HOSTS A ROBUST TRAINING PROGRAM THAT TAUGHT THE PRACTICE OF DEEP CANVASSING TO AN UNPRECEDENTED NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS, MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOVEMENT ALLIES.

SEE SCHEDULE OCENTER FOR HEALTH, ENVIRONMENT & JUSTICETHIS PROJECT SUPPORTS A NATIONWIDE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 300 LOCAL COMMUNITY GROUPS TO ACHIEVE CRITICAL IMPACTS AT THE LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL LEVELS ON ISSUES RELATING TO TOXIC CHEMICALS, POLLUTING FACILITIES, AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL DANGERS.