A Brief History of Western States Center

1985 to 1986 (the head scratching years)

Idea for Western States Center conceived at board meeting of A Territory Resource (ATR)

Organizer's Guide to a Memorable Conference - WPLN conference

1987 to 1992

Center opens! Celtics play Lakers in NBA Finals (1987)
First Western Progressive Leadership Network (WPLN) conference (1990)
First Community Strategic Training Initiative (CSTI - 1991)
Wise Use Public Exposure Project (WUPEP) starts up as joint project with MT State AFL-CIO
Money in Western Politics Project begins assembling data on campaign contributions
1st episode of The Simpsons debuts on Fox Network

1993 to 1997

First Advanced Leadership and Mentorship Program (ALMP) class
WPLN Program helps establish statewide progressive coalitions in Nevada, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah
Oregon defeats Ballot Measure 9, the first of many victories against anti-gay ballot measures across the region
Alongside Rural Organizing Project, Coalition for Human Dignity & NW Coalition Against Malicious Harrassment, the Center helps lead movement to counter Right Wing organizing
Successful leadership transition: Malachowsky steps down, Petegorsky comes in as new ED
Center helps launch Ballot Initiative Strategy Center

1998 to 2002

Oregon’s first farmworker collective bargaining agreement is signed between PCUN and Nature’s Fountain Farm
PLAN helps pass Employment Non-Discrimination Act in Nevada
Idaho organizers win minimum wage for farmworkers
Center helps launch Western Prison Project as sponsored project, jointly publishes The Prison Payoff
Center’s Money in Western Politics office in MT goes national, spins off to become Institute on Money in State Politics
Center launches Research and Action for Change and Equity (RACE) program

2003 to 2007

Voter Organizing, Training and Empowerment (VOTE ) Project works with 11 groups to register, educate & turn out voters in the 2004 elections and provides hundred of thousands of dollars in grants
Center’s Gender Justice Program takes off
Family, Community and Sexuality Projects holds “Progressive Family Values Summit” in Boise
Base Building Project works to build and strengthen organizing capacity in communities of color
Western Institute for Organizing and Leadership Development for Immigrants and Refugees (WILDIR) class brings together 15 immigrant and refugee leaders from nine different countries of origin
Ralph Smith Foundation commits $3 million to support the Center’s VOTE Project, a game-changing gift to provide stable, long term training and support for grassroots voter organizing work

2008

Western States Center's 21st Birthday