Western States Center has connected the Center for Intercultural Organizing to so many incredible activists and organizations across the region - and the nation. The Center truly is the hub on the wheel of social justice in the West. Happy 21st, y'all!

Being in Montana doing the kind of work we do has the potential of feeling isolating. Coming into contact with Western States Center and CSTI really opened my eyes to all the amazing organizing happening around the west. Every year when I am feeling a bit tired, without fail CSTI reinvigorates and inspires me.

When I joined the Equality State Policy Center in 2005 after a career in journalism, I knew a lot about government and how it works and I knew a lot about Wyoming. I didn't know much about advocacy, knew damn little about running a nonprofit organization, and, it seems, had not explored some of those remote corners of my own sensibilities about race, diversity, immigration, and GLBT issues.

A number of years ago, the Western States Center asked me to join Eric Ward to do a workshop at CSTI on the Arab/Israeli conflict. As a Jew who opposes the Occupation and the Israeli settlements, but who was also concerned about apologists for antisemitism among progressive colleagues, I found it a really scary prospect.

The first CSTI I went to left a lasting impression. I was used to going to conferences where a broad range of issues were covered with perfunctory analysis but I had never been to one in which the presenters dealt with the provacative depths of the issues. I felt that showed a fundamental respect for CSTI participants. I remember that Scot Nakagawa was on the panel of a morning plenary.

I have the great pleasure of serving on the Board of Western States Center. This is a special honor in my personal journey as an activist because Western States has been the single most invaluable support system in nurturing my leadership to organize for human rights advances in Idaho.

CSTI has been there for me over the years when I needed to recharge my batteries. I've attended in several different roles: as a community organizer, as a funder, and as a consultant and faculty member. All have been mind-expanding and inspirational.

Politics and love: whatta combo!