PSJ Receives Award

Partnership for Safety and Justice received an award from Western States Center for PSJ’s success in building grassroots political power and translating that power into concrete victories. The award was presented at Western States Center’s annual banquet in front of nearly 300 people in August.

Western States Center is a regional organization based in Portland but working in eight western states. The Center provides intensive organizational development and organizing support to a range of progressive social change groups. Partnership for Safety and Justice partnered with the Center on its work to defeat Mannix’s Measure 61. With help from the Center’s VOTE Program, PSJ developed some of the necessary tools and skills required to successfully weigh in on a major, statewide ballot measure campaign.
 
“Western States Center works with some of the most accomplished grassroots social change organizations in the region. Recognition from them feels really special” says David Rogers, PSJ’s Executive Director. “Truthfully, we didn’t have significant ballot measure organizing experience before 2008. So the guidance and support we received from the Center was instrumental in our success.”
 
The Center’s VOTE Program encourages advocacy organizations to use elections to build their capacity and take a movement building approach. Partnership for Safety and Justice did exactly that in its approach to the Measure 61/57 campaign. PSJ was a founding member of the steering committee that developed the Better Way to Fight Crime Committee. This political action committee was the primary vehicle in the work to pass Measure 57 and oppose Measure 61. PSJ quietly anchored the campaign efforts in both fundraising and field operations.
 
Between May and Election Day, PSJ volunteers logged over 1,900 hours and conducted personal outreach to over 15,000 Oregon voters, made over 100 community presentations, and brought in 229 new dues-paying members. Additionally, the combined efforts of PSJ and our affiliated 501c4, the Safety and Justice Action Fund, leveraged over $220,000 to support the passage of Measure 57 and the defeat of Measure 61.
 
PSJ looks forward to continuing its fruitful collaboration with Western States Center.