In February 2006, Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE) convened the Los Angeles Apollo Alliance. From this, they launched a 3-5 year public policy campaign to ensure that low income communities are strategically connected to the job creation and environmental returns of an emerging green economy.

Now, on the eve of California’s March 3rd election, the Los Angeles Apollo Alliance is continuing to shape a new equitable green economy by endorsing Measure B. Please watch this video that shows officials debating Measure B in West Los Angeles on Tuesday, February 17th. [Read more]

Buffalo, NY-On February 12^th, the Coalition for Economic Justice welcomed the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers (UE) to Buffalo on their national speaking tour. CEJ was eager to learn from their story and congratulate them on their triumph over big banks and corporate greed in Chicago, IL.

In December of 2008, 260 UE workers were outraged to learn that in just 3 days their jobs would be eliminated. With federal law on their side (WARN), and a worker-based union, the Republic Windows and Doors employees staged a lock-in. For 6 days, workers remained inside the shop, demanding payment for what they were rightfully owed, pensions and vacation. On the 6^th day, the Bank of America, the financial backer of Republic Windows and Doors, wrote a 1.7 million dollar check to cover the employees pensions. The UE lock-in received national acclaim and coverage. [Read more]

Pushback Network (PBN) proudly welcomes accomplished social justice leader Peter Hardie as its new Executive Director.

Emphasizing community organizing and voter engagement strategies to empower underrepresented constituencies, PBN continues to grow as an organization assisting people in defining their mutual interests and working together to improve their lives.

“Peter is ideally poised to help lead the Pushback Network as a facilitator and as a leader in the national and local struggles for justice and democracy,” said PBN Chair Robby Rodriguez. “Currently, PBN is developing and implementing voter engagement and other civic participation strategies in eight states: New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Alabama, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, and California. We foster collaborative efforts to increase the effectiveness of groups doing community organizing and non-partisan electoral work on the ground. Peter Hardie is an ideal fit for PBN because his career has combined organizing, advocacy and activism with significant experience and practice in organizational assessment and development. He has worked side by side with coalitions across the country and internationally to build grassroots political power from the bottom up. Peter has coached and advised a diverse range of organizations and knows how to encourage the best outcomes from them.” [Read more]