Pushback Network

“Pushback makes real the power of the work we’re doing locally.”
– Karla Zombro, SCOPE

California is the most populous state in the nation, with 36 million people, and it’s one of the world’s most diverse. No race or ethnic group constitutes a majority of the state’s population. One of every four Californians is an immigrant – a higher proportion than in any other state.

The bustle of everyday life in California’s diverse communities sharply contrasts with its political landscape. Although the state has undergone major political shifts over the last two decades, the state of civic affairs is in fact languishing. It’s marked by record-setting declines in civic participation, and an ever-widening gap between those that vote and those that don’t – mostly distinguished by race, income and education.

The California Alliance Progressive Electoral Project (PEP) is a collective effort to boost communities of color, low-income communities, and young people into greater civic involvement. It envisions effective networks of community-based groups committed to grassroots civic participation and the capacity to coordinate multi-region field programs as a way to build progressive state power.

California Anchor Organizations

California Alliance

Founded in 2003, The California Alliance is committed to developing long-term strategic initiatives from a common set of values and vision. Its Progressive Electoral Project (PEP) is a collective effort to boost communities of color, low-income communities, and young people into greater civic involvement. This work enables the California Alliance to move beyond defensive and tactical work to advancing policy ideas that resonate with both our base communities and the mainstream electorate.

Learn more about California Alliance on their website.

Strategic Concepts in Organizing and Policy Education (SCOPE)

SCOPE works to develop multi-dimensional approaches that reduce and eliminate structural barriers to social and economic opportunities for poor and economically disadvantaged communities and communities of color. SCOPE pursues this mission by building grassroots organization, leadership, alliances and power in communities most affected by social and economic justice; developing movement and power FROM THE BOTTOM UP through organizing, alliance building, and collaborations in expanding arenas of struggle (local, regional, statewide and national); and winning systemic social change from the bottom up.

Learn more about SCOPE on their website.

What’s going on in California

The California Alliance’s PEP has helped to boost our regional coalition building. We’ve connected with groups doing similar work throughout the state, and have taken advantage of joint planning, training, technical assistance and voter contact tools.

“Pushback advances our efforts to build electoral capacity and coalition throughout California’s diverse political landscape.”
– Rudy Gonzalves, California Alliance