Pushback Network

“Developing deeper relationships with some of the most innovative and powerful movement building organizations in the country [is] a huge boost to our efforts here in Nevada. PLAN seeks to achieve social justice, deepen democracy and transform power–we now have a model, tool and powerful ally in the Pushback Network.”
– Kenya Pierce, Board Chair, Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

Nevada is a Western state with a changing demographic. Originally, it was a predominantly white, mining, ranching, resource and gaming state. However with Las Vegas’ preeminence as a prime entertainment destination, Nevada is expanding its’ gaming and entertainment industries, with negative social and environmental consequences.

Alongside its powerful union allies, Progressive Leadership Association of Nevada (PLAN) is the most influential progressive social and economic justice organization. PLAN is a coalition building, leadership development, legislative and policy activist organization. PLAN’s Executive Director, Bob Fulkerson, is a fifth generation Nevadan who has worked on social justice issues for over 20 years and co-founded PLAN in 1994.

Nevada Anchor Organization

Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada

The Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) was formed in 1994 to bring people and organizations together to build a better Nevada. PLAN includes more than two-dozen groups dedicated to working for social, economic, and environmental justice. Its member groups include anti-poverty activists, people of color, children’s advocates, disabled persons, environmentalists, lesbians and gay men, and labor unions.

PLAN works with diverse constituencies—many of whom do not traditionally work together—and builds bridges so that collectively we can build the power to impact policy decisions on a wide range of issues. Its mission is to build collective strategic action among coalition partners in order to deepen democracy and achieve greater social justice in Nevada. PLAN uses research, public education, leadership development and grassroots organizing to build power and create more humane solutions to Nevada’s problems.

Learn more about PLAN on their website.

What’s going on in Nevada

Recently PLAN has helped pass death penalty reforms, one of the strongest renewable energy portfolio laws in the country, and increased human services funding. PLAN has won monumental policy victories on campaign finance disclosure, racial profiling, AIDS drug funding, low income energy assistance, contraceptive equity, mental health parity, and worker health and safety. PLAN helped defeat parental notification, “paycheck protection”, privatization of medical providers in prisons, “English Only”, and attempts to deny state scholarships to undocumented students.

Currently PLAN is also working hard with partners across the state to ensure clean, potable water rights for all Nevadans. Focusing on sustainable growth in one of the fastest growing states in the country, as well as voter engagement, health care access and more, PLAN staff, volunteers and organizational partners are criss-crossing the state building alliances and pushing for social, economic, and environmental justice for all Nevadans.

“Nevada has every conceivable social problem you can think of – from gambling addiction to the highest crystal meth use in the country. With all our social ills – it’s a tragedy that state spending on social services and education is so low- given that the state’s largest industry helps to contribute to the problems here.” — Nevada Organizer