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Organizations serving marginalized communities are uniquely positioned to act as a catalyst for increased community leadership and activism. Incorporating effective and meaningful community capacity building into programs and services is a significant commitment.
This commitment requires not only skill development and dedicated resources, but also a shift in the way the organization interacts with clients, constituents, and members. Our programs provide support for organizations in this process through training, planning, and individual technical assistance. We have also seen the immense value of peer learning. Relationship building across issue focus as well as geographic and ethnic differences both deepens the effectiveness of individual organizations’ work and creates opportunities for collaboration and a broader collective impact.
PILA develops programs in direct collaboration with our partners. We believe in discovering and building on their existing strengths and opportunities.
All of our programs are guided by the following values and principles:
Building community capacity toward impact
Leadership development and civic participation are not ends in-and-of-themselves. They build the power of immigrant communities to participate in decision-making that impacts their lives. Though PILA focuses on building the capacity of organizations as a vehicle for civic participation and grassroots leadership, we see effective empowerment as a dynamic process that requires transformation on multiple levels. Our programs seek to transform not only the individuals participating, but also to impact the organizations they work with, and ultimately to create change in their communities.
Linking personal to political
PILA believes that people are motivated to become involved when they can see a connection to issues of real and immediate concern in their lives. PILA also believes that when people see themselves as part of a larger effort or broader community, their civic participation is more sustainable.
Learning-by-doing
PILA believes that people learn best through direct experience. PILA’s programs are participatory and interactive, and acknowledge that real learning occurs when people take lessons back to their organizations or communities and actually apply them.
Peer learning
PILA believes that everyone brings expertise to the table, so learning is a mutual, collaborative process.
Collective learning across language, geography and cultural differences
PILA’s programs help participants bridge language, geographic, and cultural differences to deepen their connections to one another and to the broader community. PILA offers simultaneous interpretation, and translated materials for non-English speakers.
Planning and Evaluation
All of PILA’s programs link planning, reflection, evaluation, and documentation.
Partnerships and selection process
PILA programs formalize partnerships based on specific criteria and a stringent selection process. Our programs feature a variety of issue focus and ethnic communities served. We strive to include a mix of service providers, organizing groups, as well as emerging and more established organizations. Our partners are committed to full participation and involve individuals at various levels. Front-line staff directly involved in implementing civic and political activities, key leadership and decision makers within the organization, and selected community members all get involved.
For more information and lessons learned from PILA's programs, click here .
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