Durham, N.C. – On September 8-9, 2024, Southern Vision Alliance kicked off its first-ever Power-Building Cohort. We gathered 12 grassroots leaders from the Triangle, Triad, and Eastern regions. It marked the start of an exciting six-month program to strengthen local power-building, foster collaboration, and equip organizations with the skills they need to succeed in the long term.
We focused much of our kick-off on understanding and building power. Each organization brought a unique perspective to the discussion, and together we explored how grassroots efforts can create real, lasting change. We had thought-provoking discussions about what having power means in different communities, how it shows up, and how we can build it. For some, power means the community decides how community resources are used; for others, it’s challenging unfair systems. Ultimately, it’s all about building collective power across the region and tackling bigger issues like poverty and systemic inequality.
We also heard incredible stories about the work happening on the ground. One highlight was the success of Durham Beyond Policing and their HEART (Holistic Empathetic Assistive Response Team) program. This initiative focuses on offering care instead of criminalization. It is a great example of how local organizing can transform public safety. Others talked about their work in environmental justice, including the fight against North Carolina’s wood pellet industry, an industry with serious environmental and health impacts – despite being promoted as a ‘green’ energy solution.
Participants included Comite de Accion Popular, Dangers of the Mind: Black SEL (Social Emotional Learning), Durham Beyond Policing, Refund Raleigh, Muslim Women For, and the NC Disaster Resilience and Recovery Network. The fact that these organizations are sponsored by SVA allows us to build a strong long term partnership with them. Looking ahead, the next six months will be packed with training sessions. Participants will learn skills like base-building, fundraising, and leadership development. Each organization will also receive personalized coaching, making sure they have the support they need to tackle the particular challenges in their communities. Most importantly, the program will help participants grow their capacity and sustain their efforts long-term.
Collaboration was a huge part of the event. People from different regions and focused on different issues discussed how they can support each other, share resources, and work together on future campaigns. It was inspiring to see how breaking down silos can strengthen our movements. Building our collective movement requires organizations and the people who lead them to have skills and resources to reach and grow their base.
The kick-off was just the beginning. We’ll continue to support these amazing leaders as they build power in their communities. Stay tuned for updates as they use the lessons and connections from this cohort to work toward a more just and equitable future, one community at a time.
