To achieve our mission, Democracy North Carolina supports a number of local coalitions and works with many civic and policy organizations. Here’s why:

• Partnering with other organizations gives us access to issue expertise and community knowledge we need to better understand how our mission and issues fit into NC’s overall future.
• Democracy is, by definition, inclusive. By partnering with a diverse array of groups, we can better understand and more effectively represent the concerns of all North Carolinians as they pertain to democracy in our state.
• When it is time to take action, our partnerships allow us to quickly collaborate with others on common goals — giving us greater impact with candidates and elected officials.
• No one has money to waste on duplication of effort or resources. By partnering with other groups on common goals, we pool our resources and leverage the impact of our individual efforts.

 

Local Partners

Our local partners include civic organizations, faith-based communities, businesses, high schools, colleges and other groups across the state. We provide our partners with training, print materials and hands-on support. Our goal is to empower people to play a more visible role in NC politics.  

 

Statewide Partners

We also partner with statewide organizations on such common goals as issue advocacy; voter registration, education and turn-out; protecting voter rights; and public campaign financing. Our statewide partners include the NC NAACP, NC Voters for Clean Elections, Blueprint NC, AARP, NC Women United, Latin American Coalition, NC Lobbying & Government Reform Coalition, AMEXCAN, Alliance of Black Elected Officials, NC Justice Center, Conservation Council and Conservation Network — plus many other groups that, together, represent a wide variety of North Carolinians.

 

Advocacy Partners

There are some coalitions and organizations in North Carolina with missions that overlap directly with ours. We often work with them in creating and advocating for pro-democracy reform. These groups are seeking to improve democracy by creating a government better equipped to represent all North Carolinians:

• North Carolina Voters for Clean Elections is a large coalition of organizations seeking to improve the vitality of democracy in NC by enacting voluntary public financing programs for candidates who earn the public's trust. http://www.ncvce.org

• The North Carolina Center for Voter Education is dedicated to improving the quality and responsiveness of NC’s election system through voter education and advocacy.  http://www.ncvotered.com

• Common Cause North Carolina is a non-partisan grassroots organization that seeks to broaden and strengthen democracy. It also provides the staff for the NC Coalition for Lobbying.  www.commoncause.org/nc

• NC Policy Watch advances the state policy debate by generating a steady flow of timely, accurate and hard-hitting policy commentary and analysis. www.ncpolicywatch.com

• The Common Sense Foundation is a progressive think tank promoting fairness, justice and opportunity in NC public policy. www.common-sense.org.

• The North Carolina Coalition for Lobbying and Government Reform is dedicated to promoting good government policies that level the playing field for NC citizens.  www.nclobbyreform.org

• GenerationEngage is a nonpartisan civic-engagement initiative connecting young Americans to political leaders, civic organizations, and meaningful debate about the future. www.GenerationEngage.org

• League of Women Voters was formed in 1920 and is a nonpartisan organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government. www.rtpnet.org/~lwvnc

 

Issue Partners

Democracy North Carolina is also part of a broader family of organizations working to ensure that North Carolina is a state where everyone has the same basic freedoms and opportunities — the cornerstone of democracy. Some of these groups include:

• The NC NAACP is our nation and state’s premier civil rights organization. For 100 years, it has advocated for equal political, educational, social and economic rights for all people. www.naacpnc.org

• El Pueblo is a statewide advocacy and public policy organization dedicated to strengthening the Latino Community. www.elpueblo.org

• Equality NC works to secure equality for the state’s LGBT community. www.equalitync.org

• The Alliance of North Carolina Black Elected Officials is a statewide coalition of black elected officials, public policy advocates and community members. www.ncbeoalliance.org

• The A. Philip Randolph Institute is dedicated to developing programs that assure democratic social change and protecting social and economic programs that will improve the lives of all Americans. www.apri.org

At Democracy NC, we also understand that civic participation is, by necessity, a low priority for people worried about where they will live and if their children will have food to eat. Because we want everyone in our state to be able to appreciate their rights as a citizen, and fulfill their responsibilities as a citizen, we support these organizations for their work bringing affordable housing, economic justice and prosperity to urban and rural communities:

• The Coalition to End Homelessness secures resources, encourages public dialogue, and advocates for policies to end homelessness. www.ncceh.org

• The Community Reinvestment Association of North Carolina advocates on behalf of under-served communities, including low-income and minority households. www.cra-nc.org

• NC Fair Share addresses issues of injustice and works for a fairer North Carolina through community organizing and public policy changes at the local, state and national level. www.ncfairshare.org

• The North Carolina Association of Community Development Corporations supports community development corporations and is a catalyst for partnerships that bring together community residents, business leaders and government to solve community problems and increase local investment.  www.ncacdc.org

• The North Carolina Community Development Initiative provides leadership and capital investment to high-performance community development corporations as well as other community based economic development endeavors. www.ncinitiative.org

• The NC Housing Coalition works for decent, safe and affordable housing that promotes self-determination and stable communities. www.nchousing.org

• The NC Justice Center is the state’s leading research and advocacy organization dedicated to transforming NC’s prosperity into opportunity for all. Its mission is to eliminate poverty in NC by ensuring that every household in the state has access to the resources, services and fair treatment it needs in order to enjoy economic security. www.ncjustice.org

There is no greater measure of whether a government is of, by and for the people than a justice system that treats all people equally, regardless of their economic status, gender or race. That’s why we support these organizations in their efforts to build safer communities and fairer courts:

• The Carolina Justice Policy Center is a criminal justice advocacy and policy-based organization that works on a wide range of criminal justice issues, including sentencing reform, alternative programs and the death penalty. www.justicepolicycenter.org

• People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, a nonpartisan, nonprofit, interfaith organization whose mission is to educate and mobilize faith communities to act to abolish the death penalty in the United States. Founded in 1994 in North Carolina, PFADP focuses its programs on organizing among faith communities in the South. www.pfadp.org

• Murder Victims’ Families for Reconciliation works with murder victims’ family members and families of the executed to advocate for abolition of the death penalty and provides support to the families of victims. www.mvfr.org

• NCCADV creates social change through the elimination of the institutional, cultural and individual oppressions that contribute to domestic violence. www.nccadv.org

• The North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault seeks to end sexual violence, ensure fair treatment of survivors and keep NC safe.  www.nccasa.org

• North Carolinians Against Gun Violence educates the public about preventing gun violence, the enforcement of current gun laws and the enactment of needed new laws. www.ncgv.org

A government that is of the people, for the people and by the people respects the issues important to its citizens. One issue that North Carolinians have shown overwhelming support for is the issue of respecting our natural resources. That’s why we work with these groups that are safeguarding our natural resources for future generations and making North Carolina a healthier place to live:

• The North Carolina Conservation Network is a statewide coalition of over 120 environmental and community groups working to protect North Carolina’s environment and public health. www.ncconservationnetwork.org

• The Conservation Council of NC advocates for sound environmental policies and motivates citizens to participate in the democratic process on behalf of the environment. www.conservationcouncilnc.org

• The Conservation Trust for North Carolina works with local land trusts, landowners, communities and other partners to preserve clean drinking water, scenic landscapes, farms and forests and wildlife habitats. www.ctnc.org