Our Theory of Change
NLA imagines a world where the mobilization and enfranchisement of millions of people has realigned power in our country; where grassroots organizations led by impacted communities have the power to advance and protect social, racial, and economic justice policies that strengthen our democracy and liberate us all from systemic oppression.
NLA believes this vision will become reality when:
Our Core Programmatic Strategies
• Those with historical positions of privilege and power—namely white, socially and economically advantaged people—are using that power to disrupt and transform the ecosystems and structures that lead to systemic oppression.
• Funding practices have evolved so that progressive power-building organizations—including those led by communities most impacted by injustice—are healthy and fully resourced to sustain deep organizing year-round, every year.
The progressive ecosystem has the power and influence to win elections, hold elected officials accountable, and shape how policy is created and implemented.
Those directly affected by harmful policies and inequitable systems are leading the movement for change through grassroots organizing and powerful advocacy.
• State ecosystems and grassroots organizations have the resources, capacity, and knowledge to utilize multiple legal entities—including 501(c)(4)s, 501(c)(5)s, PACs, and corporations—to build and sustain power and influence.
Who We Work With
NLA and TCS center impacted communities in our work. This means we prioritize partnering and collaborating with organizations that center the experiences and voices of marginalized groups at the intersection of race, gender, and class.
Ecosystem Sectors That Must Change
Our Commitment to Equity & Liberation
We believe that commitment to equity, justice, and liberation requires constant interrogation of and endured practice in dismantling systems of oppression in all their forms – systemic, organizational, interpersonal, and personal.
We know that systemic change and building progressive power requires examining how power is used to generate and perpetuate oppressive systems. We also
know that true liberation work requires us to be conscious of oppressive habits
of dominant culture that show up in our organizations, relationships, work, and lives. And we know we must be bold in imagining what’s possible so that we may transform ourselves, our communities, and society.
We strive to lean into our organizational values of equity, justice, and liberation by analyzing the deep historical and modern impact of the interlocking systems of racism, sexism, homophobia, ableism, and economic oppression; committing time and resources to personal and internal organizational practices; ensuring our values inform our work, programs, partnerships, relationships, and governance; and by centering those most impacted by systemic oppression in our work.