Our democracy and our movements for social justice are being challenged, tested, and attacked on unprecedented levels.
But we have a plan to strengthen and fortify our institutions, our organizations, and our people to withstand and protect against authoritarianism. And we are hard at work putting it into action.
Our vision ↓
Our vision
Over the next ten years, we will envision weaving a strong, resilient, and values-aligned ecosystem that can innovate, build, and wield power with...
Movements that understand how to operate in ways that align with social justice and enable them to build power using the full range of tools and strategies possible.
Social justice groups that have access to the knowledge needed to operate boldly and safely.
Operational staff from entry level to senior level who feel supported over their careers to learn, grow, shift across organizations and states as needed, and stay within our movements.
The Plan
New Left Accelerator (NLA), Center for Empowered Politics Action Fund (CEPAF), Bolder Advocacy, The Capacity Shop (TCS), and Center for Empowered Politics Education Fund (CEPEF) have formed the Power & Protect Operations Network (PON) to support power-building organizations and leaders in the field with operations, compliance, and multi-entity infrastructure. In other words, the core components of any organizational-hardening effort.
Strategy 1
Meet demand for rapid response
We are scaling our programs to meet unprecedented demand and build secure organizations for the long-term. We are providing preventative technical assistance for organizational hardening, coordinating with and supporting the growing safety and security ecosystem, and creating state-based safety and solidarity plans.
Strategy 2
Build a resource hub and school to democratize access to operations know-how
We are building a centralized knowledge hub that will house resources, tools, and trainings focused on topics like compliance, finance, human resources, and multi-entity infrastructure. We are also creating a school with on-demand classes, in-person gatherings, peer-to-peer communities, and mentoring and fellowship opportunities to deepen the bench of multi-entity competent operations staff for the field.
Strategy 3
Develop long-term infrastructure to sustain movement ecosystems
We are cultivating the permanent infrastructure that will keep our movements safe by collaborating with the field to build innovative legal structures, develop sustainable funding streams, and implement shared back-office solutions for state power-building ecosystems and networks.
Who We Are
We are a network of multi-entity competent operations providers with a proven track record of increasing the operational capacity and safety of power-building organizations. Our combined experience over the past decade includes running programs in 9 states, providing technical assistance to 300+ organizations, and training organizations from 40 states.
Members of the PON network have a history of collaboration. Seeing a gap in multi-entity competent operations knowledge and support, we came together several years ago as values-aligned capacity providers and knowledge-area experts to engage in thought partnership about what was needed to fill this gap and build solid movement infrastructure at the state and national level. In 2024, we resolved to address the high threat environment we find ourselves in now by helping power-building organizations understand and navigate the complexities of operations and multi-entity infrastructure in the context of rising authoritarianism. From this urgency came the Power and Protect Operations Network.
PON Education Fund members
PON Action Fund members
Invest in us
We invite you to support this vision and learn more about this work. Please contact us if you are interested in investing in the safety and long-term security of the social justice ecosystem.
