This combination builds on a history of collaboration between the two organizations, which have jointly sponsored programs for advocacy practitioners in Ukraine, Macedonia, and Russia over the past 10 years. Both organizations share a common mission of helping ordinary citizens influence the key institutions and decisions that shape their lives, and a deep-seated belief that societies thrive only when civil sectors are strong and autonomous.
“The Advocacy Institute has an outstanding history of leadership and accomplishment in the field of social justice and advocacy,” said ISC President George Hamilton, “and now they have chosen to do a remarkable thing, entrusting their assets and legacy to ISC. We are deeply honored, and we intend to build on the Advocacy Institute’s excellent work to serve citizen leaders in the U.S. and around the world.”
“We are very proud of the contribution the Advocacy Institute has made to nurturing and strengthening social justice advocates in their ongoing efforts to change the power equation in their communities and societies,” said David Cohen, a co-founder and board member of the Advocacy Institute. “This is our legacy and we have a great sense of comfort that by joining with ISC, an organization we have come to know and value over the past decade, that legacy will endure and grow.”
The decision comes at a pivotal time for both organizations. The two groups have exemplary experience providing technical assistance and support to thousands of individuals and organizations striving for a better quality of life worldwide. In addition to its community action and sustainable development programs, ISC has developed a signature approach to citizen participation and grassroots advocacy. The Advocacy Institute’s Advocacy Fellows program has been one of the key ingredients in ISC’s success. ISC plans to launch a new “Advocacy Center” as a home for cutting-edge knowledge on advocacy best practices and as a resource to advocacy practitioners worldwide. This Advocacy Center will be home to the Advocacy Institute’s intellectual assets, its storehouse of tools and knowledge on a range of topics.
In addition, ISC is poised to expand its U.S. program through new connections with the Advocacy Institute’s network of grassroots advocacy leaders across the country, including participants from the Ford Foundation’s signature Leadership for a Changing World awards program, which ISC will administer.
For the Advocacy Institute, the decision to partner with another organization follows a year of strategic planning that commenced with the retirement from the Advocacy Institute of founders, Mike Pertschuk and David Cohen, and long-time CEO, Kathleen Sheekey. Rather than move forward on its own within a relatively narrow, though deep, area of expertise, the Advocacy Institute’s Board of Directors initiated a search for a partner whose complementary assets and similar world view would produce a progressive organization well-suited to succeed in the 21st century.
According to the Advocacy Institute Board Chair Richard Paisner, “ISC is the perfect partner – a strong and stable institution, led by experienced and highly capable individuals, with the built-in expertise to put the methodologies, tools, and connections that the Advocacy Institute has developed and nurtured over time to good use. We are confident that the advocates we have worked with these many years will be well-served by ISC and its dedicated leadership and staff.”
This agreement will go into effect on September 29th, when ISC will launch the Advocacy Center and the Advocacy Institute will transfer its financial and intellectual assets to ISC.
CONTACTS
Institute for Sustainable Communities
Tel.: 802 229 2900
Website: www.iscvt.org
Advocacy Institute
Tel.: 202 478 6192
Website: www.advocacy.org
