"Now, more than ever, there is a need to develop a mass base that really looks at a long term progressive agenda, and organizing is a key strategy in that agenda. And so what MAAP does, it trains organizers and people to really think of themselves as movement builders, especially people of color as the primary constituency to help lead this movement."
CTWO New Directions: Race and Global Economy
Roots of Change.
Formed in 1980, CTWO has been at the forefront of organizing for social change in low income communities of color.
Recognizing the need around the country and inspired and motivated by the international efforts and national movements, CTWO realized there needed to be a vehicle that strengthened the social change infrastructure in a meaningful way.
Thus, CTWO’s pioneering organizer training program was conceived, and is now today’s Movement Activist Apprenticeship Program (MAAP), with close to 500 graduates spanning 30 years, effecting changes in the social, economic, and environmental justice movements around the country and world.
New Directions.
CTWO recognizes that today’s world and society is abruptly and uniquely different than when it started training and producing organizers. Organizers must stay relevant and current, while not losing sight of our roots. We are accountable to conditions of the global economy. As the world’s wealthiest nation’s finances are in disarray, and sharp disparities prevail in abundance– jobs, education, housing, environment, health care – we recognize that our low income communities of color arguably need more from the movement than ever before.
Our society particularly has witnessed a dramatic upsurge in the lowering of the quality of life of the Black and African-American community: there are more Black men in prison now than in college; close to 50% of all adult African Americans have been incarcerated at some point in their life; life expectancy for African Americans continues to be among the lowest of all races; the unemployment rate for Blacks is twice as high as the national rate.
With this in mind, CTWO is embarking on an exciting journey with a number of core components:
1. New visions. "Crafting transformative strategies where race and the global economy meet". Exploring the role of organizing within and among worker centers, by enhancing their infrastructure and capacity as they wage campaigns to guarantee the future of quality work and jobs for low-wage workers.
2. Our core organizer trainings will be upgraded by infusing today’s technology, and social media as integral components to grassroots organizing that continues to address structural and systemic inequities
3. CTWO will join the new arena of electoral organizing pioneered by many of our key allies and historic partners. We will forge new alliances and coalitions to help scale up efforts to address issues only strategic alliance building can influence with significant results.
As part of it’s New Directions lens, CTWO looks to help strengthen the infrastructure and capacity of the low wage worker network, conduct strategic engagement with allies and partners in the arena of civic engagement, voter activism, policy development, and candidate development.
Our new turn leads us to tackle fast moving economic changes with a focus on becoming a training wing of the growing movement of low-wage worker centers. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with innovative groups in local and regional communities and to help facilitate their organizing capacity. CTWO’s experience and vision ideally situates us for this role. We embrace it with excitement and resolve.
CTWO's “race and the economy initiative” is ambitious, and we believe that to make it all work requires a big shift in our organization and in our resources. But we’re not changing everything. We at CTWO remain deeply committed to enhancing our popular and successful MAAP and CAT programs, enhancing our Alumni network outreach, re-integrating technology and social media and communications, and aligning it all under the race and economy initiative. As we continue to welcome new leadership, our key CTWO veterans also remain loyal and engaged. So we look forward to seeing you in the next phase in our journey along the path to justice!
Wendall Chin, Acting Director, March 2013
 CTWO 2013 Grand Opening |
CTWO Leadership Team job announcement Race & Economy Director
Tuesday October 16, 2012
CTWO’s new directions’ vision recognizes that political energies within communities of color are increasingly focusing on spheres of labor and networks of migration that aren't contained within fixed geographic bounds. Formations and political strategies have transformed to address this expression of globalization of markets and new economy.
CTWO Completes First Ever Political Organizer Project (POP!) Joins Historic Efforts to Pass and Defeat California Proposition 30 and 32
Saturday November 24, 2012
As the entire country sat on pins and needles wondering who the next President would be, POP! Fellows joined the surge of efforts in California to pass and defeat critical propositions 30 and 32. After mail-in and provisional ballots had been counted, voter turnout in Alameda County ended up once again at over 75%, one of the highest in history. More than 60% of these ballots were mail-in/provisional, showing the continual trend towards making it easier for working poor/people of color to vote and supporting a growing argument for all-mail ballot elections.
The Sale of the CTWO Mansion & Our New Turn Nimble and National
Tuesday November 27, 2012
The Center for Third World Organizing (CTWO) is making a big move.
Actually, we’re making two big moves.
After more than three decades of adapting to new realities and shaping the organizing landscape, CTWO is again recreating itself to meet new challenges and opportunities.
Enter the Year of the Snake (aka "Little Dragon") New Turn and Comings and Goings
Saturday February 23, 2013
CTWO's New Turn:
- Race and Global Economy Gathering 2012
- Race and Economy Initiative Kicks off 2013 with visits to NYC, DC
Comings and Goings:
- Sale of Mansion completed
- Surprise Departures of CTWO familiy members, Dr. Tomas Garrett and David Villalobos
- Welcome Nancy Benavides and Thank you Nneka Taylor
- Mansion Tribute Event being planned; CTWO new office warming party upcoming
