1959 Highlander Way · New Market, TN 37820 · phone: (865) 933-3443 · fax: (865) 933-3424
e-mail: hrec@highlandercenter.org

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Our goal is to popularize community-driven work connected by a shared understanding of social/political/economic conditions and analysis and strategies. Our plan is to provide training in cultural work, popular education, participatory action research, and the basic steps for building viable organizations that have a genuine, active base. We work with organizations to find ways to build new social relations, to develop a different vision for leadership and sustainability of individuals and organizations, and to do the work of social change in such a way that people can develop wholeness, even as they confront oppressive systems.

Current leadership styles and organizational structures are often the largest barrier to the base we want to develop. There have to be places for entry into shared power and opportunities for growth. We believe that leadership of our organizations cannot rest in one or two charismatic individuals. In order for a broad base to be built, opportunities and training for leadership must be constant, and they must be shared. The more shared, or collective, the leadership, decision-making, and "ownership" of the organization, the more it will be vigorous and growing.

Political education is essential if a base is to be more than just some numbers of people who can occasionally be inspired and mobilized. This means that the process of progressive social change that we create at Highlander is not brief or expedient in its development or approaches. We believe that people have to be politically educated for the long haul so that they are resilient and prepared for all of the issues and circumstances that may arise in a rapidly changing world. We believe that the development of critical thinking and critical analysis is essential to a people's ability to challenge injustice successfully and to create a society that is based on principles of fairness and equality. Thus, we see a movement as starting with people identifying their experiences, sharing their stories, moving to critical analysis, developing strategies, culminating in collective action, reflecting and evaluating this process, and beginning the process again.

Individuals and organizations ask us for support in building and rebuilding organizations, institutions, and communities. We help make social change organizations into spaces where democratic principles are employed and a vision for change is modeled. We support leaders and organizations in the field by assisting with their recruitment, sustainability, and accountability. We help them connect with each other and with other organizations, and we provide opportunities to make linkages internationally as well.

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