GROUNDWORK STATES

At Groundwork Project, we invest year-round in local community organizing. With a primary focus on Appalachia, the Deep South, and the Plains, we play the long game. Day to day, year to year: We show up to help build durable civic and political infrastructure in communities that have been overlooked, excluded and disenfranchised.

Meet our first four partner states. And stay tuned for more!

Alabama

Alabama's rich political history features some of the most history-changing local organizing of the Civil Rights Era - and some of our nation's most stark setbacks to justice and equity in the form of white supremacy. Reckoning with this juxtaposition offers a path to durable power-building and progress over the next ten years.

Beginning with the infamous "Southern Strategy" of the 1960s, the conservative movement executed a successful effort to wrestle near-complete political control in Alabama at the local, state, and federal level. They've used this power with reckless abandon in recent years, imposing myriad voter suppression tactics, a near-total ban on abortions, and a transgender athlete ban.

Nevertheless there are signs of real opportunity and hope for the road ahead including demographic shifts, a broad base of likely voters committed to a more progressive future, and a vibrant, multi-racial coalition of 501c3 and 501c4 organizations and local political leaders working creatively and collaboratively to execute a long-term plan to undo conservative dominance in the state. Sustained organizing is needed to engage likely voters, listen, and build trust.

outline of Alabama

Alabama Organizer Grantees

United Women of Color

Huntsville, AL

Faith & Works Collective

Birmingham, AL

Alabama Values Progress

Montgomery, AL

People's Budget Birmingham

Birmingham, AL

Political Healers

Alabama, Statewide

Transform Alabama

Talladega, AL

Stand Up Mobile

Mobile, AL

Alabama Mini-Grantees

theliteraryhealingarts

Alabama, Statewide

Alabama Appleseed

Montgomery & Birmingham, AL

Faith & Works Collective

Birmingham, AL

Return My Vote

Birmingham & Tuscaloosa, AL

Alabama Values Progress

Montgomery, AL

Southern Center for

Human Rights

Alabama, Statewide

National Black Action Group's logo (a golden circle with the letters "N.B.A.G")

National Black Action Group

Birmingham, AL

Hometown Organizing Project

Alabama, Statewide

Transform Alabama

Alabama, Statewide

People's Budget Birmingham

Birmingham, AL

Project Say Something

Florence, AL

Faith in Action AL

Birmingham, AL

Alabama Justice Initiative

Jefferson County, AL

Alabama Values

Montgomery, AL

outline of Mississippi

Mississippi

For all of modern history, Mississippi has been the epicenter of some of our nation's most consequential fights for voting rights, racial justice and democracy itself.

Today, the legacy of Jim Crow echoes through the politics, public policy, and lived experience of residents in this still deeply segregated state. But there are signs of hope for growing progressive power in the electorate - as evidenced last cycle when voters overwhelmingly passed progressive ballot initiatives to remove the Confederate flag from its state flag and legalize medical marijuana.

With this in mind, local leaders have built on Mississippi's historic tradition of organizing and advocacy, working over the last five years to create critical infrastructure, develop voter engagement strategies and expand data capacity. But more resources are needed to overcome generations of racial disenfranchisement and build equitable power for all residents.

To counteract the powerful forces of white supremacy and segregation still at play in the state, a deep, sustained, and year-round effort is needed to engage young, Black voters, activate sporadic voters (particularly those in rural areas that have lost faith), and to implement long-term strategic persuasion campaigns aimed at shifting moveable white voters around a more progressive future.

mississippi organizer grantees

Mississippi Workers' Center

for Human Rights

Greenville, MS

SHERo Mississippi

Jackson, MS

Quitman County

Development Organization

Quitman County, MS

Immigrant Alliance for

Justice and Equity

Jackson, MS

Mississippi Center for Re-Entry

Walls, MS

Mississippi Coalition to End

Corporal Punishment

Durant, MS

Steps Coalition

Gulfport, MS

Mississippi Mini-Grantees

SHERo Mississippi

Jackson, MS

Delta Foundation, Inc.

Greenville, MS

Immigrant Alliance for

Justice and Equity

Jackson, MS

Quitman County

Development Organization

Quitman County, MS

Shape Up Mississippi

Vicksburg, MS

Mississippi Center for Re-Entry

Walls, MS

ForEver Caring Evonne

Jackson, MS

Growing Resilience

In the South (GRITS, Inc.)

Jackson, MS

Oklahoma

Oklahoma made headlines this year for being the first state in the country to pass a near-total ban on abortion. Its state legislature routinely makes national news for being amongst the most regressive in the nation. Public education, in particular, has been systemically defunded for years, making Oklahoma ground zero for anti-CRT and other classroom censorship efforts sweeping the country.

This largely-rural state has the lowest voter turnout and highest incarceration rate in the United States and political leadership that remains a deep shade of red.

But Groundwork sees clear seeds of opportunity on the ground if the resources can be secured to grow them. The organizing ecosystem on the ground is climbing high, despite the odds. Efforts are underway to form the first-ever civic engagement table and grassroots donor alliance. Last year, local activists captured national attention for their successful efforts to secure clemency for death row prisoner Julius Jones. Demographics provide additional opportunity, with a fast-growing Latino population that will turn Oklahoma City into a majority-minority city by 2030. And with 39 federally-recognized native tribes, Oklahoma’s native communities provide additional areas of opportunity, if approached with attention, respect and care.

Make no mistake: The political road ahead in Oklahoma is extremely difficult for those committed to a more just and equitable future for all. But that is precisely why Groundwork is choosing to work here. If we can get the incredible local organizers and leaders on the ground resources to educate, activate and engage voters they will write a new political story for Oklahoma’s future.

Outline of Oklahoma

Oklahoma Organizer Grantees

Julius Jones Institute

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Parent Legislative

Action Committee

Oklahoma, Statewide

Let's Fix This

Oklahoma City, OK

Red Dirt Collective

Norman, OK

Oklahoma Civic

Learning Coalition

Oklahoma City & Tulsa, OK

Foundation for Liberating Minds

Oklahoma City, OK

Freedom Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Mini-Grantees

Tulsa Voter Van

Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma Appleseed

Oklahoma, Statewide

Julius Jones Institute

Oklahoma City, OK

Freedom Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Civic

Learning Coalition

Oklahoma City & Tulsa, OK

Oklahoma Progress Now

Oklahoma City, OK

Oklahoma Parent Legislative

Action Committee

Oklahoma, Statewide

Let's Fix This

Oklahoma City, OK

Vote for Change OK

Oklahoma, Statewide

Norman Care-A-Vans

Norman, OK

Sally's List

Oklahoma City, OK

outline of West Virginia

West Virginia

The premier front for some of the most consequential labor battles in modern American history, West Virginia spent decades defined by proud populism, a distinct economic identity, and a deeply rural livelihood. But its rightward turn has been stark. Hollowed out political infrastructure has left progressives largely hamstrung in efforts to address the impact of the generational decline of the steel and coal industries on policy, politics, and public opinion in the state.

The only way to build back depleted trust is a coordinated, sustained, and several-cycle deep-canvassing effort, led by trusted, local community members, to persuade voters who have lost faith that a progressive future will benefit them and their loved ones.

A growing organizing ecosystem on the ground is ripe for additional investment as it begins to implement smart and sustainable strategies. From expanding 501c3 and 501c4 civic engagement tables to an energetic populist coalition, we see a rising generation of leadership who will change the trajectory of the state if they can secure the resources to do the work.

west virginia organizer grantees

West Virginia Black Voter

Impact Initiative

Charleston, WV

West Virginia Rivers

Charleston, WV

West Virginia Faith Coalition

Morganstown, WV

West Virginia United Caucus

West Virginia, Statewide

Olive Tree Soc.'s logo (an olive branch)

Olive Tree Initiative

Charleston, WV

SOAR West Virginia

Charleston, WV

wv-tenant-logo-1080x1080

WV Tenant Rights Project

Mercer County, WV

West Virginia Mini-Grantees

Black by God

Morgantown, WV

Olive Tree Soc.'s logo (an olive branch)

Olive Tree Initiative

Charleston, WV

Black Appalachian Coalition

West Virginia, Statewide

Greenbrier Valley Pride

Greenbrier County, WV

SOAR West Virginia

Charleston, WV

West Virginia Faith Coalition

Morgantown, WV

West Virginia Black Voter

Impact Initiative

Charleston, WV

WV Black Pride Foundation

Charleston, WV

Southern Appalachian Labor School

Fayette County, WV