What Can I Do as a Community Activist?

Community activists often start by creating a Partnership Study/Action group.

Models for Study/Action Groups:

The Partnership Studies Group in Udine, Italy
The Partnership Living Portland Group in Portland, Oregon
A Model of Partnership Study in a Community Setting in Albuquerque, New Mexico

The following books by Riane Eisler can be used for discussion and action-planning:

The Chalice and the Blade (now in its 57th US printing and 27 foreign editions) is a great starting point, especially for groups interested in the deep history of domination and partnership as two social alternatives.

The Power of Partnership is a step-by-step guide to how domination or partnership impact the major relationships in our lives, from our relationship with ourselves, to our intimate relationships, to how we relate to our community, nation, world, spirituality, and nature. Each chapter includes activities to spark reflection and sharing.

The Real Wealth of Nations is an important tool for groups interested in advocating for a more equitable, sustainable, and caring economy and reshaping the economic system to include the foundational economic contributions of caring for people and our earth.

Tomorrow's Children focuses on improving education and ensuring that young people develop their full potentials.

Work for Partnership is happening in communities all over the world. The Center for Partnership Systems and the Partnerism Movement offer grassroots change leaders the language, concepts, and tools to focus on foundational areas that support real culture change.

Partnership principles can guide HOW you work together, ensuring that your group's norms and processes model and support partnership relationships. Here are some guidelines:

Download the Principles for Partnership Communities

Where to Begin?
Partnership begins with you! You can bring partnership principles into any community you belong to -- from your family to workplace to city or country. All successful initiatives begin in the heart and mind of one person or group committed to action. Most people want to be part of the solution to our problems, so everyone can play a role -- from a person writing opinion pieces and blogs, to a nonprofit organizing a campaign.

Partnership communities take many forms, including:

People that gather to promote an aspect of partnership
A program convened under the auspices of an existing organization
A nonprofit organization organized to address partnership issues
A community collaborative of multiple organizations addressing one or more of the four cornerstones of Partnership Systems

Community collaborative
City-wide campaign
Church/synagogue/mosque interested in book study, discussion, social justice project
Voluntary association affiliated with a cause: women?s group; home schooler, etc.
In-service education for educators or human service organizations
Peace initiative
Chamber of commerce task force
Leadership training program
College department of social work, sociology, leadership, family studies, education, etc.
Media group campaign
Professional association, such as an education association
High school (e.g., a partnership club)

Start a Partnership Study/Action Group

The Partnerism Movement

Organize Your Community Action Group Around Principles of Partnership

Partnership Groups can be a:

Our websites: