About Western States Center     

Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center (WSC) works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy. For over 35 years, our work has advanced social, racial, and economic justice by convening, developing, organizing, and supporting the communities most affected by inequities. We’ve played a catalytic role, working with community partners to build people-centered movements, defend democracy, develop new leaders, and shift culture with our eyes on the prize of a society where all can live, love, and work free from bigotry and fear. Our Common Good program focuses on developing effective leaders to counteract the divisive effects of antisemitism on American democracy, part of our broader work within four pillars: Movement Building, Leadership Development, Shifting Culture, and Defending Democracy. 

 Position Overview 

Western States Center’s Common Good program is a core part of our work to address the urgent challenges facing our country and the growing threat of white nationalism, antisemitism, and organized bigotry. This program develops diverse leaders, raises awareness, and strategizes to combat the threat of antisemitism to American democracy.

Over the past four years, the Common Good program has developed and led nearly a dozen cohort experiences for a diverse array of leaders, including: civic and faith leaders, organizers, artists and creatives, philanthropists, undergraduate students, and government personnel. These cohorts have all focused on developing skills essential to promoting an equitable and sustainable American democracy and on advancing’ participants understanding of the particular threat of antisemitism to our society and to progressive efforts for racial and social equity. Common Good cohorts last anywhere from 3-18 months and can take place virtually, in-person or in a hybrid manner. Our leadership cohorts purposefully engage a diverse range of participants, with a special emphasis on local and national civil rights and community leaders, artists and creatives, college students, and occasionally philanthropists. Domestic and international travel has been a regular and significant part of the cohort experience.  

The Common Good Program Co-Director will be critical to ushering this impactful program into its next phase: a strategic evolution from pilot/testing mode into a sophisticated and robust leadership development program that continues to be central to Western States Center’s growing national programming to counter white nationalism, combat antisemitism, and expand American democracy.  

This position is an important member of Western States Center’s senior program team and will report to the Director of Programs. This full-time Co-Director role will work alongside an existing part-time Co-Director. Collaboration will be critical, but the roles of the two directors will be distinct.  

The full-time Common Good Co-Director will lead Common Good programming, including developing training and leadership formation opportunities, building diverse coalitions to counter the threat of antisemitism, partnering with other program staff and local communities on strategic campaigns, and advancing an inclusive democracy narrative in media and the public. The Co-Director will also provide program oversight, represent Common Good and WSC in public (e.g. at conferences, trainings, media, working groups, and public speaking opportunities), hire and supervise Common Good program staff and/or consultants, and develop and execute Common Good’s central programming priorities in partnership with WSC’s program team and advisors.  

This position requires skill in organizing, training and facilitating, public speaking, media engagement, personnel management, and expertise in the pro-democracy and anti-bigotry fields, with a particular understanding of racism and antisemitism. Additional expertise on the problems of religious and ethnic bigotry and nationalist/white nationalist ideology is highly valued. Familiarity with and deep relationships within Jewish and African-American communities in particular will be prioritized.