Pushback Network (PBN) began in 2005 as a dialogue among experienced, independent community-based groups. PBN’s founders were leaders of organizations that had built long-term, on-the-ground operations within the most challenging social environments in the country. They formed PBN to “push back” against what they considered to be shortsighted, tactical approaches to community organizing and electoral work.
PBN connects the infrastructures of well-established, high-performance community organizing groups from across the country to achieve a breakthrough in civic participation. Each state in the Network is lead by anchor organizations which guide strategic planning and coordinate the development of broad-based alliances of on-the-ground, grassroots workers, activists and ordinary residents committed to change.
Pushback is committed to revitalizing our democracy through the use of well-considered, state-based, grassroots driven strategies that are tested for accountability and freely shared and tailored to suit their environment. We build on decades of community organizing where networks and organizations are grown from local organizing, to regional campaigns, to emerging state formations.