ABOUT PACT

WHO WE ARE

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• WHAT WE ARE DOING

PACT is a cross-race, broad-based citizen organization in the IAF tradition, the first of its kind to be organized and led by young adults (aged 16-35). This organization was founded by 1083 young Chicago leaders on December 11, 2005, after two years of initial organizing and campaign work. PACT is making vital contributions to the fields of leadership development, community organizing, and youth organizing.

PACT stands for Public Action for Change Today.

The name represents what we are – an agreement between the South Side, West Side, North Side, and Chicago suburbs to stand together for change.

The mission is to build an independent, diverse, and powerful public organization of young adults in Chicagoland. The organization is non-partisan and inclusive: moderates, conservatives, and liberals from all walks of life. PACT seeks to grow: to maintain and strengthen its base, it must vigilantly recruit, train, and activate new members. In a disparate society, this organization will seek to unite the next generation, practicing democratic action and requiring its members to be a part of something larger than themselves and their communities.

The vision for young adults is of a city defined by accountability, opportunity, and equality, and a generation that is trained, active, and unified.

PACT’s principles and activities are one and the same: relationship, action, and evaluation. We aim to unite young people for successful public action and continued learning and development.

Organized People

Anyone willing to develop new leaders, working across difference, and turning complaints into action is welcome. We seek out groups of people with new and different experiences and perspectives.

Members join as Crews or Caucuses. No individuals. A Crew is at least ten people who share a common identity – a group of friends, church group, student club, etc. A Caucus is 100+ people who share a larger identity (i.e. South Side Caucus, Muslim Caucus, Loyola Caucus, etc.). These are the entry points and the training grounds. To join, an individual must be willing to ally with an existing Crew or Caucus or start her own. Crews and Caucuses are responsible for actions, sending leaders to strategy sessions, recruiting and training new members, and paying dues.

PACT is governed by a Central Organizing Committee, comprised of the leaders of each Caucus and two at-large members. The Central Organizing Committee meets monthly and is responsible for the running of the organization – attracting and training new members, maintaining public relationships, and fundraising – and may elect officers annually to fulfill these tasks.

The Collective Assembly is a larger legislative body that meets as necessary to plan and ratify actions. All members may vote in this assembly. It also has the power to establish new Campaign Teams around specific issues, provided there is majority support from the Assembly, diverse leadership, and a demonstrated commitment to research. The organization will seek issues that appeal across differences and develop plans that are real and realizable.

Organized Money

PACT is currently funded by donations from our Sponsors – 21 churches, foundations, educational institutions, unions, businesses, and community organizations that support young Chicagoans building power.

There will be a second funding source; annual membership dues will shift the funding burden and organizational accountability towards the membership.

• > WHO WE ARE
• WHAT WE ARE DOING