- Change Drives the World Leadership Drives Change Change Requires Partners
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Partners for Democratic Change is an international organization committed to building sustainable capacity to advance civil society, democratic institutions and a culture of change and conflict management worldwide.
Our global network of Partners Centers and practitioners embody the finest in international expertise and local leadership: together we develop vital change and conflict management skills and processes, facilitate the resolution of disputes, and empower ordinary people to participate in decision-making at the local and national level.
Partners for Sustainable Leadership was our premier leadership academy, that expanded the network of Partners Centers with the generous support of the General Electric Foundation. We identified and trained social entrepreneurs to create Centers for Change and Conflict Management in their home countries. The Sustainable Leadership Fellows were chosen from Brazil, Colombia, Senegal, Serbia and Yemen.
Partners for Sustainable Leadership Phase II is a three-part evaluation of Partners and the Partners Centers. Through a recently-awarded second GE Foundation-grant for the Sustainable Leadership Program and with general support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Partners seeks to establish deeper knowledge and support around the organization's core principles (sustainability is achieved through local capacity building and support to local institutions; the most pressing development challenges need to be addressed in a participatory manner with the input and shared commitment of government, businesses and civil society; and the work of social entrepreneurs to make a difference in their own countries is strengthened and legitimated by technical and relational support from an International Network of like-minded professionals facing similar challenges) by demonstrating concrete impact of their implementation throughout 21 years, identifying successful programs and strategies in priority substantive areas to be scaled up at a global-level, and applying the new knowledge gained to improve Partners expansion and impact in new countries and regions. Under the program, Partners will engage in a rigorous evaluation process to capture and improve three aspects of Partners work: Partners’ Model, Center Creation in Practice and Capturing Centers’ Impact.
- Our Impact
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Preserving Biodiversity in the Sea of Cortez
Marine conservation in the Sea of Cortez has been enhanced by establishing close cooperation between the government, civil society, and the private sector.
- Remembering Raymond Shonholtz, Founder of Partners for Democratic Change
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Raymond Shonholtz of Kensington, CA died January 7, 2012.
He was born on June 8, 1943 in Los Angeles, and was a graduate of UCLA and UC Berkeley School of Law. In 1976, Raymond founded Community Boards of San Francisco, one of the first neighborhood and school mediation programs in the United States. Raymond then moved into the international arena, founding Partners for Democratic Change, dedicated to the advancement of civil society and the culture of nonviolent dispute resolution, with centers established in 20 countries around the globe, run by local nationals.
Raymond is survived by his wife, Anne Devero, brother Barton, daughter Kelley (Drake), son Patrick, grandson James, and Morgan.
A celebration of Raymond’s life will be held on Thursday, January 19, 2012, at 1:00 p.m., at the Piedmont Community Hall, 711 Highland Ave., Piedmont, CA 94611. A second memorial will be held in Washington, D.C. in early March. We will post more details when they are available.
We have established a Memorial Website for Ray that we hope you will visit and contribute to, as he touched so many lives around the world.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Partners for Democratic Change or to the charity of your choice. Donations can be made here:
or by mail:
Partners for Democratic Change
1779 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Suite 515
Washington, DC 20036
