North Carolina United Power (NCUP) is a multi-racial, multi-faith, strictly non-partisan network formed by several diverse and interconnected citizens’ organizations currently functioning in Mecklenburg, Forsyth, Orange, Davidson and Durham Counties. Those organizations include HELP, CHANGE, Justice United, Durham CAN, NC Latino Coalition, and the veterans’ organization HARRY VCOS.
NCUP is an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, the nation’s oldest and largest community organization network in the United States.
Mission
The mission of NCUP is to:
Durham CAN meeting
1) build relationships across racial, social and religious lines
2) identify common concerns
3) develop the skills of leaders inside member institutions; and
4) act together for the common good.
NCUP leaders translate deeply felt concerns into tangible, innovative solutions that benefit the North Carolina community.
What does NCUP do?
• NCUP is building a base of power by bringing together institutional leaders so that their organizations can build relationships, develop a shared vision and positively influence the institutions that affect the lives of their members.
• NCUP engages institutional and community leaders in developing an agenda around issues that directly impact their lives, i.e. public schools, housing, youth, day care, transportation, etc.
• NCUP identifies and trains institutional leaders in the skills of public life, i.e., identification of issues, meeting facilitation, research skills, techniques to mobilize people, and negotiation.
What do NCUP leaders believe?
• Our faiths call us to engage in the work of co-creating the kingdom of God by actively engaging in the public arena to solve challenges in our communities.
• The “Iron Rule:” Never do for others what they can do for themselves.
• Leaders are not born, but made.
• We believe in meeting face to face and developing the public relationships that are the glue of our society.
• We believe in building for power: power that is reciprocal, that is tempered by our religious traditions, and power that creates a table that includes more people in the dynamics of public life.