WHY are we SLIDING BACKWARDS?

  • Political relationships are often built on one-time deals and self-serving alliances rather than shared goals and long-term commitments to the people. Consultants and politicos who continue to lose and refuse feedback are elevated to higher positions in future campaigns. Campaigns and strategies are driven by a desire to appease donors, consultants, and party insiders—not to organize, educate, or mobilize the coalitions and constituencies we need to win.

  • There is a pervasive elitism in how the political establishment views the very people they need to engage. Rural communities, working-class voters, and young people are often dismissed as unreachable or unworthy of investment. Instead of listening and adapting, the establishment assumes these groups are inherently apathetic, further alienating them from the process.

  • Red state demographics and political terrain are evolving, yet key stakeholders remain resistant to adapting their analysis. The state’s political establishment clings to outdated strategies that fail to engage the people who matter most—voters. They overlook shifts in population, culture, and priorities, continuing to focus on one-size-fits-all solutions that simply don’t work. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing again and again, yet that’s exactly what Tennessee’s political leaders have done for decades.

how is bak community partners DIFFERENT?

  • We don’t just focus on winning the next election; we’re building for the next generation. By creating leadership pipelines, investing in community-rooted organizing, and fostering a culture of co-governance, we’re ensuring that power isn’t just gained temporarily—it’s sustained for decades.

    Our commitment to transformative work breaks the cycle of transactional politics by replacing short-term deals with long-term commitments to people and communities.

  • We bring deep knowledge of Tennessee’s unique political landscape, paired with relationships and resources from national networks. This allows us to tailor solutions to the state’s needs while leveraging best practices, funding, and expertise nationwide.

    We believe that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. Our analysis will always be fresh and able to match the complex political environment we find ourselves in.

  • We believe in building a political ecosystem rooted in co-governance, where communities, leaders, and donors work together to make decisions, ensuring leaders remain accountable to the people they serve. This approach centers progress on collaboration and shared responsibility, rather than defaulting to consultant-driven solutions.

    Co-governance ensures that those most impacted by the issues are directly involved in shaping the strategies that address them, rather than being sidelined in favor of appeasing those with the most money. At the same time, donors are given the opportunity to meaningfully engage in the process, fostering a shared sense of purpose and alignment between resources, strategies, and outcomes. Our strategy prioritizes a continued feedback loop that builds trust, keeps power accountable, and delivers solutions that are reflective of and responsive to the communities we serve.