OUR MISSION
Transforming policies and politics by building progressive leadership and democracy from the bottom up.
We focus on developing a progressive electoral leadership pipeline and leading disenfranchised working-class voters to the ballot box.
OUR MAIN PROGRAMS:
- Coaching program for future across-the-board progressive candidates
- Incubating local progressive movement-building organizations, especially in rural America
- Primary elections voter organizing
- Bread and butter and human rights issue campaigns
OUR THEORY OF CHANGE
To enact progressive policies, we need leaders who are deeply invested in human rights, justice and equity and recognize the central role of economic security in the democracy-building project. We must elect people who understand the struggle first-hand, can relate to the majority of the electorate, and are interested in co-governing with the people.
In short, to change policies, we must change the politics.
But even the best prepared grassroots candidates running impressive campaigns can’t single-handedly offset the advantages of the status-quo incumbents they challenge or the privileged opponents supported by the corporate lobbies vying for open seats. That’s why we focus on activating disenfranchised voters in primary elections where most races are decided. For us, the organizing work with the communities runs deep. It's not transactional and is always connected to issues
OUR ADVISORY BOARD
GEORGE BISHARAT
Frequent public commentator on law and politics in the Middle East, a law professor and scholar of the Palestinian legal system, and a former public defender in San Francisco
RANDY BRYCE
Ironworker, workers rights’ activist, 2018 congressional candidate (WI-01), and founder of IronPAC
ROZA CALDERON
Justice Democrats-endorsed 2018 congressional candidate, political consultant, and geoscientist
ERIC DESCHEENIE
Member of the Navajo Nation, a National Tribal Advisor to Senator Sanders’ 2020 U.S. Presidential Campaign, Arizona state representative (2017-2019)
ANGÉLICA DUEÑAS
2018-2024 congressional candidate, mother of 5, former president and vice president of the Sun Valley Area Neighborhood Council
MAEBE A GIRL
2020-2024 Congressional Candidate for CA-28 and CA-30, elected official for the City of Los Angeles on the Silver Lake Neighborhood Council (2019-present), Operations Manager for SELAH Neighborhood Homeless Coalition
HOWIE KLEIN
Early supporter of the Rock the Vote campaign against censorship, political activist, free speech advocate, President of Reprise Records (1989 – 2001), founder of Blue America PAC
MARI MARKS
Activist, campaign strategist, and policy consultant with professional experience in U.S. foreign and domestic policy and international human rights law.
HECTOR OSEGUERA
Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, 2020 congressional candidate, social justice activist and champion of affordable housing, immigrant justice, and criminal justice reform
EVA PUTZOVA
Architect of the Flagstaff minimum wage ordinance and the Restaurant Workers Bill of Rights House resolution, Flagstaff City Councilmember (2014-2018), 2020 congressional candidate
STEVEN PIASECKI
LGBTQ+ activist, workers’ rights advocate, and communications and multimedia consultant
RACHEL VENTURA
Illinois State Senator, Will County Board member (2018-2022), 2020 congressional candidate, environmental and social justice warrior
