New Founders Conference
posted 10/24/2017
Last week our comrade Julie Harrison attended the New Founders Conference in Chicago and generously took notes for the rest of us:
On Wednesday I attended the New Founders Conference. As its focus was on using technology, much was lost on me (as you all can imagine). But I was intrigued by several presentations.
There were a million speakers representing some organizations that I am aware of - like Swingleft, Flippable, NARAL, and Personal Pac - and many more unknown to me. Here are notes on some of the latter:
- Sister Districts
https://www.sisterdistrict.com/what-we-do/
"How does the Sister District Project work?
"The Sister District Project (SDP) is a grassroots organization that matches volunteers in safe blue places with strategic state elections throughout the country. As a volunteer, you’ll join your local district team, led by volunteer District Captains (DCs). Your local district team will be your SDP home base. Every election cycle, SDP HQ will assign your team one or more Sister Races that you and your team will work together to support.
"What kind of races will I support?
"We focus on state races. (You can learn more here about why it’s so important to focus on these down-ballot elections.) Here you can see the list of our current Sister Races.
"We’re committed to only matching you with Sister Races that we're confident are worth your time and money---that is, only those races that have high strategic value, and where your dollars and hours will help to move the needle.
"We’re also committed to coordinating with candidates to ensure that they receive the help they want and need. And keep in mind that election season is also when the campaigns actually need the most volunteer support, such as phone-banking and canvassing.
- Hi From the Other Side
https://www.hifromtheotherside.com/
“Do you feel like there's too much name calling in political discussions lately? Do you find the words and actions from the other side of the aisle alienating? We pair nice people across the political divide to talk like neighbors. Not to convince, but to understand.”
- Emerge America
https://emerge.ngpvanhost.com/
“Our Mission: To increase the number of Democratic women leaders from diverse backgrounds in public office through recruitment, training, and providing a powerful network.
"Our Vision: To change the face of power, politics, and leadership in this country in order to have policies that are responsive to all Americans.
"Since our founding in 2005, we have expanded the Emerge program into 23 states — Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin—and trained over 2,500 women.”
These three emerge enrollees who are running were also on the panel:
Nicole Johnson who is considering a run for alderman (I think)
Lauren Underwood https://www.crowdpac.com/campaigns/243773/lauren-underwood Candidate for 14th Illinois congressional district hoping to run against Randy Hultgren
Sharon Fairley, who is considering a run for Attorney General
- The Truman National Security Project
“Truman is a nationwide membership of diverse leaders inspired to serve in the aftermath of 9/11 and committed to shaping and advocating for tough, smart national security solutions. We are united in the belief that America is strongest when we stand with our allies to lead, support, and defend a growing global community of free people and just societies.
"Our community includes more than 1,700 post-9/11 veterans, frontline civilians, policy experts, and political professionals who share a common vision of U.S. leadership abroad and hail from 16 Chapters and 47 different states across the nation. We believe that America is at its best when we use all the tools in our toolbox: diplomacy, defense, development, and democracy promotion.
"Truman National Security Project, along with our sister organization Truman Center, identifies, trains, and positions leaders across America who share this worldview. We bring our members together with our partners and advisors to deliver concrete solutions to pressing global challenges for leaders at the local, state, and national levels, and we coordinate their action nationwide to shape the debate, fight for policy change, and support rising leaders who share our values.”
The speaker, Mike Breen, emphasized the diversity of the military as well as the support of diversity in America. Sign up for their newsletter.
- Voter Circle
“VoterCircle is a powerful and easy to use friend-to-friend outreach platform that enables your supporters to leverage their personal relationships to benefit your campaign or organization”
This I shared with Coalition for a Better Illinois 6th and a candidate I support, Delia Ramirez, running for State Representative in the Illinois 4th District : http://deliaforstaterep.com/
- EveryElection App
Only out on IOS devices. If you have an iPhone give it a look. It was created by New Founders
What is cool about this is that if you are concerned about a race in other districts or states you can reach out to your circle there to encourage them to be involved
Here is link to a video about it https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x5A0NtIZvrU
- The Resistance School
https://www.resistanceschool.com/
“Resistance School provides training for communities to make issue-based and electoral progressive change that advance values of fairness, equity, and inclusivity.”
It is online.