Goal: Build progressive social communities nationally

Leadership

Organization’s Objective

For too many people, becoming involved in progressive politics seems a daunting task. Often, "political engagement" means attending a meeting in a linoleum-floored, fluorescent-lit meeting hall, or standing on a corner in the icy rain of early November. While these are important steps, they are not the starting point for someone new to politics...nor do these forms of activism alone create a sense of community that affirms one's politics as integral to one's life. While the mega-church phenomenon has shown how a cultural space and community life can shape and strengthen a particular political resolve, the progressive movement has only recently come to recognize that we need our own church: an open, welcoming community space, fun and social, and in our case valuing diversity, access, equality, independence of thought and action, and creativity. Unfortunately, creating these spaces is not necessarily best accomplished by traditional political groups, nor by campaigns that exist for a cycle then shutter their doors and disappear. So, another type of organization -- one that lives beyond election cycles and beyond party labels and beyond particular candidates -- is required.