Goal: Create public policy, train progressive leaders

Leadership

Organization’s Objective

We are trying to solve a set of very specific problems, and contribute to the solution of a much larger set of concerns. Our first issue is the political apathy of college students and the lack of a progressive infrastructure for moving bright students into politics. Many students on campuses around the country avoid all things political, or abandon their activism after graduation. Politicians have alienated students by turning to them only during campaign season, and by failing to listen to their ideas. And students have more broadly turned away from politics because government is no longer seen as a useful tool for improving society. Too many of the brightest graduates have lost the sense of republican duty which supplied Washington and the statehouses with leaders for generations. To aggravate the problem, the conservative movement has, to great success, created organizations that foster college-age leaders, and connect them to the think tanks, media outlets and politicians that wield power. There is no equivalent among the progressives for finding and developing leaders.

The broader concern is the quality of dialogue around public policy. The last few elections have highlighted the lack of creative thinking on a wide range of issues, from healthcare to the environment. There are few sources of new, big ideas, and it is increasingly obvious that such ideas are needed to re-inspire a nation full of jaded citizens.