PDA/PV Organizing Summit



Uniting Grassroots Action with Political Leaders



If  anyone from the DFIA community will be attending the summit in D.C., please let us know at blog@democracyforiowa.com.  Thank you!

During
the primary season of the 2004 Presidential race, two powerful
movements took place. First, was the Howard Dean campaign, which
resulted in the passionate base known as Deaniacs. Joe Trippi of the
former Dean Campaign will tell you in his latest book that for the
first time in history, the candidate lost, but the campaign won. The
people became empowered to succeed! Many took their first step into the
world of politics. The passionate folks that came running to the call
“YOU HAVE THE POWER” dominated the airwaves, flooded the internet, and
plastered the towns with Dean paraphernalia during the primary season.



The
second was the quixotic candidacy of Dennis Kucinich, which created the
Kucitizen movement and brought hope, spirituality, peace, and
interconnectedness into the world of electoral politics. A small but
dedicated bunch became the new champions of the progressive left within
the Democratic Party, and the conscience of the Democratic activist.



Out of
these two movements came hope and realization. Hope, that a better
America is possible. And realization, that we the grassroots, did
indeed have the power to make this happen! We need to learn from these
experiences, and understand that it was never about the individual
candidate. It has always been about the message. We are here now
standing in unity as we look forward and begin strategizing on how to
take that message forward.



I left
the Kucinich campaign as its National Field Director, when I realized
the movement aspect of the campaign outweighed the candidacy aspect of
the campaign. Out of the Kucinich and Dean Campaigns, dozens of groups
emerged from the grassroots. Many of these groups are strong and many
unique. However a majority of these groups are not working in unity
with one another. It is important we communicate and we unify.



Progressive
Vote (PV) was created for that purpose, and the folks driving this
organization are the grassroots. So the mere idea that a few had is now
in the hands of the grassroots, and the base is leading!



With
this success, it is important that we unite the progressive base with
the progressive leadership inside our Nation's Capitol. Now that we
have begun to reach unity within the base of progressive voters it is
time for the many groups that have built “Progressive Vote” to outreach
to progressive leaders in D.C.



Last week, we announced Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), our sister organization. [Democracy for Iowa has joined PDA.]
This organization has united with Progressive Vote in an effort to
bridge the gap between the grassroots and the national political figure
heads. Today, Thursday, July 29th, Progressive Vote and Progressive
Democrats of America will be hosting a National Progressive Convention.
Speakers will include grassroots leaders from state caucuses, Howard
Dean, Barbara Lee, John Conyers, Dennis Kucinich, and many others. This
convention will keynote the unity work between these two groups. [Darrell Lewis of Clear Lake will represent DFIA at the convention.]



Two
weeks after the convention, in Washington D.C., we will unite many
progressive grassroots organizations with these figure heads. It is an
important meeting! We will begin the work of building bridges into the
communities to advance this agenda and begin taking back the Democratic
Party. PV and PDA will host a roundtable summit to gain the input from
all parties and begin the work of executing long term strategies of
reform, justice, and equality. We need you there! It is critical to
have you at the table!



Progressive
Vote will continue to be the grassroots field operations of such a
united base. Progressive Democrats of America will be the lobbying,
think tank, “inside the beltway” advocacy group for the grassroots.



It is
important we unify our base. Your voice is needed. Please contact us
for details about this historic summit. Most of our staff and
volunteers are in Boston for the DNC convention this week. Please leave
a message and/or email at our contact below. We will get back to you as
soon as possible!



August 14 -15, 2004 – Washington D.C. University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law



In solidarity,



Kevin R. Spidel, National Political Director
info@progressivevote.org