Message from Mobilize CEO

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of attending, and presenting, at the National Conference on Citizenship. It was the 55^th anniversary of their endeavors in tracking and measuring the civic health of our country. While the results were promising and the energy in the room was high, I couldn’t help but think about Democracy 2.0 and what our work this past week would say about the civic health of the country. Democracy 2.0 is the process of millennials identifying the problems they want to solve on their campuses and in the communities, and proposing innovative solutions to fix them. Mobilize.org believes that millennials are most uniquely positioned to actually solve these problems and we believe strongly in the investment of resources (all of kinds) to further these ideas. This weekend we funded 4 innovative, unique and ambitious proposals that are going to help change the access to democracy for all citizens and combat the influence of money in politics. I encourage you to read about the process below and over the next week, we’ll have each of the reciepients write about their experiences at the Summit and tell you more about their proposals.

 

Thank you again to the Sunlight Foundation, CSIS and Common Cause for your support and to all of the experts and judges who took time out of their busy schedules to work with our participants this weekend.

 

Thank you for attending, online and offline, and helping us work towards a Democracy 2.0.

 

Keep Mobilizin’ –

Maya Enista

CEO, Mobilize.org

Congrats to all of the Participants!

The Faces of Mobilize.

Ian Storrar - Chief Operating Officer.

Update on how things are going: 

"The summit is going great. We had very good proposals, and the participants are enjoying the process. We'll know the final results in a little bit." 

No time to sleep.

Behind the scenes: Christina Gagnier and Nick Troiano work to video/photograph/blog and tweet! Christina is also organizing the event's logistics. 

David Mark Delivers Keynote

To a crowd of "political junkies" David Mark, senior editor at the Politco, delivered Sunday's keynote about the state of the 2008 Presidential Race. Mark said it will be extremely close. Noting that the national polls are virtually useless given our electoral system, he predicted Obama, if the election were held today, would lead by about 10 or less electoral votes. But, he emphasized, the election is still six weeks away and McCain "is within striking distance."

Mark fielded questions from the audience, which ranged from the possibility of a legal battle ensuing after the election to the merits of the campaign ads of both campaigns. 

Groups Get Mentored

They're ranked. They're judged. They're mentored. Then they're judged again. In the four-part mentoring stage, the participants hear from experts who provide feedback on their projects. Experts in communication, advertising, and specific issues such as youth civic engagement and campaign finance give advice on various aspects of proposal. This holistic approach will mold the initial proposal to an improved one that will be judged in the final round. In the last round of mentoring, pictured above, each participant presents a powerpoint. 

Peer Evaluation

In addition to multiple sessions of mentoring in front of a panel of experts, participants were also given the opportunity to confidentially evaluate each other's projects. Keypad voting was again used for this exercise, and groups were given the feedback. 

Project Overview: Student Advocacy Network

All fundraising is local and all politics are local, says Alan Reaei, interim executive director of the Student Advocacy Network. 

In an introduction to his proposal Alan writes:

"Student Advocacy Network (SAN) was created to be the definitive advocacy nonprofit organization for the college population of America, a major population within the Millennial Generation. 

This network, made up of existing advocacy groups, will have a dual mission: (1) To solve the six fundamental needs of a college student in their pursuit of higher education, (2) and to help the college population solve the needs of their community. A grant for $4600 is being requested to assist in the startup of this organization."

The proposal is some thirty pages long, but the idea is simple he says: We need an AARP of the Millennial Generation.

Project Overview: Get Out the Soap for a Clean Judiciary

This team of five hails from the Bloomsburg University chapter of Common Cause's Democracy Matters. Campaign finance reform in the Pennsylvania judiciary is the focus of their proposal.

In their executive summary, the group writes:

"Campaign finance reform is becoming an increasingly important issue all across America, yet too often politicians are able to ignore the need for change because the public is unaware of the umbrella effect of this issue and the vehicles for change available to them.  Even more terrifying is the thought that in many states our judicial system is being influenced by campaign contributions through judicial elections.

Democracy Matters of Bloomsburg University, in collaboration with other youth organizations, requests $5,000 in an effort to educate and spread awareness about the current crisis confronting our court system by the influence of money in politics and, more specifically, the judiciary and the necessity for change.  Our project will entail a statewide grassroots initiative that will draw attention to these issues.  Progress towards these ends will be measured through collection of signatories in favor of campaign finance reform for the judicial system.  Eventually, we plan to progress toward statewide elected offices, as well as generally improved public awareness.  

Throughout the next year we will use this grant as seed money to continue our ongoing efforts to foster support for change in Pennsylvania that will eventually lead to additional monetary support and the passage of legislation."

Project Overview: Go Vote Absentee

Sam Friedland says voting by absentee ballot is too difficult for college students. His solution: www.govoteabsentee.org. Sam initial proposal that was submitted at the conference asks for $9,810 in funding to carry out his project. GoVoteAbsentee allows students to type in their zip-code and get instructions on how to fill it out and where to send it to.

In his presentation, Sam said:

"One of the ways to get money out of politics, it to bring people into politics. It's all about accountability." 

In his proposal, Sam writes:

"In the 2004 presidential election, approximately 125 million Americans voted, comprising about 64% of the eligible electorate. That leaves approximately 70 million Americans eligible to vote who did not have their voice heard. This represents 70 million voices who, once they vote, can call their legislator and demand accountability. A record number of citizens engaged in an election, furthermore, could effectively remind politicians exactly who employs them."

"The most effective way to provide that personal attention is through a multi-media system that offers new media solutions—live chat and email support—alongside a traditional media such as phone service. We will provide this service on weekends and during the afternoon, evening, and night-time hours. This is both a time that fits students’ natural schedules and a time when traditional support avenues, like their local election official or the election protection hotline, are unavailable. In addition, we will mail applications to users—like some college students living in dormitories—who do not have easy at-home access to a printer."

All Rise

Meet the Judges: 

Left -  Jim Snider is President of iSolon.org.  He is also an Affiliated Researcher at Columbia University's Institute for Tele-Information and a Rockwood Foundation Fellow in Media, Communications and Information Policy for 2008/2009.  During Spring Semester 2008, he was also a residential fellow at the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy, which is located at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. 

Right - Kristen Cambell is a program associate at the Case Foundation in Washington, DC. She joined Case after a year of national service through Americorps. She helps develop and administer Foundation initiatives, manage social investments, and maintains partner relationships.

It's Judgement Day

Katrina Moncur is up first talking about her project that supports lowering the voting age to 16.

Panel Takes the Stage

Adam Smith, Public Campaign:

Public funding is important, but it won't solve all of our problems. It is a larger democracy movement to lower barriers and increase participation. (Democracy 2.0!) 

Matt Stempack, Americans for Campaign Reform:

Urges the adoption of the Fair Elections Now Act. The challenge and need have never been greater, but the opportunity has also never been greater. Either way the 2008 election goes, we'd have an ally in the White House. It is sponsored by a bipartisan team in the Senate.

Josh Zaharoff, Common Cause: 

Voters first pledge is important in getting support. Seven states have some part of their elections publicly financed, three in full. It started in Maine and Arizona in the mid-90's. In Maine, 33% used it during its first year. Most recently, 81% of house and senate candidates used public funds. Some 98% of Maine candidates very or reasonably satisfied with the system. Over 80% said it was important to their decision to run. A perfect example is the video posted below.

Moderated by Nancy Watzman. 

Deep Dive Break Out

After a "guided visualization" to the future, participants broke into small group to discuss what they think would be practical solutions to the issue of money in politics. The visualization tasked participants with pondering a country two decades down the road where campaign finance is no longer an issue. Each table has a group facilitator within their small group, and participants were encouraged to write down their best ideas.

Summit enters first Deep Dive

Chris Bui leads a discussion. 

Adapted from the private sector, the "Deep Dive" is a collaborative process in which participants develop consensus on various topics through detailed conversations and explanations of ideas. The deep drive involves hi-tech keypad voting, allowing quick and thorough input from all participants that is compiled in computer software and able to be analyzed.   

Sam Rasoul - Now Mobilzin' with D20

Sam Rasoul: Bringing Change to Washington

Meet Sam Rasoul. He is the country's youngest congressional candidate, running against a 10-year incumbent who has not been opposed in the same amount of time. Rasoul took the change Congress pledge, which among other things, seeks to champion campaign finance reform an ending the earmark system in Congress. 

Rasoul said despite it not being the "sexiest" topic out there, campaign finance is the most important issue facing us and "threatening the fabric of our nation." 

"We don't have elections; we have auctions to the highest bidder."

Rasoul said in his 21-month campaign (in which he secured the Democratic nomination five months ago) he has not taken a dime from the state or national parties, or PACs - ways donoros can circumvent the current caps to donations to political candidates. He describes his campaign as a legitimate and just way of fundraising. 

To the participants: "I challenge you as you move forward to really search for the answers, which tend to be separate from either party."

Question and Answer time

Nancy Watzman took questions from the audience. She gave advice to groups about their projects and also answers questions about the technologies her organization is using. She said everything in her field is very fast-paced. OpenCongress, for example, is relatively new. The possibilities are endless with Web 2.0, she said.

Pictured to the right, Emily of Bloomsburg University, inquires about obtaining information about judicial candidates in Pennsylvania.

Another participant asked about people without access to the Internet. Watzman said much of the interaction today can even take place via cell phone, though this remains a concern. 

Saturday Summit Begins

Maya introduced Nancy Watzman of the Sunlight Foundation, who is talking about how her organization is increasing government transparency, especially related to the influence of money in politics.

Watzman: "In order to solve the problem you need to illustrate the problem...new technologies bring new opportunities." - "No body is better able to do that than you guys."

She talked about various initiatives, such as Political Party Time, which seeks to bring focus on the issue.

Final Words from Buchanan

“That is the most encouraging thing that I know about this country—this is a fundamentally good country and it stood for something in the world over so many years, right now we have to redeem ourselves... I want you to help make us a shining city on a hill again.” - Fmr. Representative John Buchanan 

Smith, Buchanan - Q&A

Mobilize.org founder, now Executive Director of the National Conference on Citizenship, David Smith facilitated a question and answer period with John Buchanan. Questions came from various members of the audience.

One participant, Joe Wright of Bloomsburg University, asked why it seems young people in 60s were on the cutting edge of social change, and why it is perceived today's young people are not. 

Buchanan answered, “I think that we’ve given a generation or so of Americans at least the feeling that it doesn’t matter what they do. We’ve had too little emphasis of civic education in our schools. Because our system is so flawed there has been less of an incentive. Fewer young people understand that they can change and they aren’t excited about what they can do. I think that you (Mobilize) have your work cut out for you to make sure that this situation does change."

Fmr. Congressman Buchanan

John Buchanan, former Representative 6^th District of Alabama, keynoted at tonight's reception. His message to the young participants: Our country need you.

It is the job the younger generation, he said, to "lift the political life of this country to higher ground." He described the 2008 elections as the most important in his political career, and even in his entire life. "Look closely at the candidates...look at the way they get elected into office - its something that needs to change, and you can be the change agents," he said.

Buchanan talked about his first run for Congress, an election he spent all of $25,000 on. Today, he said, that's unheard of. Congressional candidates can spend hundreds of thousands of dollars. "We did not have a lot of money, but we reached out to people, like you are doing," Buchanan said.

He suggested the most dangerous thing we can do as a country is continue to ignore the crowing problem of the influence of money in politics. Buchanan expressed his hope and faith in the young people present and urged their continued commitment. 

"We have a  challenge before us, it is time for us to stop being Rip Van Winkles. Stand up, wake up, pick up our muskets and commence fire!"

Young Minds Meet

Following presentations from the Mobilize.org staff, the reception commenced. Attendees enjoyed good food, cold drinks and the company of fellow young people who are committed to ending the overwhelming influence of money in politics. 

Summit Kicks Off

After much preparation and anticipation, the Democracy 2.0 Money in Politics kicked off this evening. Mobilize.org's Chief Executive Officer, Maya Enista welcomed the participants to an exciting weekend. Over the next two days, she said, Millennials will show their ability to create innovative grassroots solutions to the country's largest issues - such as the influence of money in politics.  

Download Our Participant Guide.

To download the D20 MIP participant guide, please click here.

Come to the Summit!

Money in Politics Brief

Mobilize.org is focusing its efforts on empowering members of the Millennial Generation to develop innovative clean elections practices, emphasizing the creation of public finance reforms at the local and state level. 

These types of reforms are intended to give voters more control over the government by making politicians accountable to voters rather than wealthy campaign contributors. 

Under a typical clean elections system, a candidate gathers a set number of signatures and small contributions to show community support. Then, the candidate receives a grant from the state to run his or her campaign. For example, in 2005, in Connecticut, the legislature passed a voluntary Clean Elections law, which included the following plan: 

“A state senate candidate would have to raise $15,000 in contributions of $100 or less. That candidate would then receive a $35,000 grant for his or her primary and an additional $85,000 to continue to the general election. Candidates would be eligible for additional matching funds to keep pace with a privately funded 
candidate who outspent them, or to deal with independent expenditures that target them.” (Source: Common Cause, www.commoncause.org/CleanElections). 

These types of clean election practices have been adopted by a variety of states and localities, including Arizona, Connecticut, Maine, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Vermont, Albuquerque, NM, and Portland, OR. Currently, states like California and Maryland are considering similar plans within their 
legislatures. At the federal level, a broad coalition of organizations including Common Cause and Public Campaign are championing the Fair Elections Now Act, which would enact clean elections for congressional races. A diverse array of groups are backing the legislation, including the League of Women Voters, NAACP, 
Sierra Club, AFL-CIO, Americans for Campaign Reform, National Council of Churches USA, and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Activists in more than twenty states are working for clean elections. 

These state and local level systems are part of a new wave of efforts to change the old partially reformed system of money in politics. They have broad public support and are growing in popularity among elected officials and candidates for office since they were implemented at the start of the 21st century. 

Money does influence politics, but the challenge that lies ahead for the Millennial Generation is to develop new and more solutions that balance competing democratic interests and focus candidates back on what is.

Grant Summit

The Democracy 2.0 grant Summit on Money in Politics will kickoff on Friday, September 19th, 2008. Check back to this blog often for updates from the summit, as they happen.