JUNE 4, 2020 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Blue Future Launches Six Figure Summer for Progress and Change Campaign to Train Youth Organizers to Campaign During The Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. —On the heels of raising $30,000 for bail funds and community-based racial justice groups across the country, Blue Future, is excited to announce a six-figure investment in youth organizing. The Summer for Progress and Change Campaign is a 10-week paid training program, for young people ages 16-25 taking place from June 8 to August 21. A diverse cohort of over 100 high school and college students will be provided with comprehensive political and community organizing training.
Participants will volunteer directly for candidates fighting for change in some of the most competitive campaigns across the country. Participating coordinated campaigns include those in North Carolina, Minnesota, Michigan, Texas, Maine, Pennsylvania, Florida, Arizona, and Wisconsin.”
Blue Future’s mission is to continuously engage, mobilize, and connect young people to progressive electoral campaigns, equipping them with the resources, tools, skills, and network to be effective volunteers, organizers, and public servants. Blue Future’s new effort seeks to empower young people to be active organizers for Democrats.
The Summer for Progress and Change Campaign is informed by recent research and polling including the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning & Engagement (CIRCLE), which identified state and national races where young voters have the highest chance to change the outcome. Blue Future’s new project overlaps with many of CIRCLE’s identified states in North Carolina, Maine, Michigan, Colorado, and other states.
“In this moment of tension and fear for our health and safety, Blue Future uplifts our shared struggle for racial justice and believes one way we can make things better is by electing Democrats nationwide,” said Nick Guthman, co-executive director of Blue Future. “The idea behind our new campaign is to give young people, who have a natural ability to organize digitally, a way to use their time to help progressive candidates win and work to improve the lives of those most impacted by this pandemic.”
Led by Nick Guthman and Morgan Stahr, Blue Future is a national organizing program run out of the Youth Progressive Action Catalyst, the largest progressive, youth-led, political action committee in America. Blue Future helps progressive campaigns win at the local, state, and federal levels. The organization plans to place volunteers in states with critical races and key battleground states.
“Campaigning doesn’t stop during a pandemic or uprising, but it must evolve,” said Morgan Stahr, co-executive director of Blue Future. “Our job is to help young people join the fight with the best tools of the day, and use their skills to help elect progressives to change the status quo. We are thrilled to launch at this moment.”
Harnessing high levels of enthusiasm for volunteer campaign work is not the only benefit of the new campaign. Blue Future designed the program, so monetary hurdles would not be a challenge to working-class students and students of color seeking entry to the political arena. Blue Future will pay organizers to be trained in electoral campaign work. Participants will then commit to volunteering for 10 hours per week with competitive campaigns for the House, Senate, and White House.
“I had an internship lined up for this summer, but the pandemic changed my plans, said Rina Welch. “Blue Future’s Summer for Progress and Change Campaign will help me gather the skills I need to better organize my community around issues that matter to me.”
Media Contact: Lacy Crawford Jr | 252-292-6088 | lacy@thevillagemediagroup.com