Progressive Democrats of America national helps organize campaigns and supports real progressive candidates from Bernie Sanders for president to several strong contenders for the U.S. Senate and House. We organized with our allies at the People's Summit in Chicago in June, and just wrapped up hosting Progressive Central in Philadelphia. All that is important, but PDA is only as strong as our individual activists and local chapters.
In thanks and recognition, we're highlighting your success stories from all around the country. Help us share the news about your own efforts! Please send the who, what, where, why, when, and how information to me, [email protected] and your chapter may be featured next!
Activists' Success In Illinois: The First Of A Series
PDA National Staffer Deb Schrishuhn reports that her Central Illinois chapter operates a weekly booth at Market on the Square in Urbana—downstate Illinois’ second largest farmers’ market. They gather signatures for petitions circulated by PDA and allied organizations, and for PDAction Congressional letter drops, as well as sign up new people for PDA. People stop by to chat, vent, and get energized about local and national politics and policies. They buy PDA buttons and bumper stickers, and donate money toward our efforts. Lapel stickers are always popular—both “Justice or Bust” and the new “Thump Trump” stickers are a big hit!
This last week, PDA Central Illinois cooperated with the Champaign County Democratic Party by operating their booth one day at the Champaign County Fair. PDAers presented an autographed program from Progressive Central to State Representative Carol Ammons at a debriefing about the convention. Carol and her husband Aaron (both PDAers) attended the convention as Bernie Sanders delegates.
This level of activity isn't new for Central / Southern Illinois PDA. As PDA Activist Pam Gronemeyer, M.D. explains:
Southern Illinois People for Progress has a monthly booth at the Goshen Farmer's Market in Edwardsville from May to October with information about PDA and progressive issues. We really push single payer and getting the money out of politics. We will be working strongly against the TPP this month, since it is critical. We give away a lot of things to get the word out.
We also have a movie series this summer and have shown the Michael Moore documentary Where To Invade Next? and the anti-NRA film by Robert Greenwald Made to Kill at the Edwardsville Library. We will show the pro-single payer / Medicare for All movie Fix It again at the library in this month. I have been on the platform committee and at the DNC. I am beat but am still trying.
Aren't we all? We're grateful to the Central Illinois PDA Chapter for sustaining these efforts. We're every bit as thankful to all the other chapters who also step up to accomplish similar outreach and organizing. These are highly effective actions that all PDA chapters can organize—including yours. While your chapter may not be able to match everything Central Illinois is doing at first, you can build toward that level of activity.
If you need any help organizing a new chapter or energizing your existing chapter, please contact PDA Field Coordinator Judy Hess. For those who haven't met her yet, you will find Judy is a smart, friendly, and supportive person who can help empower you. She can get you access to progressive DVDs to show, help you post your meetings and events onto the PDA calendar, and otherwise help your chapter thrive!
Don't delay, start organizing now to make a real difference where you live! We're here to help!
For Progress!
Mike Hersh, PDA Communications Director, for Donna, Judy, Mike F, Janis, Deb, Steve, and Kimberly—your PDA National Team
P.S. Please contribute now to help PDA activists keep organizing!
Please share this article on social media. Click on the logos below:
Be the first to comment
Sign in with
Facebook