2023 convening

Welcome Back!

We all know that organized, collective action is a critical strategy for winning change. And we have learned that perceptions of power are critical building blocks for political action. But what are the factors that help members join and stay connected to base-building organizations and see those organizations as “political homes” that operate as containers for building power for collective action? This panel discussed the role that narrative, agency and belonging play in the work to build and sustain powerful political movements and how those insights can translate into impact.

For too long, the traditional political industry has seen Black, Latinx, AAPI, and Native people as political objects rather than political agents. This translates into a lack of curiosity about the values and political identities that make up these diverse and complex communities. In these breakout workshops, we shared recent DPI research and learning that explores the core values and interests that drive civic engagement in communities of color.

Leaders from the Ohio Organizing Collaborative and HIT Strategies will share the findings from their summer values cluster work with Black voters in Ohio. They will outline how they are currently engaging two of those clusters in this fall’s organizing and electoral work and explore lessons from that work for 2024 and beyond!

Multiple research projects have shown that to be effective at increasing voter engagement and collective action, organizing programs need to reach Black and Latino voters authentically and regularly to connect and promote a sense of community and to share policy updates and help voters realize the impact of government action. This session will explore how organizations can shape their year-round canvassing programs to maximize their building belonging and power.

Our broader political industry is primed to meet White, higher income, and frequent voters where they are and ease their participation in all elections. However, those voters account for less than half of the electorate in any given election. In this session, and the breakouts that follow, we focused on learning from researchers and organizers about how to find, engage, and organize high opportunity voters who are often otherwise ignored by candidates and campaigns.

INTRODUCTION TO WORKSHOPS

In the last several years, a number of new states have enacted same-day registration. However, new research from DPI, Harvard, and the Analyst Institute shows that in places where the program is newly available, not many people are using it. This session was about strategies to maximize the adoption of SDR, particularly with young people and people of color.

State voter files provide the backbone of voter mobilization programs. However, 40% of Black and Latino eligible voters do not show up accurately on the file. This workshop was about current strategies being used by state-based organizers and data managers to supplement the voter file with census and other public data to make sure all eligible voters are included in outreach.

Art in many forms has been a critical part of sustaining American movements for centuries. How are current organizers incorporating art and artists into their power-building efforts? What impact does this have on their campaigns and on the artists and members involved?