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Dēmos

InclusiveDemocracyProject

1stYearAnalysis

AnIndependentAnalysisCommissionedbyDēmos

PreparedByMargaridaJorge

August2016

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TableofContentsINTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................3

BACKGROUNDOFTHEINCLUSIVEDEMOCRACYPROJECT..................................................................3

WhydidDēmoscreatetheIDP?....................................................................................................................4

HowwastheIDPstructuredinthefirstyear?........................................................................................5

WhataretheIDP’skeygoals?.........................................................................................................................5

WhatstrategiesdoestheIDPprioritizetoaccomplishitsgoals?...................................................5

ASSESSMENT&ANALYSIS...................................................................................................................................6

HowdidIDPparticipantsratetheprogramoverall?...........................................................................6

DidtheIDPprogrammeetitsgoalsforitsfirstyearoftheproject?.............................................8

Whatlimitationsorlessonswereidentifiedforfutureconsideration?....................................10

CONCLUSION...........................................................................................................................................................12

APPENDIX.................................................................................................................................................................13

SurveyParticipants..........................................................................................................................................13

IDPOverallEvaluationForm&SurveyDataResults........................................................................13

MargaridaJorgeisa22-yearveteranofelectoral,union,civicengagementandissuecampaignsandarecognizedexpertinthedevelopmentoffieldstrategiesforlocal,stateandnationalissueadvocacy.AstheNationalFieldDirectoratHCAN(HealthCareforAmericaNow),Margaridapioneeredanewfieldmodelnowwidelyusedacrossissuesandorganizationsthatincreasedcapacityforover200grassrootsorganizationsin44statestopass,implementanddefendthelandmarkAffordableCareAct.Overthepast10yearsinWashington,DC,MargaridaalsoledSEIU’sAmerican’sforHealthCarecampaign,developedthefieldstrategyfortheAmericansforTaxFairnesscampaign,andbuilttheintersectional“StandwithWomen”campaigntointegratereproductiverightsandeconomicjusticeattheWomen’sEqualityCenter.Shehasalsoservedasboardmember,advisorandconsultanttomanyorganizationsthatprioritizestatefieldcapacityasakeystrategytowinincludingAFSCME,CommunityCatalystActionFund,People’sAction,MainStreetAlliance,ROCUnited,PICONationalNetwork,FaithinPublicLifeandmanyothers.

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INTRODUCTION

Foundedin2000,Dēmosisapublicpolicyorganizationworkingtobuildarepresentative

democracywhereeveryonecanhaveanequalsayandanequalchance.Dēmosemploysevery

toolincludingoriginalresearch,advocacy,litigationandstrategiccommunicationsacrossa

multitudeofissuestoreducepoliticalandeconomicinequalityandtoensurethateveryonehas

ashareintheAmericawealldeserve.

Overtime,Dēmos’hasincreasinglypromotedananalysiswhichalignsresourcesandcapacities

withvaluesbyexaminingnotjustwhichtacticsaremosteffectiveinadvancingthe

organization’smission,butconnectingthewayweexecutethesetacticstoachievinggoals.TheDēmos’theoryofchangehasbecomemoreexplicitthatrace,genderandeconomicequity

requiresnotjustwinningpolicychange,butaprocessforwinningthatengagesthefullbreadth

oftheimpactedcommunityandthatembracesanddevelopsthereflectiveleadership

necessarytoadvanceaninclusivedemocracyagenda.Thisapproachisfundamentalnotonlyto

valuesandtovictory,it’sthemostdirectwaytoeffectivelychallengethetremendousinfluence

ofcorporatemoneythathasincreasinglychokedourdemocracythroughasystemthat

currentlyconsistsofanalmostentirelywhitedonorbasethathasledtoanalmostall-white

governmentwhichsystematicallyresultsinprotectionsandactionsandpoliciesthatreinforce

economicandsocialhierarchiesthatthriveonracism,sexism,andeconomicinjustice.To

addressthisfundamentalchallenge,in2015DēmoscreatedtheInclusivedemocracyproject.

ThepurposeofthisreportistoprovideanindependentassessmentoftheIDPprogrambased

mainlyondirectfeedbackfromitsparticipants.ThereportindicatestowhatdegreetheIDP

programgoalsweremetoverthecourseofthefirstyear,whatlimitationssurfacedinthe

program’sexecution,andwhatlessonsDēmosandstakeholdersshouldconsiderinanynext

steps.

BACKGROUNDOFTHEINCLUSIVEDEMOCRACYPROJECTDēmosdevelopedandimplementedtheInclusiveDemocracyProject(IDP)in2015-2016asan

interventiontobroadenparticipationinthefieldofdemocracyreformadvocacybeyondthe

traditionalsetoforganizationsthatarefundedtoconductthatwork.Asanexpressionofthe

organization’soverallmission,theIDPprogramandcohortbringtogetherthreekeyareasof

Dēmos’work:reducingtheoversizedroleofcorporatemoneyinpoliticsandguaranteeingthe

freedomtovote,creatingpathwaystoensureadiverse,expandingmiddleclassinanew,

sustainableeconomyandtransformingthepublicdialoguetoelevatethevaluesofcommunity

andracialequity.TheprojecthasbeendesignedanddirectedbyJodeenOlguín-Tayler,Demos’

VicePresidentofPolicyandPartnerships.JodeenjoinedtheorganizationwhenHeather

McGheebecameitsPresident,andwaspartofthenewPresident’smandatetomakeracialand

genderequitycoretotheorganization’sanalysisandwork.Jodeenbrought15yearsof

experienceleadingracialandgenderjusticefieldbuildingprojects.Overthepasttwoyears

she’sworkedcloselywiththeentireExecutiveTeamtosharpentheorganization’sapproachto

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movement-buildingandvaluesbasedcampaigning,whilebuildingaCampaignsdepartmentasa

newfunctionalteamwithintheorganization.

WhydidDēmoscreatetheIDP?TheIDPprogramisdesignedtoengagegrassrootsorganizationsthatrepresentcommunities

mostimpactedbytheinfluenceofmoneyinpoliticsandvotersuppression(peopleofcolor,

womenandlow-incomeworkingpeople)incampaignstomakedemocracymore

representativebyelevatingrace,classandgenderequityasfundamentaltotransformingour

democracy.

Inmostcases,thesegrassrootsgroupshadnotpreviouslyleddemocracyreformadvocacyfor

severalreasons:

• Becausetheylackedtheresources;

• Becausethefieldofdemocracyreformadvocateshasbeendominatedbywhite-led,DC-

basedorganizations;settingthestrategy,policydesign,fundingstreamsforthese

reforms,and,

• Becauseacoherentnarrativetyingcleanelectionsordemocracyreformstothe

structuralracism,sexismandeconomicinjusticehadlongbeenabsent,makingthese

reformslessapriorityforalreadyunder-resourcedgroups.

Dēmoswasuniquelypositionedtorecruit,trainanddevelopacohortofracialjustice

organizationsintothebroaderdemocracyreformecosystemforanumberofreasons:

1. Dēmoshaslongbeenacredentialeddemocracyreformpartner,oftenengagedboth

nationallyandatthestatelevelforitsexpertiseindemocracyreformandvotingrights

issues.

2. Dēmosisaracialjusticeorganization,whoovertheyearshastakenvisiblestepsto

makeclearitscommitmenttoracialequitybothinitsorganizationaldevelopmentand

initsprogramwork.

3. SeniorstaffwithinDēmoshavelong-standing,deepandnon-transactionalrelationships

withawidearrayofstateandnationalracialjusticeorganizationsthatcreated

opportunityandtrustforbrokeringinnovationstothedemocracyreformfield.

4. SinceDēmosisnotanationalfieldnetworkorintermediary,itsleadershipofanew

cohortinanewissueareaacrossorganizationalaffiliationsdidnotdisruptrelationships,

createcompetitionorgeneratetension.

Dēmos’history,gravitas,andrelationshipshelpedmaketheIDPabridgebetweengrassroots

racialjusticeorganizationsandthenationalinfrastructureofdemocracyreformorganizations

whichmostoftenseemedremovedorunconnectedtothepeoplewhoselivesitmostsoughtto

impact.

ArecentvideocreatedabouttheIDPcanbeviewedbyclickinghere.

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HowwastheIDPstructuredinthefirstyear?The17organizationsintheIDPcohortwerechosenbasedonalandscapeanalysisconducted

jointlywithnationaldemocracyreformpartnersEveryVoice,CommonCause,PiperDonors’

CollaborativeandtheDemocracyInitiative.Thelandscapeprocessestablishedfourkeycriteria

forselection.Nationalfieldnetworkswithwhomthevariousstateorganizationswereaffiliated

includingPeople’sAction,PICO,CenterforPopularDemocracy,AllianceforaJustSociety,Jobs

WithJustice,NationalDomesticWorkers’Alliance,theBOLDnetwork(BlackOrganizers’

LeadershipDevelopment)andMovementforBlackLiveswerealsoconsultedintheprocessof

reachingouttostatepartnersoraffiliates.

EachorganizationselectedforthecohortthencompletedanMOUlistingagreementsfor

participationintheprogram.Theseagreementsincludedattendanceatthreeweek-long

convenings(June2015,Oct2015,April2016),participationintwowebinars(Feb2016andDec

2015),statelevelactivitiestoalignstateinfrastructurearoundsharedvisionfordemocracy

reformwork,fundraisingeffortsandcompletionofabriefnarrativeoutliningworktodateand

nextsteps.

Anumberofnationalcapacitybuildingorganizationswerealsoconsultedinthedevelopmentof

theprogramandinsomecasesinitsimplementationorfacilitation.Theseincluded:Wellstone,

TheManagementCenter,PartnershipFund,GrassrootsPolicySolutions,andtheRockwood

LeadershipInstitute.

WhataretheIDP’skeygoals?ThekeygoalsoftheIDPinthisfirstyearwereto:

• Morecloselyalignracialjusticeorganizationsandtraditionaldemocracyreform

advocatesstartinginthestates.

• Tobroadenthedemocracyreformfieldtoincludeleadershipfrompeopleofcolorled

grassrootsorganizations.

• Toconvene,develop,equipandsupportacohortofracialandeconomicjustice

organizationstoincorporatemoneyinpoliticsworkintotheirexistingworktoadvancea

multi-issueprogressiveagenda.

WhatstrategiesdoestheIDPprioritizetoaccomplishitsgoals?Toaccomplishthesegoals,theIDPfocusedonsixkeystrategiestoexpandtheparticipationof

peopleofcolor,womenandeconomicjusticeleadersindemocracyreformadvocacyand

campaigns:

1. Conveningandestablishingacohortoftheseleadersinordertodeveloptheirskillsin

thisareaandequipthemwiththetoolstoleaddemocracyreformcampaignslocally,to

beconfidentspokespeoplefortheseeffortsandtodeveloprelationshipsbetween

leadersamongthiscohortthatprovidemutualsupportandlearning.

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2. Increasingandimprovingtheinfrastructurecampaignfinancereformor“cleanelection”

campaignsatthestateandlocallevelsbyengagingnewgroups,particularlybase-

buildinggroupsthatrepresentconstituenciesmostimpactedbyimpedimentstovoting

andadearthofcandidatesfromtheirowncommunities.

3. Encouragingandsupportingrelationshipsbetweennewlyengagedgroupsandemerging

democracyreformleadersandthetraditionalcommunityofdemocracyreformgroups.

4. Providingtechnicalassistanceandguidancetodevelop,fundraiseforandwin

democracyreformandvotingrightscampaignsamongthegroupsparticipatinginthe

cohort.

5. Trainingandcoachingstaffofcohortorganizationstoexpandtheirorganization’swork

intodemocracyreformadvocacy,toengagenewpeopleofcolor,womenandworking

classleadersinthisworkand,insomecases,facilitatingrelationshipsbetweencohort

groupsandestablishedgroupsinthedemocracyreformcommunity.

6. Workinginpartnershipwithcohortgroupsonalonger-termstrategyforincreasing

resourcesandparticipationofthemostimpactedvotersindemocracyreformand

votingrightscampaignsandamorerobustrolefortheseorganizationsininitiating,

winningandimplementingpolicychange.

Inthefirst14monthsoftheIDP,Dēmosmovedover$480,000tostateorganizationsinthe

formofgeneraloperatingsupporttohaveexecutiveandseniorstaffparticipateintheprogram

anddeveloppermanentcapacitytoinstitutionalizedemocracyreformaspartofparticipating

organizationsstrategytoadvanceracial,genderandeconomicequityandbuildindependent

politicalpower.Inaddition,financialresourceswereprovidedtosupportspecificcampaigns

beingconductedinkeystates,andwerestructuredtosupportpartnerstomeetdeliverablesfor

specificpublicfinancingandvotingrightscampaigns.

ASSESSMENT&ANALYSISFromJune-Septemberof2016,Dēmoscollecteddatathroughacomprehensivesurveyof

cohortparticipantsinpreparationforanassessmentoftheirIDPprogramthatcouldboth

providemeasuresofprogressonoutcomesandlessonsthatcouldbeappliedinfuturephases

oftheprogram.Thissurveydatawascombinedwithparticipantandstakeholderfeedback

collectedduringthefirst14monthsofprogram,andindependentinterviewswithDēmosstaff

andcohortmembers,inordertogeneratethisindependentanalysisofthefirstyearofthe

program.

HowdidIDPparticipantsratetheprogramoverall?ParticipationineachaspectoftheIDPprogramwashigh:overtwo-thirdsofthecohort

membersparticipatedinallthree3-4dayconveningsandbothwebinars,inadditiontoweekly

ormonthlycheck-insbetweeneachorganizationandDemosstaff.Feedbackontheseelements

andtheoverallexperienceofparticipationinthecohortwasoverwhelminglypositivewithover

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80%ofrespondentstothesurveyratingtheirexperienceasexcellentandtheremainderrating

itasverygood.Over96%ofprogramparticipantswouldrecommendtheIDPtocolleaguesand

allies.

Foremost,theparticipantsfoundvalueintheopportunitytogathertolearn,buildrelationships

andstrategizeacrossstatesabouthowpeopleofcolorledandracialjusticecanengagein

democracyreformcampaignsandcreateashiftinthecurrentparadigmtowardgreater

inclusivityofracialandeconomicequityinthoseefforts.Peopleofcolorleadersandwhite

leadersinthecohortbothnotedthevalueoftheIDPprogramandcohortinestablishing

dedicatedspaceforcandidanalysisofrace,genderandclassthatallowedforsafeagitation

amongpeersandrealdealdiscussionaboutmovingforward.Respondentssurveyeduniversally

agreedthatthetimespentbuildingrelationshipsthroughtheIDPwasimportant;overtwo-

thirds(69.4%)stronglyagreedthattheyhadbuiltimportantrelationshipswithothersinthe

cohortandwithnationalalliesthatwouldenablecloserworkinthefuture,andover96%of

cohortmembersindicatedtheexperiencewouldfacilitatetheirleadershiponfuturedemocracy

reformcampaigns.

Aspartofthisproject,Dēmosdevelopedakeytool,itsstrategypaper,whichoutlineshow

grassrootsracialandeconomicorganizationscanusedemocracyreformsaspartofbuilding

independentpowerandachievingracialandeconomicequityintheirstates.Thisresearch

provedusefultoprogramparticipants:50%ofsurveyrespondentsrateditasveryusefuland

theremaining50%characterizedthedocumentasextremelyuseful.Thistoolisnowbroadly

availableandbeingsharedandusedbyadditionalgroupsincludingtheStateVoicesNetwork,

SierraClub,350.org,People’sAction,andMainePeople’sAlliance.

Acrosstheboard,participantsalsoprovidedenthusiasticandcomplimentaryfeedbackabout

theprogramfacilitatorsandparticularlyitsdesignerJodeenOlguin-Tayler,whothey

overwhelminglycharacterizedasastrategicthinker,trustedpartner,thoughtfulfacilitatorand

insightfulpartnerintheprocess.

Thisisanimportantspacetobewithandamongotherpeoplewhounderstandthecriticalroleofcentrallyplacingracialjusticeinamuchlargercontextoffinallyachievinggoverningpower.It’sasafespacetobothchallengeyourownthinkingaswellasthethinkingofotherswhilegainingaccesstocriticalinformationandtoolsforsystemicchange.-JanineCarreiro,MCAN

Jodeen’sstrategicmind,andabilitytooperateonmultiplelevelsofstrategy(campaign,field,political,advocacy,fundraising,organizationalpositioning)allatthesametimeandhelpusseeanddigesthowtheyareconnectedisarareleadershipskill.

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DidtheIDPprogrammeetitsgoalsforitsfirstyearoftheproject?UnanimousfeedbackfromthegroupsdemonstratesthattheIDPprogramdidachieveitsgoal

ofbuildingacommunityofgrassrootsracialandeconomicjusticeleadersthatrecognizethe

valueofincorporatingdemocracyreformadvocacyintotheirwork:

• Allgroupsagreedtheyhadgreaterunderstandingabouthowaffirmativevotingrights

canbetoolsforadvancingracialequityattheendoftheprogram;50%ofrespondents

stronglyagreed.

• Allgroupsagreedtheyhaddeeperunderstandingofhowcampaignfinancereformor

moneyinpoliticscanbetoolsforracialequity;69.2%stronglyagreed.

• AllgroupsagreedthattheIDPprogramadvancedtheirownthinkingabouthowboth

affirmativevotingrightsandmoneyinpoliticsreformscanadvanceindependent

politicalpowerforpeopleofcolorandworkingclasspeople;73.1%stronglyagree.

Clearly,groupsthemselvesthroughparticipationintheprogramcametoanincreasingly

coherentanalysisofwhytheirparticipationandleadershipindemocracyreformeffortsis

consistentwithandinmanywaysfundamentaltoachievinggreaterracialandeconomicequity

fortheirmembers.

Compiledsurveydatashowsthatgroupsare,infact,alsobetterequippedtoengageinmoney

inpolitics,campaignfinancereformandvotingrightscampaignsevidencingthattheprogram

didn’tjustinfluencethinking,itdevelopedcapacityandconfidenceamonggroupstoimplement

theanalysis:

• EveryparticipantagreedthattheIDPprojecthelpedthemdeveloptheiranalysis,tools

andleadershipskillstoalignotherorganizationsinthestatetoadoptracialequity

valuestodemocracyreform;53.4%stronglyagreed.

• EveryparticipantagreedthattheIDPincreasedtheirorganization’scapacitytoexecute

along-termstrategytobuildindependentpoliticalpowerwitharacialjusticelens;60%

stronglyagreed.

InitiallyIviewedmoneyinpoliticsandvotingcampaignsasnecessarybutseparatefromtheworkwedoaroundstateviolenceandracialjustice,nowIviewthemasvehiclestoaccelerateourworkandthebuildingofcapacity.-MontagueSimmons,OrganizationforBlackStruggle

IfeeltheIDPhasgivenmeandmyorganizationmoretoolstomakethisareality.IamlookingforwardtothenextseveralyearswhereIhopeinMissouriwecanusedemocracyreformcampaignstobuildandexpandtheleadershipoforganizationsofcolorandworkingclassorganizationsandcanwinprogressivepolicychangesasaresultofwinningdemocraticreforms.-JustinStein,MOJobsWithJustice

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Finally,thesurveysrevealedthatinadditiontodeepeningthewayleadersthinkabout

democracyreformsasatoolforracialjusticeandincreasingtheirconfidencetodevelop

programandorganizeallies,theIDPalsoinfluencedtheparticipantsbehavior—anotherkey

goalofthisprogram.

GroupsinthecohortactuallytookoncampaignsthatmettheverycriteriadiscussedintheIDP

conveningsandwebinarsandsuccessfullyengagedinthoseeffortswithsupportandtechnical

assistancefromtheIDPprogram.Inthisway,theIDPprogramdidmeetitsgoalofbroadening

thedemocracyreformfieldtoincludeleadershipfrompeopleofcolorledgrassroots

organizations.Twoprominentexamplesarebelow:

• In2015,lessthantwomonthsintotheirconversationswithDēmosabouttheIDP,WA-

CANreversedtheirdecisiontosit-outpublicfinancingcampaignballotinitiativein

Seattle,WA,andinsteadbroughtpartnerOneAmericatothetableaspartofthe

executivecommitteetohelpshapethepolicyproposaltoincludespecificattentionto

racialequityinthecampaign.Demospresentedattheirboardandmembership

meetingstosecuretheboard’ssupportforWA-CANtoprioritizethecampaign,and

provided$45,000ingeneraloperatingsupportthatallowedWA-CANtostaffuptowork

onthecampaign(somethingtheseveralotherindependentanalysisofthecampaign

sightedaskeytotheoverallcampaign’ssuccess).ThemeasurewoninNovember,2015.

InWA-CAN’sownwords:“WeatWA-CANwouldn’thavecontinuedtoworkon

democracyreformworkifwehadn’thadthisopportunitytoworkwiththeotherracial

justiceorganizationstryingtofigureouthowtochangethisfield.”

• NewFloridaMajority(NFM)joinedthecohorttwomonthsintotheproject’slaunch,

spurredbypartnerFaithinFlorida(alreadyamemberofthecohort),whichrecognized

theneedformoreracialjusticeorganizationstoleadanupcomingMiami-Dadepublic

financingeffort.Dēmosenlistedahostofnationalallies,provided$60Koffinancial

resources,andorganizedadditionalfinancialsupport,andmarshaledtheirown

expertisetohelpNewFloridaMajoritybecomeoneofthecampaign’skeyleadersand

continuestoworkcloselywithNFM.InNFMExecutiveDirectorGihanPerera’sown

words:“We’vebeendeepinthevoterrightsworkfromtheracialjusticeperspectivefor

alongtime,butbeenpuzzledbythesilosanddividesbetweenimpactedpeopleandthe

whiteinfrastructure.Dēmoscreatedabridgebybringingresources,technicalassistance

andstrategicsupport:itwasabridgetotheheartofmoneyinpoliticsworld.”

Othergroupsinthecohortreportedbeinginvariousstagesofincreasingtheirorganization’s

involvementandleadershipintheirstates’democracyreformactivities.Amongthetotal

participantsinthecohort,overtwo-thirdsreportedtakingsomespecificactiontotalkto

allies/partnersaboutelevatingracialequity,bringingracialjusticegroupsorpeople-of-colorled

organizationstothetableandinfluencingstrategybypushingforreformsthataffirmatively

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addressracialandeconomicequity.Overtime,itisreasonabletoassumethatthisincreased

participationfromracialjusticeandeconomicjusticegroupswillcontinuetodiversifythe

democracyreformcommunityandcreateincreasedopportunitiesforevenmoresimilar

organizationstostepforwardintothiswork.

Whatlimitationsorlessonswereidentifiedforfutureconsideration?ThegreatestlimitationinIDP’sprogramthatemergedfromthedatacollectedfromcohort

respondentswaslackofconcreteprogressonfundraising.Therewasnotsufficientspecific

accountingorfeedbackfromgroupsonwhatamountstheyraisedorhowtheirfundraising

developedasaresultofparticipationintheprogramthoughgroupsconsistentlyidentifieditas

astumblingblock.

GroupsalsoidentifiedfundraisingasakeyreasonwhyIDPshouldcontinuetoworktoalign

funders,traditionaldemocracyreformgroupsandgrassrootsorganizationsthatareemerging

asnewleadersinthefield.Basedonsurveyresponses:

• 84.6%ofparticipantssaidIDP’ssupportforracialjusticeorganizationswithseedfunding

forworkondemocracyreformwas“extremelycritical.”

• 84.6%ofparticipantssaidIDP’ssupportforracialjusticegroupstodeveloptheirown

funderanddonorrelationshipsandtheirowncapacitytoraisedirectsupporthadbeen

“extremelycritical.”

• 96.2%ofrespondentssaidIDP’sroleinaligningdemocracyfunderstorecognizeand

positionracialjusticeorganizationsasnecessaryleadersinthereformfieldcontinuesto

be“extremelycritical.”

Anotherambiguitysuggestedbythesurveyresultsisthedegreeoffocusthatshouldbe

devotedtoencouragingmainstreamorwhite-ledorganizationstoimprovetheirrelationships

withracialjusticeorganizationsortoalignwiththemmore.Lessthanhalfofrespondentsfelt

thatitisanextremelycriticalroleforIDPtomovetraditionalalliestosupportracialequityasa

priority.Overallthefeedbacksuggeststhatgroupsbelievethewaytoelevateracial,genderand

classequityisactuallytofocusequippinggrassrootsgroupswithtools,resourcesand

opportunitiestofacilitatetheirownparticipationandleadershipindemocracyreformefforts.

InterviewswithDēmosstaffyieldedsomeexcitementaboutthewillingnessoftraditional

groupstoengageinthelandscapeprojecttoselectgroups,butatthesametimeacknowledged

thatitwillbeaslowerprocessthananticipatedtoactuallygetthetraditionaldemocracy

reformgroupstowelcomethenewcohortleaderstothetable.

Ifpeopleofcolorarenotincludedinthefundingconversationswesimplycontinuetoperpetuatethecurrentsystemthatpromoteswhitesupremacy.-DelvoneMichael,WorkingFamiliesParty

It’snoteasy,butgiventheirdepth,powerandresources,therealityisthatweneedalignmentwithwhiteledorjusteconomicjusticegroupssotheyseetheintersectionalityANDdosomethingaboutit.-AnaliliaMejia,WorkingFamiliesParty

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Relatedtothisquestionisthechallengeofcapacitytomeetthegrowinginterest/demand—

anotherlimitationofthisproject.Therearealreadyindicationsofappetiteforanexpanded

communityofracialjusticeorganizationswhowouldseevaluetoincorporatingdemocracy

reformsintheirmissionandprogram,andDēmoswouldhavetosignificantlyaugmentit’s

staffingtobeabletomeettheneedsandsupportrequeststheprojecthasgeneratedfromthis

firstwaveofparticipants.

Dēmoshasalreadyidentifiedopportunitiestoworkwithanexpandeduniverseofalliestoalign

racialjusticewithaffirmativedemocracyreformstrategiesincluding:

• draftingtheVotingRightsandCampaignFinanceReformSectionsofthe

#Vision4BlackLivesnationalpolicyplatform,

• workingwithstafftopresentworkshopstoalloftheaffiliatesofthenewlyformed

People’sActionontheseissues

• expandingworkwithinPICObeyondthethreeexistingorganizationswhowerepartof

thefirstcohort

• on-goingandsupporttothepeople-of-colorcaucuswithintheWorkingFamiliesParty.

• acceptinginvitationstoexpandthisworktoadeepdivewithorganizationsinCalifornia

andNewMexico,andrunningaracialequitylearningprogramforastatedonor’stable.

Thequestionofexpansionwillneedtobecarefullyconsideredbasedonwhatstatesmay

presentopportunitiesforlegislativepolicychangebeyondballotmeasures,whatorganizations

mayormaynotmeetthecriteriatheprogramhasidentifiedand,ofcourse,Dēmos’staff

capacityandresourcestomanageabroadersetofstakeholderswhilemaintainingexisting

relationshipswithcohortleadersandprovidingsupportoneffortsalreadyunderway.

BothparticipantsinthecohortandDēmosstaffidentifiedtimeasakeychallengeinthe

program.Someparticipantsnotedthatoneyearisnotlongenoughtoreachthelevelof

alignmentrequiredtoputinplacetherelationships,sharedanalysis,resources,etc.requiredto

advanceademocracyreformeffort.Dependingonthestate,evenmoretimemayberequired.

Anumberofparticipantsintheprogramalsonotedthatmoretimetogether,morefrequent

contactbetweenconveningsandwebinarsandmorestructuredopportunitytointeractwith

otherIDPparticipantswouldbehelpfulinacceleratingthepaceofprogressandreachingboth

theindividualandcollectivegoalsofcohortgroups.

AkeylessonforDēmosisnottounderestimatetheinvestmentoftimethiskindofintervention

necessitates.Dēmosstaffnotedthatittookmoretimetobuildthecohort,prepare

participants,andprovidethelevelofongoingsupportrequiredbothtogetcampaignsoffthe

groundandtokeepupwithcampaignsalreadymovingthantheyinitiallyanticipated.

TimelinesandpaceareimportantconsiderationsasDēmoscontemplatesthenextphaseofits

IDPandopportunitiestoworkwithanexpandedsetofstakeholders.Limitedcapacityand

growingdemandamonggroupsmayrequireDēmostoexploreothermodelsorhybrid

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expressionsofIDPwhereDēmosmayplaydifferentrolesthaninthisoriginaliterationofthe

program.

CONCLUSION

TheIDPrepresentsthefirstphaseinDēmoslonger-termefforttoconductafocused

interventioninthedemocracyreformfieldthatcouldexpandprogressivepowertoadvance

racial,genderandeconomicequitybycreatingaffirmativereformsthatincreasevoter

participationandcombattheinsidiousinfluenceofcorporatemoneyinourdemocracy.

It’sclearfromthefeedbackofparticipantsandthegrowingenthusiasmofgrassrootsgroups

thatthereistremendouspossibilityforincreasingpowertodrivedemocracyreformsby

connectingthosereformswithrace,classandgenderequityandbuildingindependentpolitical

powersothatgrassrootsgroupscanengagetheirmembersinadvocacyefforts.Throughthe

IDP,Dēmoshasbeguntobuildamodelthatdoesjustthat.Moreover,itdoessobyengaging

groupsthatorganizethemostimpactedpeople,equippingthosegroupstoleadondemocracy

reformcampaignsandsupportingthosegroupsinfacilitatingalignmentbetweenracialjustice

organizationsandtraditionaldemocracyadvocates.

Thismodest-sizedeffortisanimportantfirststep,butcontinuedworkisrequiredtoexpand

fundraisingcapacity,tofollowthroughwithstategroupsontheimplementationoftheanalysis

theyadoptintheIDP,andtoincreasethescaleofworksothatwecanstarttoseediscernable

shiftsinthedemocracyreformlandscapeinmoreplaces.ThereisnoquestionthattheIDPmet

itsgoalsinvaryingdegreesinthefirstyear.Therealquestionishowtoleveragethissuccessfor

continuedprogress,investmentandexpansionofthismodelasakeystrategytowin,

implementanddefendthepolicychangeessentialtobuildingademocracyinwhichweallhave

asay.

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APPENDIX

SurveyParticipants

Name Title Organization RegionDanMcGrath ExecutiveDirector TakeActionMN MN

JanineCarreiro DeputyDirector MCAN MA

MontagueSimmons Chairman OrganizationforBlackStruggle MO

SerenaPerez OrganizingDirector NewFloridaMajority FL

AndreaSerrano DeputyDirector OLENewMexico NM

TobyGuevin PoliticalDirector OneAmerica WA

MoneHolder PolicyDirector NewFloridaMajority FL

SarahSilva ExecutiveDirector Café NM

AnaliliaMejia StateDirector WorkingFamiliesPartyNewJersey NJ

JavierBenavidez ExecutiveDirector SWOP NM

ValerieErvin NationalDirector WorkingFamiliesParty National

VinaKay ExecutiveDirector VoiceforRacialJustice MN

JustinStein LeadOrganizer MissouriJobswithJustice MO

JamilJackson ExecutiveDirector CEO MN

MauricioAyon PoliticalDirector WA-CAN WA

AshliBolden OrganizingDirector MissouriJobswithJustice MO

RobertPeters PoliticalDirector ThePeople’sLobby/ReclaimChicago IL

DelvoneMichael StateDirector WorkingFamiliesPartyWashington,DC DC

ChrisGenese OrganizingDirector WA-CAN WA

JustinTerrell RestoretheVoteDirector TakeActionMN MN

DesmondMeade Director FloridaCoalitionforVotingRights/FaithinFL FL

CharlyCarter StateDirector WorkingFamiliesPartyMaryland MD

MariaElena ExecutiveDirector NeighbortoNeighbor MA

IDPOverallEvaluationForm&SurveyDataResults

As an organizational leader, this project has advanced my thinking on how affirmative voting rights and/or money in politics reforms can be used strategically, to build INDEPENDENT political power for people of color and working class people: (For individual comments see the appendix)

Participating in the IDP has strengthened my / my organization’s capacity to execute a long-term strategy to build independent political power and, particularly, to do so with a racial justice lens: (*See appendix for specific comments from respondents)

The IDP project has helped me develop my analysis, set of tools and leadership to align other organizations in my state around bringing racial equity values to democracy reform work: *For individual comments see the appendix

I have built and strengthened relationships among and between my fellow IDP cohort members so we can work together more effectively—within states and nationally:

*For individual comments see the appendix

Strongly Disagree: 0% Disagree: 0% Agree: 11% (3) Strongly Agree: 34.6% (9) Strongly Agree & would repeat with my staff: 53.8% (19)

Strongly Disagree: 0% Not particularly: 0% Yes, somewhat: 7.7% (2) Agree: 42.3% (11) Strongly Agree: 50% (13)

Strongly Disagree: 0% Not particularly: 0% Yes, somewhat: 7.7% (2) Agree: 26.9% (7) Strongly Agree: 65.4% (17)

Strongly Disagree: 0% Disagree: 0% Agree: 3.8% (1) Strongly Agree: 23.1% (6) Strongly Agree & would repeat with my staff: 73.1% (19)

I have a deeper understanding now, then when the project started a year ago, about how affirmative voting rights reforms can be tools for advancing racial equity:

*For individual comments see the appendix

I have a deeper understanding now, then when the project started a year ago about how campaign finance or money in politics reforms can be tools for advancing racial equity:

*For in individual comments see the appendix

How useful did you find the project’s strategy paper about how to use democracy reforms as part of a strategy to build governing power & independent political power? (Please check all that apply)

Overall, I feel my experience with the Inclusive Democracy Project has been:

“…[W]hat Demos is doing with the IDP is our version of what the conservative movement did 40 years ago…we have needed an organization that has the right analysis, strategy, and agenda to bring together grassroots groups throughout the country to really look towards taking back governing power. There are a number of other spaces where this conversation is happening, but I have yet to find one that has the clarity, integrity, political analysis, and intelligence DEMOS has crafted with the IDP…”

Strongly Disagree: 0% Not particularly: 0% Yes, somewhat: 3.8% (1) Agree: 23.1% (6) Strongly Agree: 73.1% (19)

Strongly Disagree: 0% Not particularly: 0% Yes, somewhat: 11.5% (2) Agree: 38.5% (10) Strongly Agree: 13% (50)

Only Somewhat Useful: 0% Very Useful: 50% (13) Extremely Useful: 50% (13) I shared it with my staff / others: 50% (13) I use or refer to it regularly: 53.8 %(14)

Poor: 0% Fair: 0% Average: 0% Very Good: 19.2 (5) Excellent: 80.8% (21)