The lack of a coordinated communication network is a great liability to progressives when it comes to acting in concert to influence public opinion and public policy, and maximizing the gains of grassroots organizing and electoral campaigns. This LOI proposes to map progressive organizations and networks, and to use this data to create a web-based database listing communication vehicles, organizations, and networks willing and able to coordinate message distribution. Specifically, the LOI proposes:
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A stronger and better connected infrastructure will enable progressives to communicate their ideas and values more effectively to a variety of audiences, to collaborate more effectively, and to move the political agenda to be more receptive to progressive candidates and programs. In collaboration with renowned network analyst Valdis Krebs, the Commonweal Institute proposes to increase substantially the connected capacity of the progressive movement by mapping and analyzing the social and organizational networks that presently exist among progressive infrastructure organizations and individuals, then intervening in specific ways to strengthen and “weave” those networks. These activities will include targeted networking events to increase connectivity, the creation of a public engagement networking site, the development of a messaging echo chamber via network connections, and education and promotion to encourage network involvement.
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To revitalize a progressive religious movement as an identifiable moral backbone for the overall progressive movement, Faithful America and Faith Voices for the Common Good are seeking support to create a joint information-delivery and technology infrastructure to reach mainstream religious people with progressive messaging through innovative social software, such as Faith Voices’ unique, interactive Synanim technology (Synanim.org). This collaboration will expand the current reach of the two organizations for optimum messaging and coordination of work to engage both clergy and laity in more active participation in providing moral frameworks for the progressive movement. This linkage will broaden their reach by growing www.faithfulamerica.org from 100,000 to a target of 500,000 members and Faith Voices from 20 to 50 organizational members to support Faith Voices’ Gather Heart messaging system for clergy, which enables clergy to create sermons online with Synanim. Between them, the two organizations have potential access to 86,000 clergy and 45,000,000 Christians. The joint infrastructure will provide world-class clergy leadership training and a dynamic and centralized online service for growing a progressive religious movement. It will engage persons of faith in public debate and enable interactive discourse on progressive values, thereby strengthening the moral public voice of the progressive movement.
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