Letters of Interest

A full service market research company specializing in primary data collection and analyses, American LIVES (ALI) proposes to conduct a national research study to discover what messages and issues hold the most power and the greatest chance of unifying the progressive movement.  By defining through empirical research the core issues of the Progressive movement, determining the level of overlap among the issues, and charting the differing segments attracted in differing levels to the Progressive movement, American LIVES will be able to map the national appeal of specific policies, from levels of intense support to more fragmented support.  Through batteries of survey questions, ALI will create three separate measures:

In March, 2006, the Commonweal Institute convened the 2006 Progressive Roundtable, a working group of over 50 leaders in communications, marketing, framing, media, and strategy to make decisions about how to market progressive ideas more effectively and how to coordinate progressive communications. Innovative, diverse viewpoints from across the country were represented during the Progressive Roundtable convening.

The Roundtable members identified six top priority infrastructure needs and are working to see that these needs will be met. Organizations have developed seventeen Letters of Interest (LOI) in response to these priority needs. Following are summaries of fifteen of these LOIs; interested funders may request to see the full Letters of Interest. The Commonweal Institute is coordinating efforts to identify funding for these projects. If you are a funder interested in supporting the development of progressive infrastructure, you may either contact the Commonweal Institute, or get in touch directly with the individual contact listed for a specific project.