Research and Coordination Center

The Commonweal Institute (CI) proposes to maximize the strategic gain of current market research efforts by serving as a bridging organization linking national marketing efforts to the thousands of grassroots organizations that do not currently see themselves as part of the greater progressive movement. The Progressive Resource Center – Commonweal PRC – will

1. map, aggregate, and archive existing and new market and polling research from a variety of sources to create an online clearinghouse;
2. offer marketing resources and toolkits on the PRC web site; 
3. build the capacity of independent voices – these nonprofit activists as well as bloggers and academics – to promote cross-cutting progressive values through spokesperson training; 
4. train strategists and communications professionals in the use of market research data in the PRC  database; and 
5. conduct original market research in areas where research is not being undertaken.

Using its empirically-driven, cutting-edge values science, American Environics proposes to conduct annual social values surveys in 2006 and 2007, and to publish its Road Map for a Progressive Majority (currently these are produced every four years), in order to offer progressives an understanding of how values are changing year to year. In addition to producing the reports, American Environics proposes:

1. improving on the existing Environics social values study and field analysis by applying a new annual survey tailored for progressive social change;
2. creating and introducing three to five Strategic Initiatives into contested political space;
3. advising on the creation of one to three organizations or cultural products that have bridge values at their center; and
4. bringing together, in an annual meeting, the world’s leading values researchers to discuss new social change trends, the emergence of new values, and the withering away of old values.

Contact:

• Erin Malec, Strategist, American Environics
• 434-293-6361