I’ve been working closely with Common Cause, the venerable advocacy organization and good government watchdog that continues to fight some of the most important battles on behalf of our democracy, namely campaign finance reform, voting rights and media reform.
Common Cause works to develop and implement both short- and long-term solutions at the national and state levels, bringing together experts and grassroots organizers to achieve lasting change. Along these lines the organization is launching “Blueprint for a Great Democracy”, an annual conference series kicking off alongside the George S. McGovern Great Democracy Fellowship program.
I’m honored to have been invited to participate in the first class of McGovern Fellows, and am in the beginning stages of a new research and thought leadership project focusing on digital advocacy.
From Common Cause’s quarterly newsletter:
The Common Cause Education Fund is launching a major initiative to develop a vision and strategies for advancing reforms that will enable the United States to reclaim its place – and chart its future – as a great democracy.
With generous long-term support from the Leonard and Sophie Davis Fund, Common Cause will convene an annual gathering of thought leaders, coalition partners and others to address democracy challenges, related particularly to the influence of money in politics and barriers to participation in our democracy.
The annual conference will be called the Blueprint for a Great Democracy. The first convening is scheduled for Dec. 10-11 in Washington DC.
A key element of this initiative is the George S. McGovern Great Democracy Fellowship program. McGovern Fellows, including scholars, reform leaders and other creative thinkers, will have a unique platform to advance reform ideas to the media, the democracy reform movement and the public to make concrete contributions toward advancing reforms that increase civic engagement and promote accountable government.
The first class of fellows includes:
Vance Hickin, a digital strategist and consultant specializing in programs for the public sphere. He is principal of Highway One Consulting LLC and in 2012 was California Digital Director at Obama for America.
Zephyr Teachout, associate professor of law at Fordham University and an expert on the Internet’s impact on electoral politics; and
Tracy Westen, founder of the Center for Governmental Studies, which strengthens democracy through research, strategic consulting and online information systems. Tracy has written extensively on innovative political and media solutions to help people participate in democracy. He is a former communications law professor at USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism and UCLA Law School.
The McGovern fellows will focus on strategies for increasing electoral participation, with emphasis on breaking down barriers to participation by minorities, young adults, and low income Americans.
More information on the fellows program and on the Blueprint for a Great Democracy conferences is available at www.commoncause.org/blueprint.