Democracy in Color

Template:TOCnestleft Democracy in Color is a media organization dedicated to race, politics and the multicultural progressive New American Majority.

We are dedicated to empowering the New American Majority—multiracial, multicultural, and progressive—through media, public conversations, research and analysis on race and politics.

Our mission is to build power by empowering the New American Majority through shining a light on and lifting up progressive people of color and whites, and calling for transparency and accountability from our leaders. Our mission is also to win back our country from those who seek to silence our voices.

Democracy in Color was founded in 2016 by Steve Phillips, author of New York Times bestselling book, Brown Is the New White. Aimee Allison is President of Democracy in Color. In early 2017, Democracy in Color released its “Return of the Majority” plan, the only data-backed plan on how Democrats and progressives can take back the country.

Launch of Democracy in Color

Launch of Democracy in Color Loew's Hotel Philadelphia July 25 2016, at Democratic National Convention.

Steve Phillips July 28, 2016

Words can't convey the power of these women taking the stage and showing by word and symbol what the future looks like. — with Stacey Abrams, Nina Turner, Lucy Flores, Alida Garcia, Rida Hamida, Jane Kim and Aimee Allison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Our Work

Campaigns: Campaigns that focus the public’s and decision makers’ efforts on ways to make the Democratic Party and the progressive movement reflective of and accountable to the hopes and aspirations of the New American Majority—especially people of color—and to elevate leadership and practices that expand and deepen the voice and vote of people of color. Democracy in Color also works with groups on the ground in key states to support campaigns such as Georgia House Minority Leader Stacey Abrams’ race for governor that will help win the country back in 2018 and 2020.

Podcast: The Democracy in Color podcast, hosted by Aimee Allison, features today’s best and brightest political political leaders, strategists and thinkers of the New American Majority. We’ve featured Senator Cory Booker; Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal; San Francisco Supervisor Jane Kim, Stockton, California Mayor Michael Tubbs; BART Director Lateefah Simon; writer Eric Liu; #Goodmuslimbadmuslim co-host Tanzila Ahmed; New Yorker writer Jelani Cobb, and writers Rebecca Solnit and Jeff Chang, among many others. Ellen McGirt, editor of Fortune magazine’s raceAhead, calls it: "The smartest podcast on race I've found in ages. Listen and grow."

Newsletter: Regular wrap up of news on race and politics through our “Democracy in Color Report” edited by Sharline Chiang.

Team

As of January 2, 2018;

• Steve Phillips is the founder of Democracy in Color/
• Aimee Allison is President of Democracy in Color, an organization that focuses on race, politics and the New American Majority that worked to elect President Barack Obama, Senator Cory Booker, Senator Kamala Harris, and other leaders who carry a social justice agenda. She is host of the “Democracy in Color” podcast.
• Sharline Chiang is Co-Editor and Director of Media Relations for Democracy in Color. She is also the editor of the Democracy in Color Report.
• Lulie Osher serves as Democracy in Color's Staff Attorney and Chief of Staff.
• Olivia Parker is the Digital Director for Democracy in Color.

18 Frontline Freedom Fighters

Democracy in Color says "Support these groups".

These groups have proven track records of conducting effective and accountable voter registration and mobilization work in the 17 Frontline States. Contact us if you would like us to consider adding a group.

• New Georgia Project
• Georgia Coalition for the People's Agenda
• Planned Parenthood Southeast - Georgia
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Atlanta
• Texas Organizing Project
• Battleground Texas
• Planned Parenthood Texas Votes
• Workers Defense Project
• Ohio Organizing Collaborative
• One Arizona
• Arizona Wins
• Blueprint North Carolina
• Conyers Institute of Public Policy
• A. Philip Randolph Institute North Carolina Chapter(s)
• New Florida Majority
• Organize Florida
• Florida Immigrant Coalition
• Southern Elections Fund

17 Frontline States

Democracy in Color says "Focus on these states".

States Democrats won or lost in the 2016 Presidential election by less than a single-digit percentage margin:

• Arizona
• Florida
• Iowa
• Michigan
• Nevada
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Texas
• Wisconsin
• Colorado
• Georgia
• Maine
• Minnesota
• New Hampshire
• North Carolina
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia

In addition to the opportunity to take statewide power in the Frontline States, there are an additional 13 congressional districts outside of those Frontline States where the margin of difference is very narrow. Winning these districts in 2018— along with 15 Frontline Congressional Districts in the 17 Frontline States— would result in recapturing control of the House of Representatives and halting the efforts to dismantle the progress America has made towards justice and equality.

Movement Voter Project

According to the Movement Voter Project website;

NEW! How We Won Alabama - #TrustBlackWomen & Fund Local Organizing!

How did we pick up a US Senate seat in an off-cycle special election in Alabama? Black Women and their teams on the ground knew what it took to win, and we are honored to have played a small role in supporting them! We worked our networks and identified two local black women leading the way – DeJuana Thompson and LaTosha Brown. With our friends in Solidaire, Women Donors Network, Color of Democracy, and others, we collectively moved more than $500,000 – in less than a month! (We were directly involved in moving about $200,000 of that – with a ton of small-dollar donations!) Most of the funds went through three major local grassroots operations (WOKE VOTE, RIGHTEOUS VOTE, and #BlackVotersMatter) which in turn supported 30+ local groups, 600+ organizers in 17 Alabama counties, as well as a statewide phone bank, peer-to-peer texting, rural black radio, and social media campaigns. We can win anywhere and everywhere when we support local organizing and don’t take communities for granted. But we need early and ongoing investments. You can click here to donate to continued efforts in Alabama. Let’s transform the South (and the whole country)!

References

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