Citizen Whip Counts and Other New Organizing Models
The tools available to today’s activists online are making the old organizing models from the 60’s – 90’s irrelevant and obsolete. Safety experts testifying to Congress helped Ralph Nader pass seatbelt laws in 1960, but today a blog or online organization can send that testimony out directly to millions of people in seconds. The massive coalitions which once helped pass environmental protections now find themselves struggling to keep up with smaller, more nimble online groups.
Today’s technology enables 10 dedicated activists to accomplish what it took thousands to do just a few decades ago. This session will explore some of the new organizing models being developed to help fight the progressive battles of the 21st century.
Chris Bowers has been the managing editor of Openleft.com since July 2007, and was a full-time editor at MyDD.com from May 2004 until June 2007. He is also the treasurer of BlogPac, a fellow at the Commonweal Institute, and holds a seat on the Pennsylvania State Democratic Committee. Bowers is 35, lives in Philadelphia, and occasionally works as a netroots consultant for progressive candidates and organizations.
Most importantly, as of July 18th, Chris is now married to Natasha Chart!
Jane Hamsher is the Founder and Publisher of Firedoglake. Jane's work has appeared on the Huffington Post, Alternet and The American Prospect. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC and PBS and is the author of the best selling book Killer Instinct. She has produced such films Natural Born Killers and Permanent Midnight and currently lives in Washington, D.C.
