|
Our alumni are hard at work all
over the country - here are just a few examples of how our former staff
are using the skills they learned working at Grassroots Campaigns.
Kaitlin
Gaffney Constituent Services Representative for U.S.
Senator
Jeff Merkley, Portland
Amaya
Henry Union
Organizer
with
SEIU Local 32BJ, Washington, DC
Josh
Downey
Research
Communications and Policy Strategist, SEIU Local 105, Denver
Wilson
Karaman
Eberstadt Fellow of Political Science, The New School
for Social Research
Merriah
Fairchild
Development Director, Environment Oregon, Portland
Adam
Scott
Campaign Manager, Diane Parfitt for NC House 44
Kaitlin
Gaffney
 2005-2006:
Assistant Canvass Director, Berkeley, CA
Election 2006: Organizer, MoveOn.org's Call for Change Campaign, St.
Louis, MO
2006-2008: Oregon Organizer, Progressive Voter Network
Currently:
Constituent Services Representative for U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley in
Portland, OR. I assist constituents who contact the Senator with
personal issues specificially related to housing and the mortgage
crisis, the IRS, and environmental or agricultural concerns. This can
mean anything from answering basic questions to acting as a liaison to
federal agencies on behalf of the Senator and his constituents.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots? I decided to stay in Portland and I was lucky enough
that my partner (Grassroots Campaigns alum Kyle White) wanted to move
here from California. Kyle and I bought a house last year and got
married this July. Life has been good.
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
I would definitely have to say jobs and the economy. What our leaders
and potential leaders have done and plan to do in order to create jobs
will frame the debate during this election cycle and will have an
impact on so many other major issues from housing to the environment.
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade? Hillary Clinton, for having the strength to
pave the way.
Back to top
Amaya
Henry
 2007-2009:
Assistant
Canvass Director, Washington, DC
Currently:
Union Organizer with Service Employees International Untion (SEIU)
Local 32BJ. SEIU has over 2.2. million members across the country and
is one of the most progressive unions. 14.000 SEIU members and staff
mobilized to elect Obama in 2008. I think it's an important job because
the median weekly earnings of union workers are 28 percent more than
non-union workers. This helps rais standards for both union and
non-union workers alike.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots? I'm living and working in the DC area, currently
working on two campaigns. The first is helping to organize the security
officers in all DC public schools and bargain them a contract. The
other is against food service giant Sodexo (think the WAL-MART of the
food service industry) who has contracts at most universities across
the country including Lafayette College (the alma mater of Regional
Director Sarah Hazel and I) and George Mason University.
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
So hard to choose just one but if I had to, I'd say comprehensive
Immigration Reform. If I could choose a second and third I would say
Environmental reform and Labor reform (labor laws are so outdated and
not strong or comprehensive enough).
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade? Chris Van Hollen! Not only is he my
Congressman but he is a former chair of the DCCC and very Progressive.
AND I know this isn't a question but I just wanted to add that whether
people realize it in the moment or not the training we get as
canvassers is incredibly useful and pertinent for everything we will go
on to do in our lives. Whether it's become a Regional Director at
Grassroots or move on to other organizations. There isn't a day that
goes by that I don't use a skill I acquired from my Grassroots
Campaigns days!
Back to top
Josh
Downey
 2005-2008: Lead
Organizer,
MoveOn.org's Operation Democracy
Election 2006: Lead Organizer, MoveOn.org's Call for Change Campaign
2008-2009: Organizing Director, MoveOn.org's Council Network
Currently:
Research, Communications and Policy Strategist, SEIU Local 105, Denver.
I am researching corporate targets, crafting the message for our
internal and external campaigns, designing earned and paid media
campaigns, and running a policy campaign to win state-wide regulation
for the security industry.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots? Since I left Grassroots, it's all been downhill for
me. I was arrested (for civil
disobedience), I grew a garden and started actually eating
vegetables (mainly to keep them from taking over my backyard), and I
only go to MoveOn meetings as an attendee.
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
Comprehensive
Immigration
Reform.
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade? Hands down, Senator Edward Kennedy. But I
also appreciate the progressive work and outspoken nature of Rep.
Barney Frank, Rep. Barbara Lee, and Rep. Anthony Weiner.
Back to top
Wilson
Karaman
 Spring
2005-Spring 2006: World Headquarters in Boston, MA
Election 2006: Lead Director, NYC Canvass Offices
Election 2008: Regional Director - WI, IA, PA, OH
Currently:
Eberstadt Fellow of Political Science, The New School for Social
Research. B-to-tha-R-tha-O-tha-OK/L-Y-N is the place where I stay. I
also work as a bookkeeper for a non-profit legal defense firm called
the Children's Law Center. Our lawyers and social workers serve as
legal guardians for children in custody, visitation and abuse cases. In
2009, I ran Doug Biviano's campaign for NYC City Council, 33rd District.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots? Well, let's see...I done got married (sorry ladies)
and finished my PhD coursework. I'm now working on my dissertation
about incumbency rates in state legislative elections. Much to my
chagrin, this involves sitting on my hands while the 2010 election
season unfolds. For a political activist it's the worst kind of cold
turkey...
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
Aside
from
a
handful
of local issues that'll marginally impact some races
state-by-state or regionally, the economy will dominate the political
landscape this fall. Recession, recovery, expiring tax cuts, national
debt, unemployment figures...it's all we're going to talk about and
hear about. Irregardless of what Democrats say or do, it'll be a
re-balancing election and Republicans will pick up (significant) seats
in both chambers. If Democrats can do a better job contextualizing
their efforts on fixing the economy and seize the debate about the
economic direction of this country we should be able to hold on to
control of both houses of Congress. If our candidates don't, however,
we'll lose at least one and the next two years will be awfully tough
sledding to accomplish anything. A lot of what happens will depend on
the energy of grassroots activists getting out there and mobilizing
core Democratic constitiuencies that might be otherwise enclined to sit
out the midterms. One of the most notable things to arise out of early
polling data is the stark enthusiasm gap favoring Republicans right
now. That's where GCI comes in, as it will be imperative for Democrats
to bridge that gap.
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade? Domestic: Bernie Sanders. For me, far and
away the most intriguing politician in the land. Brooklyn-Vermont
connections are win-win, and self-avowed Democratic Socialists are few
and far between in U.S. Senate history. I don't always agree with his
style or substance, but I have a great appreciation for his
unapologetic commitment to progressive ideology. Foreign policy: Jim
Webb. Reliably provides some of the most thoughtful, detailed, and
accessible analysis of
foreign policy you're liable to hear out of an elected official.
Back to top
Merriah
Fairchild
 Election
2004: Washington State Director, Leave No Voter Behind
2006: Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Canvass Offices
Election 2008: Personnel and Staffing Director
Off-election years: Lead Organizer, Progressive Voter Network
Currently:
Development Director for Environment Oregon in Portland, OR.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots?
I had a baby girl in November. Her name is Sarai Rose Fairchild. She
has one dimple and melts my heart.
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
Making
it
right
in the Gulf.
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade?
Barack Obama.
Back to top
Adam
Scott
 August-December
2005: Environmental Action canvass, Chicago
January-August 2006: Environmental Action and DCCC canvass, Madison, WI.
Election 2006: MoveOn.org Call for Change, Bloomington, IN.
November 2006-July 2008: MoveOn.org's Operation Democracy, D.C. and
Boston
Election 2007: MoveOn.org Test Election, Louisville, KY.
Election 2008: August-October MoveOn.org's Voter Registration Campaign,
Denver, CO. October-November Progressive Future/Environment Colorado's
GOTV Campaign.
November 2008-August 2009 Regional Director, Northeast Canvass Offices,
Boston, MA
Off-election years: Lead Organizer, Progressive Voter Network
Currently:
Campaign Manager, Diane Parfitt for NC House 44 Fayetville, NC.
What's new since
you left
Grassroots? Elections, elections, elections.
Top Political
Issue of 2010:
Clean
Energy
&
Marriage Equality
Favorite political
figure
of the last decade? Senator Russ Feingold
Back to top
__________________________________________________________________________
|
