The national team has just returned from California. We thank everyone who found time to come to one of the six scheduled meetings. We covered a lot of territory—organizationally and geographically—from Los Angeles to Sacramento, then Oakland and Santa Rosa.

We discussed the nuts and bolts of PDA, our electoral strategy and next steps concerning Medicare for All and the Afghanistan War. In addition, we got the chance to meet many newcomers to PDA and catch up with our old friends and stalwart activists. Read about it here.

Please listen to this pod cast from Peter B. Collins. In it, Peter interviews PDA-endorsed candidate Marcy Winograd, who is challenging Jane Harmon in California’s CD 36, and Michael Lighty, Policy Director for the California Nurses Association.

While we all agree that we have a lot of work ahead of us, we believe that the time is ripe for organized activists to gain ground on passing progressive legislation and electing progressive candidates. We must all reach beyond our comfort zones to engage Labor, communities of color, young people, and disengaged and disenfranchised citizens.

One of the best ways to get more active and learn about the tools and techniques for broadening our outreach is through an Issue Organizing Team. Learn more about them here and considering joining one today!

Your commitment to PDA as a chapter member, IOT participant, or Change makes Change partner is the lifeblood of our organization and we are grateful to stand alongside you as we build the progressive movement.

In solidarity,

Tim Carpenter, National Director
Laura Bonham, Deputy Director,
Conor Boylan, Field Coordinator,
Roberta McNair, IOT Coordinator,
Dave Keeler, PDA Chief Cook and Bottle-washer, and
Dr. Bill Honigman, PDA CA State Coordinator