Advocacy
PEG leaders believe that advocacy (e.g., public policy, public education, community mobilization) is one of the most important means of achieving long-term change — and is a core democratic responsibility. PEG’s founder is a former Congressional press secretary and community organizer; various other PEG team members have served in local and national policy and community advocacy roles, and supported both “grassroots” and “grass tops” advocacy work.
The PEG team helped develop a strategic growth plan for the Millennial Action Project, which formed and provides support to the Future Caucus in the US House of Representatives, and also helped start and now supports nearly 30 State Future Caucuses around the US.
Since 2018, PEG has worked with MIT CoLab, a center for planning and community development (especially grassroots advocacy and community organizing) housed within MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning, to expand the reach of their programs in New York City and abroad.
PEG launched sustainability assessment and growth plans with New American Leaders, which “is leading a movement for inclusive democracy by preparing first and second generation Americans to use their power and potential in elected office.”
Transgender Law Center
John Newsome supported the Transgender Law Center (TLC) in the development of its first-ever strategic plan, which deepened TLC’s regional and national advocacy and “institutional change” efforts.
Gay-Straight Alliance
The PEG team helped the Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) Network design a CDC-funded technical assistance and capacity-building program for statewide gay-straight alliance organizations committed to LGBT youth health and wellness.
Glide Memorial Church
The PEG team helped GLIDE Memorial Church (the nation’s largest progressive, inclusive megachurch) launch a formal advocacy team composed of leaders, staff, and volunteers from across the institution. In close consultation with legal experts, PEG and GLIDE developed internal advocacy guidelines designed to maximize GLIDE’s policy voice within the unique parameters of a 501(c)(3) religious institution, and developed and implemented an electoral advocacy “pilot” campaign (initiative endorsements, leadership training, phone banking, precinct walking, public events, op-eds, social media, and more).
Espacios Abiertos
The Open Society Foundations has funded PEG to support a leading advocacy grantee, Espacios Abiertos, in the development and refinement of strategy and assessment practices/cycles of inquiry, in service of EA’s goal “to develop the collective power of Puerto Ricans to advocate for change and social justice.”