ProgressNow
Encyclopedia
ProgressNow, previously the Rocky Mountain Progressive Network, is a progressive lobby group in the United States that was founded in 2003. ProgressNow, a 501(c)(4) organization, along with its sister organization ProgressNow Education, a 501(c)(3) organization, bills itself as a network of state based communications hubs which provide work as a marketing department for progressive ideas and an answer to conservative propaganda. The first Chairman was Rollie Heath
, a Boulder executive who gained office as the 18th District State Senator in 2008. followed by Dr. Albert Yates, the former president of Colorado State University
. The founder of ProgressNow is Michael Huttner
, a University of California Hastings College of Law graduate and lawyer turned political consultant. The current Executive Director is Denise Cardinal, who headed up the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a partner state of ProgressNow.
Its founding Board Members included Wes Boyd
, founder of MoveOn.org, Rob McKay, Chairman of the Board of the Democracy Alliance
and President of the McKay Family Foundation, Jared Polis
, elected in 2008 as the U.S. Congressman for Colorado’s 2nd District, and Ted Trimpa (the current Chair), an attorney and government relations expert.
. It has since grown a subscriber base of more than 350,000 grassroots activists in Colorado. In 2006, ProgressNow began to expand its network outside of Colorado and has since created ProgressNow Partners Networks in twelve other states: Courage Campaign
(CA), ProgressNow Colorado, Progress Ohio, Progress Florida, Progress Michigan, Alliance for a Better Minnesota, Bold Nebraska, ProgressNow Nevada, Granite State Progress (NH), Progress New Mexico, Keystone Progress(PA), Fuse Washington, and One Wisconsin Now. As of January 2011 the organization had over 2.5 million online members and plans to expand to 25 states. ProgressNow uses online video and e-mail campaigns to inform its subscribers about local politics and events.
ProgressNow came into the spotlight in 2008 when they documented retired librarian, Carol Kreck, being booted from a John McCain
rally in Denver for holding a sign that said, “McCain = Bush.” They also co-sponsored a blogging workspace, ‘The Big Tent,’ during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
. In 2007, progressnow.com received multiple honors from the Golden Dot Awards (online political advocacy awards).
In 2010, the book "The Blueprint: How Democrats won Colorado, and why Republicans everywhere should care" described ProgressNow as the "crown jewel" of the progressive investors effort to flip the state.
Rollie Heath
Stratton Rollins Heath, Jr. 'Rollie Heath is a state legislator in the U.S. state of Colorado. Elected to the Colorado State Senate as a Democrat in 2008, Heath represents Senate District 18, which encompasses Boulder, Colorado and portions of Boulder County....
, a Boulder executive who gained office as the 18th District State Senator in 2008. followed by Dr. Albert Yates, the former president of Colorado State University
Colorado State University
Colorado State University is a public research university located in Fort Collins, Colorado. The university is the state's land grant university, and the flagship university of the Colorado State University System.The enrollment is approximately 29,932 students, including resident and...
. The founder of ProgressNow is Michael Huttner
Michael Huttner
Michael Huttner is an attorney, author and activist and is the founder of ProgressNow a network of progressive communication organizations in 12 American states with over 2.4 million online members.-Founder of ProgressNow:...
, a University of California Hastings College of Law graduate and lawyer turned political consultant. The current Executive Director is Denise Cardinal, who headed up the Alliance for a Better Minnesota, a partner state of ProgressNow.
Its founding Board Members included Wes Boyd
Wes Boyd
Wes Boyd is an American businessman. In 1987, he and his wife Joan Blades were the co-founders of Berkeley Systems, a San Francisco Bay area software company. After selling the company in 1997, Boyd and Blades went on to found the progressive political group MoveOn.org.-External links:...
, founder of MoveOn.org, Rob McKay, Chairman of the Board of the Democracy Alliance
Democracy Alliance
The Democracy Alliance is a partnership of business and philanthropic leaders who commit to making make human and financial donations to organizations the Alliance has endorsed...
and President of the McKay Family Foundation, Jared Polis
Jared Polis
Jared Schutz Polis is an American entrepreneur, philanthropist, and U.S. Representative for , serving since 2009. He is a member of the Democratic Party...
, elected in 2008 as the U.S. Congressman for Colorado’s 2nd District, and Ted Trimpa (the current Chair), an attorney and government relations expert.
History and mission
ProgressNow was created in 2003 as a response to the conservative Independence InstituteIndependence Institute
The Independence Institute is a conservative think tank based in Golden, Colorado. Founded in 1985, the Institute " expertise education, the environment, transportation, personal freedom, government reform, local government, and criminal justice."- Current Staff :As of June 2010, the Independence...
. It has since grown a subscriber base of more than 350,000 grassroots activists in Colorado. In 2006, ProgressNow began to expand its network outside of Colorado and has since created ProgressNow Partners Networks in twelve other states: Courage Campaign
Courage Campaign
The Courage Campaign is a California-based human rights campaign and progressive advocacy organization with more than 700,000 followers, working on a variety of causes, including the repeal of Proposition 8, California budget reforms,, and ballot procedures...
(CA), ProgressNow Colorado, Progress Ohio, Progress Florida, Progress Michigan, Alliance for a Better Minnesota, Bold Nebraska, ProgressNow Nevada, Granite State Progress (NH), Progress New Mexico, Keystone Progress(PA), Fuse Washington, and One Wisconsin Now. As of January 2011 the organization had over 2.5 million online members and plans to expand to 25 states. ProgressNow uses online video and e-mail campaigns to inform its subscribers about local politics and events.
ProgressNow came into the spotlight in 2008 when they documented retired librarian, Carol Kreck, being booted from a John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
rally in Denver for holding a sign that said, “McCain = Bush.” They also co-sponsored a blogging workspace, ‘The Big Tent,’ during the 2008 Democratic National Convention
2008 Democratic National Convention
The United States 2008 Democratic National Convention was a quadrennial presidential nominating convention of the Democratic Party where it adopted its national platform and officially nominated its candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. The convention was held in Denver,...
. In 2007, progressnow.com received multiple honors from the Golden Dot Awards (online political advocacy awards).
In 2010, the book "The Blueprint: How Democrats won Colorado, and why Republicans everywhere should care" described ProgressNow as the "crown jewel" of the progressive investors effort to flip the state.