The Grassroots Directory — Fulfilling its Promise

A year on, the Grassroots Collaboration Project reflects on plans, efforts, and resources state-by-state

Eight years after the 2016 election, Grassroots Connector readers are working diligently (and with increasing urgency) on voter registration and voter engagement. And in 2024, we are working in concert. We are a growing, resilient community that understands the enormous value of collaboration.

A year ago, leaders of the newly formed Grassroots Collaboration Project (GCP) pitched the idea of a Grassroots Directory (our version of the Yellow Pages listing volunteer-led grassroots groups). Would such a directory accomplish anything, some wondered. Could we, in fact, use it to spur each other’s creativity, lighten our administrative load, and avoid duplication? A year later, we have answers.

First let’s go to Ohio.

Highlights of Focus On Ohio: Ohio is the only state where voters have a chance to flip the highest court from Republican to Democratic control. To spearhead such a change, facilitators David Pepper (former Democratic Party Chair) and Meryl Neiman (head of Ohio Progressive Action Leaders) invited Justice Melody Stewart, a Democratic state Supreme Court candidate, to address participants, including 36 Ohio group leaders and 24 leaders from 11 other states. The GCP organized the meeting earlier this spring to forge collaboration between groups both in and out of state, who are invested in the outcome of Ohio’s 2024 elections.

The meeting spurred planning for a coordinated, nationally-available postcard campaign for all three Ohio Democratic Supreme Court candidates. Look for a launch soon. 

Highlights of Focus On Pennsylvania:  Democratic voter registration in PA needs a jolt of energy to match Republicans’ registration numbers. Thus Focus on Pennsylvania’s first meeting on June 17th explored innovative voter registration techniques. Chris Thomas, a Montgomery County (PA) Democratic Committee staffer, ignited participants’ interest with a “knock every door” (KED) approach, backed by solid data. Fired up by the strategy, groups in other PA counties are likely to “knock on every door” using volunteers from in and out of state. Meanwhile in DC, metro area grassroots groups are about to launch an online PA field work calendar to spread the word about PA field events – including KED. Learn more about KED and the launch of the YesWeCanvass (in PA) calendar at the July 23^rd meeting on supercharging grassroots collaboration in PA.

Focus On Montana:  In Big Sky country, with Democratic Senator Jon Tester up for re-election, Big Sky 55+ plans to launch a unique phone banking program. Remote volunteers will use deep canvassing techniques in conversation with some 27,000 older Montana residents. According to a recent survey, the targeted residents essentially agree with Tester’s stance on all or nearly all of six policies—regardless of their party affiliation. Several grassroots groups based outside of MT have already begun to work with Big Sky’s political director, Faith Scow, to support the phone banking. Groups interested in MT elections, as indicated in a Directory questionnaire, will be notified when the MT phone banking launches.

Finally, let’s Focus On Michigan. On August 28th State Wide Indivisible Michigan and the Grassroots Collaboration Project are convening group leaders in Michigan and out-of-state leaders interested in learning about the highest priority election activities in Michigan. The goal is to make sure that volunteers’ energy is focused where it’s most needed.

This session will be facilitated by former State Democratic Party Chair, activist lawyer, and podcast co-host Mark Brewer. State Supreme Court Justice Kyra Harris Bolden and State Supreme Court candidate Kimberly Ann Thomas will also speak about critical races.

Want your state to be part of the GCP’s Focus On States series? Register your group in the Grassroots Directory using this short questionnaire. It is not too late to contribute to a coordinated effort.

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