P.O. Box 1222, Madison, WI 53701 | www.prodane.org | office@prodane.org | (608) 257-4985
Progressive Dane's successful grassroots organizing model based on citizen voice and participation in government is spreading. The State Journal wrote about groups that have formed in Oregon, Brooklyn, and the Town of Springfield. The issues that these groups are working are mostly development issues ranging from Quarries to Cement Plants but all the groups show how organized citizens can help make government decisions at a local level.
Progressive Dane strongly supports citizen participation in government and we can help you organize around issues that are important to your community. Please contact our office for more information.
Highlights from the article are below:
Oregon Area Progressives pulled together because of a cement plant proposed by Lycon. Monona Area Progressives formed to stave off Wal-Mart. Those groups aren't sponsored by the Madison political activist group Progressive Dane, but they share many of the same ideals as the city group, which was formed in 1992."People just want to have a say in how that development takes place," said Kevin Pomeroy, planning director for the environmental group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin.
Pomeroy said he believes some activism can be traced to more public participation in Smart Growth plans, which outline how and where communities should grow. "Previously, these kinds of decisions were made behind closed doors, and now they're made with a lot of public participation. There's a new sentiment that people can make a difference," Pomeroy said.
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Fitchburg's Terry Carpenter, president of a local software company, in April formed Neighbor to Neighbor Progressive Network. Her fledging group has turned up at the Dane County Farmers' Market on the Capitol Square and is aimed at helping neighborhoods identify issues and getting neighbors talking.
"It's not about a (political) party," Carpenter said. "It's about working together to understand our community and how we can take action."
Posted by prodane at July 11, 2005 09:13 PM
We, the members of Progressive Dane, join together to form an independent political party in Dane County with a major focus on local issues. We pledge to work to improve the quality of life in Dane County for all people, particularly those marginalized by economic and social discrimination. We will work to improve our local government by making it open, easier to understand, and accessible for all citizens of Dane County. We are working to achieve positive policy change by electing accountable progressive officials and mobilizing citizen action.
Progressive Dane's "In The News" blog keeps you up to date on the latest news from (and about) PD. Check here for information on PD's policy initiatives and to read about what our endorsed elected officials are up to.
