I’ve hijacked the listserve to toot Lanya’s horn!

Traction’s phenomenal founder and leader, Lanya Shapiro, is a finalist for a major award recognizing progressive activists.

The Maria Leavey Tribute Award is given each year by the Campaign for America’s Future. The award recognizes a progressive who is:

• A Convener
• A Persistent Advocate
• A Selfless Organizer
• An Idea Generator

If you don’t think those four traits describe Lanya, then just read the nomination statement that Traction Board Chair Celeste Richie wrote on her behalf (the statement is below).

Personally, I don’t know a single person who is better qualified for this recognition. I was at the first organizational meeting that Lanya convened to share her vision for Traction. Over the last 5 years, I’ve seen how Lanya has thrown herself fully into creating a progressive movement that draws on the talents of young people who will make a difference in the long haul.  Traction has accomplished a ton already, and will bear fruit in so many ways for years to come.

There are five finalists for the award. We need you to show how much you value Traction and Lanya by voting for her in the online balloting.

VOTING ENDS THIS FRIDAY and it just takes one minute.  Please vote today!  And then please post this as your status on Facebook and send it on to anyone else you know who will support Lanya’s amazing progressive leadership.

Thanks,

Graig Meyer
Educator, Lanya-lover, Tractivist

Nominating Statement from Celeste Richie:
Lanya is a kick-ass social entrepreneur, a tireless activist and organizer, and part of the vanguard of the modern progressive movement.  Her most recent cutting-edge endeavor is Traction, a Durham NC-based offline social network designed to turn young voters into energized and engaged activists who will, over time, power the progressive movement as volunteers, donors, board members and elected officials.

Lanya’s work with Traction hits all your notes: she worked for years without pay (persistent advocate, selfless organizer) to launch this innovative organization (idea generator) which leverages the power of community (convener) in order to create more passionate activists.

Traction has made a name for itself with creative and provocative events and collaborations, and we think deserves partial credit for turning NC more progressive in 2008.  A few highlights: Electile Dysfunction (about the Voting Rights Act), Drop Beats not Bombs, Festivus for the Left of Us, Green My Ride, Speed CandiDating, and Below the Belt: Religion, Reproductive Rights and O.P.P.  Who else would think to educate young folks about mercury in NC’s waters by throwing a Radical Sushi-making workshop?

Lanya identifies and mentors young activists and “potential” activists. But Traction’s model is about more than just reaching individuals. It’s about advancing the movement. By putting a creative spin on classic progressive issues, Traction helps the forward-thinking nonprofits with whom it collaborates to reach and engage a younger audience, something these nonprofits and the movement desperately need in order to remain viable over the next 20-30 years.  Partners include Demos, Nat’l Women’s Law Center, the NAACP, Planned Parenthood, and MANY local orgs.

Lanya is no one-hit wonder. During the three years before she started Traction, her political organizing in the Dean grassroots earned her the respect of DFA staff; when Bush brought his Social Security privatization tour to Raleigh in 2005, Lanya organized the counter-rally.  Lanya served on Durham’s Citizens’ Advisory Committee, which advises local electeds on CDBG allocation and helped transform the CAC into a force that the council/commissioners are aware of and actually listen to.  She served on the NC Democratic Party executive committee and NAACP-NC’s political committee and currently serves on our local Planned Parenthood affiliate’s Action Fund board.

Her work in 2005 to elect a grassroots-focused NCDP chair (Jerry Meek) included an event which had DNC members and over 20 members of the state executive committee listening (!) to over 100 local activists’ hopes for the party, and was covered in US News & World Report.

Maybe the secret to Lanya’s effective political activism is her solid graduate and professional training in public health and social work. She spent years designing and managing award-winning large-scale behavior change programs. While the behaviors back then were health-related (condom use, cancer screening), she applies the same social marketing expertise to promote progressive activism through Traction.

P.S. Upcoming…
Sat 5/8: Pick your own organic Strawberries! strawberries@getTraction.org
Sat 5/15: Civil Rights Walking Tour of Durham: race@getTraction.org
Mon 5/31: Memorial Day at the Eno: swim@getTraction.org
Plus a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org, a workshop on work / life / community balance, and much more…

P.S. Upcoming…
Sun 4/11: Learn to shrink your car’s carbon tireprint: greenmyride@getTraction.org
Sat 4/17: Trip to new civil rights museum in Greensboro: gbo@getTraction.org
Sun 4/25: Return of the Potluck that Keeps on Giving (aka Freezer Party): freezer@getTraction.org
plus a conversation group on race and privilege: race@getTraction.org
and Spring means the Traction Outdoors group is back!  Write outdoors@getTraction.org to be in the loop on hikes, swims, berry-pickings and more.

P.S. Upcoming Traction events:
Thurs 3/25: ReelPolitik presents: The Good Soldier  soldier@getTraction.org
Sun 4/11: Learn to shrink your car’s carbon tireprint: greenmyride@getTraction.org
Sat 4/17: Trip to new civil rights museum in Greensboro: gbo@getTraction.org
Sun 4/25: Another freezer party (aka the potluck that keeps on giving): freezer@getTraction.org
plus Spring means the Traction Outdoors group is back!  Write outdoors@getTraction.org to be in the loop on hikes, swims, berry-pickings and more.

I grew up in one of the poorest counties and school districts in the State. During my years in the Robeson County public schools, several poor school districts were embroiled in a decade-long court battle against the State – the Leandro case, which established the right to a sound, basic education for every child in NC.

I recently relocated from the Triangle back to Robeson County. Since being home, I have become increasingly frustrated by the blatant bigotry propelling the Wake County School Board debate.  The actions of a well-financed group of parents are threatening Wake’s diversity policy, which has been heralded as a “beacon of hope” for failing school districts.

My frustration spurs primarily from the weak one-legged concern raised by the “neighborhood schools” proponents – long bus rides. The anti-diversity crowd has pointed to the most extreme cases of bussing.  The truth is, the vast majority of Wake County students attend a school within ten miles of their home.

The selfish and short-sighted “neighborhood schools” supporters threaten access to equitable education for every child and the future of our communities.  That’s why the Wake Superintendent submitted his resignation and the NAACP-NC filed a complaint with the schools’ accrediting body.  “Neighborhood schools” will inevitably lead to “tri-segregated” schools: with high concentrations of poor students, students of color and students with disabilities.

Here’s what we can do about it:

Equitable education in Wake County (one of the fastest growing areas in the country) affects our state’s economy and therefore affects us all.  North Carolina cannot afford to create high-poverty schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods to benefit a few spoiled parents and their children.

So many children in this state face much harsher circumstances than simply a long ride home on the bus – including here in Robeson County where violent discipline (corporal punishment) still takes place in the schools.  It is time for us to put things in perspective and to fight for all children’s right to a sound basic education.

With love,

Beth Jacobs, J.D.
Fulltime righteous radical, founder of Brown Babies, Tractivist

P.S. Upcoming Traction events:
Thurs 3/25: ReelPolitik presents: The Good Soldier  soldier@getTraction.org
Sun 4/11: Green My Ride is back by popular demand: greenmyride@getTraction.org
Sat 4/17: Trip to new civil rights museum in Greensboro: gbo@getTraction.org
plus Spring means the Traction Outdoors group is back!  Write outdoors@getTraction.org to be in the loop on hikes, swims, berry-pickings, canoe outings and more.

In any case, our course of action is clear — we must make another foray deep into the den of the savage wild blueberry. That’s right, grab your sun hat and a bucket, and come on out for the Second Annual Great Blueberry Pickstravaganza!

What: 2nd Annual Great Blueberry Pickstravaganza: an organic U-pick adventure
When: Saturday morning, July 18th, 8:30 AM
Where: Carpool from Durham Farmers’ Market; or meet at Cedar Grove Blueberry Farm
RSVP: blueberry@getTraction.org

Cost: $2.00 / lb.

Why:

1. Because picking local blueberries is a finger in the eye of the agricultural-industrial complex.
2. Because blueberries are insanely good for you and taste insanely good.
3. Because picking local blueberries is a win-win-win situation:
- You win because your blueberries are cheaper, fresher, tastier, and longer-lasting.
- Local farmers win because your money goes directly to the farmer instead of through distributors.
- Your local environment wins because you’re supporting the growth of a native plant with an important place in the existing local ecosystem; native crops like blueberries require fewer chemicals than highly industrialized and subsidized crops like feed corn.
4. Because local and organic berries require less energy to get to your table than conventional berries from far away; you can gorge on berries with little contribution to climate change.
5. Because right now $5 could buy you one pint of blueberries at the local farmer’s market or TWO AND A HALF POUNDS if you pick them yourself!
6. Because Traction will hand out tips on how to pick, preserve, and prepare blueberries.
7. Because last year you picked four pounds and your best friend picked seven, and this year it’s war!
8. Because your freezer is empty.
9. Because your freezer is full, and you need an excuse to cook the package of shrimp you bought in December.
10. Because, as we all know, going to a Traction event is like emptying a bottle of delirious joy goo all over your head.

So if you think you’ve got what it takes to pick up a spear, or just a bucket, and join the ancient hunt for the dangerous wild blueberry, or if you just want to spend a couple of hours in good company and eating more or less everything you see, then send an RSVP right now to blueberry@getTraction.org for more information. We’ll head off early so we don’t get sunstroke. Bring yourself, your kids (there’s a swingset), your dog (we checked; dogs are OK), your neighbor… Invite ‘em all.

Please include in your RSVP:
a. How many people you’ll bring (best guess)
b. Whether you’d rather carpool with us from the Market or meet us at the farm

I will reply to RSVPs with detailed information on the meeting point, directions to the farm, a list of what to bring, copies of handouts, etc.

Stay tuned for our fall outing to pick apples and complete Traction’s 2009 local fruit trifecta. I look forward to once again plundering the berry harvest in your company!

Colin Cannell
Smuggler, libertine, Tractiberry

P.S. Quinton, Traction’s bike-riding, Locopop-loving, YouTube-lobbying intern, says:
"I need your recommendations for progressive fun — as weird as pig wrasslin’, as flexible as improv at DSI Comedy, as funny as "Yoga in the Hood". Tell me your favorite hang-out or restaurant/coffee bar/pastry shop. Where can I go for a live performance, a good book, or an open mic night? What about salsa or music lessons? Which progressive and locally-owned businesses do you support? Email me at quinton@getTraction.org !"

P.P.S. Upcoming Traction events:
7/9 Drinking Liberally: Tonight and every Thursday. Bull McCabe’s, 8 PM – 10 PM
7/19 Outdoors group: Plant Stalkers. Write to outdoors@getTraction.org .
early Aug Reel Politik: King Corn. Write to corn@getTraction.org .
8/5 Improve your financial know-how: Series kick-off. Write to cara@getTraction.org .

As a progressive movement we have lots of reasons to care about the outcome of the EFCA and other labor battles. Wade Henderson of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights spoke about the many strong links between labor and the civil rights movement since the beginning. Union members not only earn higher wages, are more likely to have health care, and enjoy greater well-being at work, they also vote more progressively than non-union members and are active allies in many other progressive movements.

At Traction’s spring happy hour, MaryBe McMillan of the NC AFL-CIO asked us to take action on the Employee Free Choice Act by thanking Sen. Kay Hagan for her initial support of the bill. The message I got from the panel was that we need to KEEP talking to Sen. Hagan as well as our Representatives in the House to ask them to support (or continue to support) the EFCA. The AFL-CIO has one way to get in touch with your legislators here , or you can call or send a hand-written letter. Any way you do it, it’s important that we speak up now for labor rights.

Are you going to take action? Have you done it already? Let me know in a comment or email to cara@getTraction.org!

I want to share some hopeful news from a session I attended called “A New and Enduring Progressive Majority?” which featured speakers from Progressive Majority, Women’s Voices Women’s Vote, the Center for American Progress, Working America, and Democracia USA.  All the speakers agreed that the changes in the American voting population in the past decade have worked in favor of progressive change, and this trend is likely to continue–good news.  

Every speaker also talked about the role of young people in the future of the progressive movement.  Young people are overwhelmingly more progressive than older folks, so it’s going to be vital that we stay active and keep working to engage our peers–even better news!  I was proud to be representing an organization that’s working to do just that.   

One last stunning factoid from the session: by the year 2016 (not that far off!), the majority of voters will no longer be white Christians.  

More to come tomorrow about the progressive plan to move America forward and what Tractivists are going to need to do to help shape our future!

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Learn more about Trick Or Vote and make sure you sign up to walk in the Costumed Canvas this Friday, Halloween!

Pride, Traction-style, is just SO MUCH FUN! I mean, you get to check out the festival with fellow Tractivists and march together in the parade (carrying giant silver balloons that spell out TRACTION) and support an awesomely diverse community in NC.

Seriously, Pridefest is the place to be this weekend— for queer-identified and straight progressives alike! Marching in the parade alongside other groups that are working for LGBTIQ rights in our state, visiting info booths to learn more about the issues, and listening to the great speakers and musical acts are all part of this amazing festival.

Even if you’ve never been to a Pride before, or if LGBTIQ issues aren’t front and center for you, I encourage you to give Pride, Traction-style, a try. It’s my personal belief that we should support other progressives in their struggles and celebrate with them in their triumphs, and Pride is a wonderful place to celebrate some progressive triumphs.

Now that I’ve bared my Pride-lovin’ soul, I’ll get down and dirty with the details about marching with Traction in the Pride Parade…

Sat 9/27: March with Traction in the Pride Parade

NOON lineup at Duke’s East Campus

This year, we’ll have a rolling How Low Can You Vote? limbo crew, plus the giant silver TRACTION balloons and rainbows galore!

Oh, and just so we don’t show up unprepared, you’re also invited to our Pride Planning party on Friday night. Come have a drink, meet some new friends, decide what role you’ll play in our spectacular parade crew, and then stick around to watch round one of the Obama-McCain debates. Who knows, there could be dancing after…

Fri 9/26: pre-Pride happy hour (parade planning, then debate-watching) at Traction HQ

Email pride@getTraction.org to RSVP for Pride, Traction-style (Parade and/or Happy Hour).

We’ll be gathering from 6pm-7pm for our Scream Team meeting. The Scream Team is made up of those wonderful folks who are helping to make Trick or Vote everything it can be this year… and who like to dress up in costumes, have a fun time, and eat some wonderful s’mores. Do you want to be a part of the Scream Team? Just email us: spooky@getTraction.org
Even better: just come on out to the Scream Team meeting tonight…. if you dare *cue the scary cackling laughter*

THEN:
At 7pm we’ll be doing a volunteer training for everyone who wants to help Traction raise the bar on this election— by lowering it on the limbo pole. That’s right, our first How Low Can You Vote event is this Saturday @ SPARKcon in Raleigh. If you wanna be a part of this action, tonight’s the night to come out. Want to RSVP? We’d really appreciate it: the email is 2008@getTraction.org

Can’t wait to see y’all soon!

I’m itching to give a warm cozy hug to everyone who has volunteered with Traction. We wouldn’t be here without you! I’m naming names of you fantastic people at the end of this email.

We’ve lost count, but in 2007 and 2008 alone, over 130 (seriously) of you:
- came up with creative event ideas
- hosted or helped put together great events*
- wrote emails and blog posts
- put on two successful fundraisers (Salsa Doble and Festivus) and houseparties
- served on Traction’s Advisory Board
- helped raise funds from foundations and major donors, and
- worked behind the scenes in myriad other ways.

*like Super Fat Tuesday coming up on 2/5! RSVP: superfat@getTraction.org. (Bonus drinks and eats for rockstar monthly donors, so become a rockstar now.)

Thinking about getting more involved with Traction? I highly recommend it.

When I first volunteered, I wanted to learn how to help people take concrete action on climate change and to connect with other excited, engaged, and nifty lefties. Two and a half years later, I’ve put together a series of events helping reduce our climate impact; I’ve met close friends and a sweetheart through Traction; and I’m convinced that Traction’s upbeat, inclusive, and connecting approach helps us all bring our values into the real world. I want you, too, to strengthen and be strengthened by this amazing progressive community.

Here’s how:

(1) Party with the Events Team: Volunteer to be a mastermind behind one Traction event or to be a valued helper for an event. Or, dive headlong in: I’m recruiting Events Team members who dig Traction’s social marketing, who have a long-term eye to progressive change, and who want to get their hands in a couple of events in 2008. Email me at eileen@getTraction.org. We can chat more about what the Events Team does and about what we ask of team members.

(2) Getting cash in hand: Ooh, sexy! Derwin Dubose chairs the Development Team, and he tells me that he is all about people who know or want to know how to research and write grants, host house parties, coordinate business sponsorships, develop marketing materials, or run fundraising events (benefit concert, anyone?).

(3) The right person at the right time: Notice how I am asking for many volunteers? Notice how I am not the volunteer coordinator? Are you a schmoozer and a recruiter, someone who tracks people’s interests and skills and can match them to where they’re needed? Oh, do we need you!

Write to me at eileen@getTraction.org to step up in any of these ways. Or tell me about your special skills, like volunteer management, event planning, fundraising, grant writing, artistry, or plain old getting things done when they need it. Perhaps you want to learn some of those skills. Perhaps you have expertise we could learn from in a Traction event. Or perhaps you simply have a passion for Traction and want to get more involved. We want you too.

Take care,
Eileen
Optimist, newspaper reader, dancing fool, Events Team chair

Traction’s 2007 and 2008 Volunteer Hall of Fame includes…

Abbe Harris
Ajay Bhatt
Alison Carpenter
Andrew Pearson
Angelique Xanthopoulos
Ann Alexander
Avani Parekh-Bhatt
Aviva Starr
Bart Matthews
Becky Cary
Bernard Obi
Beth Jacobs
Bonnie McGill
Brett Altman
Brian Buzby
Bruce Bridges
Cara Wittekind
Celeste Richie
Chantelle Fisher-Borne
Cindy Whitt
Claire Jentsch
Colin Booy
Colin Cannell
Cori Princell
Cris Rivera
Damon Circosta
Danielle Doughman
Dave Zielinski
Dave Klionsky
Dave Seidman
David Love
Denise VanDeCruze
Derek Anderson
Derwin Dubose
Edd Gulati-Partee
Eileen Thorsos
Elsa Ohman
Emet Blose
Estefania San Juan
Evangeline Weiss
Floyd McKissick Jr.
Franklin Santana
Fred Foster
Gabriel Onofrio
Gary Gartner
Gene Smith
Gerick Brenner
Gita Gulati-Partee
Graig Meyer
Gretchen Cooley
Hannah Popish
Hemraj Juwarker
Howard Clement
Irv Joyner
Jack Mitchell
Jackie Richie
Jamara Knight
Jane Brown
Jane Stein
Jason Fagg
Jason Klarl
Jen Colletti
Jenn Frye
Jennifer Lewis
Jennifer Epperson
Jenny Cook
Jeremy Falcone
Jessica O’Connell
Jessica Bates
Jessica Burroughs
Jillian Johnson
Joe Costa
Julie Randolph
Julio Olmos
Justin Miller
Justin Pinder
Kate McFarland
Kavanah Ramsier
Kay Hutchinson
Kevin Tull
Kieran Ionescu
Laina Copley
Laura Hirst
Laura Gayle Donnelly
Leonor Clavijo
Leslie Peteya
Lisa Richardson
Lora Brooker
Lucy Harris
Marc Maximov
Marcia Perritt
Maria Sadowski
Mary Lindsley
Menkah Mathews
Mia Jordan
Michael Silberman
Nadya Robles
Naomi Reagan
Natasha Nazareth-Phelps
Otis Jennings
Padma Om
Patrick Lyons
Phil Marsosudiro
PJ Puryear
R. Kelly Bryant Jr.
Rachel Galanter
Rachel Fischoff
Rachel Mills
Rae Benington
Rebekah Resnick
Richard Nordan
Rob Jentsch
Robert Jentsch, Sr.
Sabrina Simon
Sarah Lebeck
Sasha Akhavi
Seth Baird
Shawn Casey
Steve Saltzman
Sujuan Upshaw
Sven Rinke
Thaddeus Bennett
Theo Luebke
Tia Black
Tim Jones
Timothy McMackin
Tobin Freid
Tyler Story
Valerie Parham-Thompson
Will Corbett
Yesenia Polanco
Zephyr Teachout

(Tell me if I missed you! We’ll mention you in an upcoming email!)

We couldn’t do it without you. Seriously.

And there’s still time to join this list! If you’ve been meaning to make your 2007 gift, click here to make a tax-deductible contribution today.

Ann & Lex Alexander
Barbara Anderson
Anonymous x4
William Austin
Katherine Ballew
Molly Beacham
Kristin & Steve Bradley-Bull
Miriam Brodersen
Jane Brown & James Protzman
Eric & Mary Anne Burghardt
Brian Buzby
Joy Cagle & David Harper
Joan & Ward Cates
Josephine Cialone
Jenny Cook
Gretchen Cooley
Manoj Daya
Vito DiBona
John Dornan
David Doty
Danielle Doughman
George Entenman & Iris Tillman Hill
David Gall
Gary Gartner & Susan Saenger
Duffy Gilligan
Daniel & Joan Gorfain
Gita & Edd Gulati-Partee
Emily Herbert
Laura Hirst
Clay Hodges
Heidi Hubbard
Otis Jennings
Hemraj Juwarker
Margaret Keller
Sylvia Kerkhoff
Roxanne Kolar & Jerimee Richir
Ruth Kravitz
Ken Krebs
Sarah Lebeck
Marcia Levine
Peter & Jonathan Lewis
Patrick Lyons
Christina Makarushka
Diana McDuffee
Kate McFarland
Henry McKoy
Graig & Jen Meyer
Norm & Andrea Miller
Don Moffitt
Shannon O’Connor
John Olson
Padma Om & PJ Puryear
Gabriel & Alba Onofrio
Open Society Institute
John Owens-Ream
Jaime Palter & Scott Kushner
John Parton
People’s Alliance Fund
Frank & Kaola Phoenix
Barry Ragin & Claire Doyle
Charles Recktenwald
Anna Reynolds
Jennie Rhine & Tom Meyer
Celeste Richie
Jacqueline Richie
Hildegard Ryals
Margaret Scarborough
Brian Schneiderman
Annie Scorza
David Seidman
Lanya Shapiro
Martin & Marian Shapiro
Richard Sloane
Adam Snyder
Cornelia St. John
Frank Stasio
Tyler & Lisa Story
Blaise & Katalin Strenn
SURGE
Julie Sweedler
Zephyr Teachout
Eileen Thorsos
Triangle J Council of Governments
Don & Darlene Wells
Jewel Wheeler
Gail Wood
Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation

To all of you: thank you SO much.

Note: If you’re not here and you should be (and really, you ALL should be), just click here to make a tax-deductible contribution. Seriously though, if you made an out-and-out contribution to Traction this year and we left you off this list, let us know and we’ll fix it.

Once again, gracias!