Activating Citizens: Organizing for Change in the Digital Era

How can citizens be organized and mobilized into participating in 21st century democracy? Why are some civic associations better than others at getting—and keeping—people involved in activism? From MoveOn.org to the National Rifle Association, Health Care for America Now to the Sierra Club, membership-based civic associations constantly seek to engage people in civic and political action. What makes some more effective than others? What are the long-term implications on civic life and institutional reform?

Hahrie Han, Associate Professor of Political Science at Wellesley College and author of How Organizations Develop Activists: Civic Associations and Leadership in the 21st Century uses in-person observations, surveys and field experiments to compare organizations with strong records of engagement to those that leave room for growth. She is also the author of Groundbreakers: How Obama's 2.2 Million Volunteers Transformed Campaigning in America. Both books will be available for purchase.

Join us December 10th for a multi-faceted discussion on civic organization and mobilization featuring leading experts with diverse backgrounds. They will discuss recommended models to help associations build the power they want to support a healthy democracy and structure the capacity they need to inspire action.

Participants:

Mark Schmitt
Director, Political Reform Program, New America
@mschmitt9

Hahrie Han
Associate Professor of Political Science, Wellesley College
@hahriehan

Jeremy Bird
Founding Partner, 270 Strategies
National Field Director for 2012 Obama Campaign
@jeremybird

Anna Burger Co-Chair, Gettysburg Project on Civil Engagement
Former Secretary-Treasurer, SEIU
Consultant, ABAction, LLC
@AnnaBurger1