Dear Friend,

Unless you’re under 40, or have kids who’ve introduced you to their music, you might not have heard of the indie pop band AJR. I got to know this band, thanks to our kids. Their music is now a shared love in our family. So when Adam Met, one of AJR’s band members, asked me to join him for a fireside chat about his new book, Amplify, I was all in.

In his book, Adam shares the lessons from building AJR’s fan base — online and in person — and how those same tools can be used to push for change. During our conversation, he spoke of the importance of the band’s focus on building meaningful relationships with their fans by fostering two-way learning.

The band’s strategy for building a fan base is to emphasize connection, engage their fans into their creative process, and build shared experiences. Having been to two AJR concerts with my kids, I can assure you they’ve done a great job executing on that strategy.

In our conversation, Adam and I asked each other questions. He’s passionate about addressing climate change, so we discussed some of my work as Colorado Attorney General, including resisting federal rollbacks of important policies and programs — like the illegal withholding of EV infrastructure funds, fighting for clean air (including the EPA’s Methane Rule), and addressing Colorado’s pressing challenges with drought and wildfires.

We talked about the importance of meaningful dialogue, approaching conversations with a spirit of curiosity, not judgment. On that front, I shared what I learned from Justice Ginsburg’s constructive relationship with Justice Scalia, and how respectful dialogue can sharpen ideas, much like steel sharpening steel.

Finally, we talked about how the lessons in Amplify could apply to our campaign, particularly in reaching young people. He offered two suggestions:

First, frame our message in terms of how we’ll improve young lives, whether by preparing them for promising job or business startup opportunities, making Colorado a place they can afford to live, or ensuring they feel safe and supported, with a sense of belonging to their community.

Second, find engaging and fun ways to communicate that message.

And here’s where you come in: we’ve asked our summer fellows (~70 young people working on our campaign) to take Adam’s advice and create impactful strategies for reaching their peers, all within a modest budget. One of those fellows, by the way, is my son Sammy, who is excited about this opportunity. I’m inviting you to invest in this effort and help us fund this exciting project. And we’ll report back on what they develop.

Thanks for helping us connect with Coloradans as we build a better future, together.

Phil

P.S. Curious about AJR’s music? Check out one of my favorite songs, “Don’t Throw Out My Legos.”