I wanted to take a moment to step back and revisit the mission of Groundwork Project. I created GWP to support community organizers, advocates, and activists in Massachusetts and across the country who are working year-round to build a just, free, and equitable future for all.

We’re looking to invest in hyperlocal efforts that build sustainable political infrastructure, engage and educate voters, and build power for the underrepresented and disenfranchised. We believe this is the single best investment the Democratic Party can make right now.

As I have connected with close supporters and members of my advisor team, it’s become clear to me that we, as Democrats, haven’t done the best job educating our base on what organizing is, how it's done, and why it’s so important. That’s why I’m writing to you today.

Community organizing isn’t really complicated. It’s the process of doing outreach to our communities, connecting on shared values and interests, and empowering ourselves through collective action. You can organize for a candidate or campaign, of course. But you can also organize on behalf of a neighbor in need, in support of an important project in your city or town, or really around anything that matters to you and your family. And your “community” isn’t just limited to where you live. You’re part of all kinds of communities, around your neighborhood, your profession, your identity, your hobbies, your culture...the list goes on.

In the past week alone we have connected with organizers on the ground in Massachusetts trying to get critical COVID vaccine information to our most vulnerable as well as survival supplies like diapers and food. Organizers in Tennessee who are doing the deep, decades-long, on-the-ground voter outreach and registration that we saw bear fruit in Georgia. Organizers in places like Mississippi and Florida who are channeling all their efforts towards expanding Medicaid in their states in 2022. Organizers in Ohio and Texas focused specifically on building power for women of color in rural communities.

Organizing takes endless shapes and sizes -- and the best part is that we all have the skills to be organizers already. We use them every single day. Putting together a carpool for our kid’s soccer league. Planning a surprise party for Grandma. Getting a group of friends together for dinner. The simple skills and actions we use to do those things -- outreach, communication, coordination, and follow-up -- are the exact same things it takes to organize politically.

Despite this, dipping our toes into politics or civic engagement can be intimidating at first. We live in a society where we are taught from a young age that discussing politics in public isn’t always appropriate and when it does get discussed, it can be divisive and uncomfortable. This is where many people struggle when it comes to organizing around a candidate or cause, especially when you’re first starting out. It can be hard to find the right vocabulary to make the political personal. It can feel weird to bring new ideas and approaches to old circles of friends.

At GWP, I hope we can break down some of those challenges and help you make organizing deeply accessible -- and second nature for you and your personal network. Over the next few weeks, GWP will be sharing tips on social media and through email.

Be sure to follow the GWP Instagram account here:
https://www.instagram.com/groundworkproj/

And if you have questions about organizing that you would like to see us address, please don't hesitate to reach out. My team will be monitoring our email accounts so all you need to do is simply ask your question by replying to this email. We will be keeping a list and answering questions via email and on social.

Once again, thank you for your support and excited to be on this journey with you.

Joe