Get to know Caroline:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

CS: I love the structure of having chapters within a larger umbrella organization with the chapters focusing on primarily local, while the larger organization focuses on state issues.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about?

CS: Decarceration – focusing on eliminating solitary confinement and for-cost phone calls.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

CS: The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

CS: I would choose potato chips.

Get to know Francia:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

FW: As an activist locally, in Massachusetts and in the nation, I saw an opportunity to join a group of like-minded individuals and who are already making big strides for change. Being an advocate to disrupt patterns of the oppressive status quo can be burdensome, so working in collaborative space with a grass rooted organization, keeps you strong and focused on a field that needs a constant infusion of energy to fight the status quo.

PM: What was the first campaign on which you organized and what did you do? 

FW: Back in college, organizing a group of my peers to join a citywide march in protest.

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

FW: This question it’s always hard, because I have many inspirations from young people, people of color, global leaders and local activists who speak truth to power and put themselves out of the comfort zone! I am inspired by Rigoberta Menchú from Guatemala, Juanita Nelson from Greenfield MA, Ayanna Pressley, to name a few.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

FW: The book, Daring Democracy from Frances Moore Lappé, the movie South of the Border directed by Oliver Stone, and the book, Gaviotas by Alan Weissman from Cummington MA.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

FW: When people pick up the phone and are interested about it. Also doing it with others for moral support.

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

FW: Mixed hors d’oeuvres from The Globe.

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

FW: To digest fair media and to be able to use this knowledge to nail down persuasion or dissuasion for common good.

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

FW: I am always singing aloud in the highways while driving.

Get to know Leslie:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

LG: By concentrating our efforts at the state, rather than the national level, we have more impact. Ultimately, too, progress made at the state level often catches on in other states and then nationally. Same-sex marriage, for example, though first legalized in Massachusetts, caught on elsewhere and is now, after 2015, legal everywhere in the U.S.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about? 

LG: Transparency in government, protecting immigrants, climate change.

PM: What was the first campaign on which you organized and what did you do? 

LG: I was shocked to discover that the Massachusetts State House is one of the least transparent in the country. Voting records of representatives are hard to find and committee votes are generally taken in secret. If you want to kill democracy, that’s one way to do it.

I was heavily involved in gathering signatures to place a non-binding ballot measure on transparency in several districts across the state in 2020. The question’s language: “Shall the representative for this district be instructed to vote in favor of changes to the applicable House of Representative rules to make each legislator’s vote in that body’s legislative committees publicly available of the Legislature’s website?” It was great fun collecting signatures for this because many Massachusetts residents were outraged when they found out how dysfunctional Massachusetts government was and, unfortunately, still is. Change of that sort will take time and patience.

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

LG: Marshall Ganz, Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

LG: “The Ministry for the Future” by Kim Stanley Robinson.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

LG: Meeting kindred spirits in my community.

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

LG: Chinese food.

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

LG: To transform into a fly (on a wall) at will.

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

LG: I study foreign languages for fun.

Get to know Sandie:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

SK: My local DTC was not open to discussing Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, which is more important to me than being a Democrat.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about? 

SK: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, including teaching about racial biases in school curriculum, combating book banning in school libraries, and taking action to support equal rights for people of color and LGBTQ people.

PM: What was the first campaign on which you organized and what did you do? 

SK: I was Coordinator of Volunteers for Kevin Kalkut’s campaign for State Representative for the Ninth Norfolk District.

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

SK: John Lewis.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

SK: White Fragility by Robin Diangelo.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

SK: Nothing!

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

SK: Lowfat Greek yogurt with granola and skim milk.

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

SK: Computer hardware super power.

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

SK: I love to take a plastic bag with me when I go for walks in my town and pick up trash.

Get to know Dálida:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

DR: Because we need more accountability in politics and PM knows how to do it.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about? 

DR: Immigration, housing, worker’s rights, clean water/air–Essentially racial, economic, immigration and environmental injustices.

PM: What was the first campaign on which you organized and what did you do? 

ZO: Youth Jobs/Juvenile Justice Campaign. I supported the youth in the recognition of their power.

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

DR: Nelson Mandela, Malclom X, Ayanna Pressley, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

DR: This is a hard one but one which touches on immigration, housing, worker’s rights & other issues I’m passionate about, The Parable of the Sower.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

DR: Canvassing over phone-banking because I can get my steps in😂, get to know different neighborhoods, and connect with people face to face.

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

DR: Carrots, bananas… and the reality is sometimes I forget to eat during campaign season. 😬

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

DR: The power to be invisible. 😂

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

DR: But if I tell you, people will know about it. 😂

Get to know Zayda:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

ZO: My political passion is statewide advocacy and from the start I was always leaning on PM tools and tactics to take my personal advocacy to the next level. It was a natural transition to become a member/chapter leader, board member and now the President of the Board.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about? 

ZO: I am passionate about intersectionality of (chose your issue) and equity. There is still a lot of advocacy spaces where black and brown voices and communities aren’t centered or considered. I know that I have a lot of personal privilege being able to show up to lend my voice to make change.

PM: What was the first campaign on which you organized and what did you do? 

ZO: The first campaign I worked on was for Bill Clinton ’92 in New Hampshire knocking doors.

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

ZO: Dolores Huerta has been my idol since I was a child. I volunteered every summer with farm workers teaching literacy to workers’ children because of her advocacy. I have also had the honor of meeting two of my three organizing idols. I had the pleasure of learning strategy and power mapping from Heather Booth. I had a life long wish to meet Rosie Castro come true a few days after my mother passed away. We had the best conversation about campaigning and maneuvering local politics as a Latina.

PM: What movie or book about your passion issue is your favorite?

ZO: I love documentaries. Two of my role models have great documentaries about their lives and advocacy – Dolores and Heather Booth– Changing the World.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

ZO: I love to knock my own neighbors and even though I know lots of folks, I always meet new people. I love to see the diversity of my neighbors’ yards–the potted plants on a porch, veggie garden that fully fills front yard, or Tibetan prayer flags flying proudly in the breeze. I always find something new.

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

ZO: My go to election morning meal that I make for myself, the candidate, and our volunteers is breakfast tacos Chorizo con Huevo. I get everyone set up at polling locations then run home, make a few dozen tacos, wrap them up in foil and drop them off with a box of joe. The other campaign volunteers are always rubbernecking to see what’s up.

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

ZO: I have the magical powers of finding parking in impossible places.

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

ZO: It will surprise many to know that I really enjoy my quiet time. I love to be still. It helps ground me. 

Get to know Melanie:

PM: Why did you choose PM as the home of your activism?

MO: I was really struck by the passion, dedication, and thoughtfulness of the people at Progressive Mass. I feel proud to support and collaborate with our staff and many volunteers.

PM: What issue are you most passionate about? 

MO: I have two-year-old son. Accessibility to affordable childcare and quality early education is dear to my heart as a mother and as an intersectional feminist. PM is part of the Common Start Coalition. Email me if you want to get involved!

PM: Who is your organizing or political idol? 

MO: Elizabeth Warren.

PM: What’s your favorite thing about canvassing or phone banking?

MO: Getting to know other people who are passionate about the same issues.

PM: What’s your go to quick campaign meal that is not pizza? 

MO: Gold fish crackers.

PM: If you could have a mundane super power, what would it be?

MO: Beating the PM team at trivia. They’re tough!

PM: Tell us something you do that no one knows about or suspects?

MO: I’m learning to read Tarot cards. I love the symbolism and imagery.