I am truly baffled when honest, hard-working Americans –good people with big hearts – support the causes and politicians of the Right.  My own step father, one of the greatest men I’ve ever known, who is kind, loving and intelligent (despite his questionable political leanings), somehow believes that the plight of Republicans best represents him and his values.  I, of course, highly disagree.  He is a man of integrity, who served his country in the U.S.Army for over twenty years and he has seen first hand – on a level that even I can never understand – what can happen when irresponsible men abuse unlimited power.  And still, he claims to be Republican and is going to vote for John McC

Leadership Academy fellow Josh Bolotsky just posted this Drinking Liberally Shot of Truth at OpenLeft.org. In it, he compares the new Open Society Institute Fellowship to other members of the "progressive-movement-builder" family, spotlights 2007 fellow Alex Hill's S.C.O.U.T.B.A.N.A.N.A., and talks a bit about his experience in the Leadership Academy:

Day 2, Front Line Leaders Training.

As the progressive movement matures and becomes more transparent about its mission, vision and values, it's the emerging generation that will have to embody those values for progress to be made. It's encouraging to see so many established elected officials and leaders in the movement actively listening to this group of emerging talent and it's clear that they understand the implications of this training and this moment in time. Andrew Gillum, director of the Young Elected Officials Network and City Commissioner of Tallahassee, Fl noted: It is our job and it is our time to "Make good on MLK's promise of a race neutral society". In addition to equality, justice, choice and rule of law fully realized in this country, it is our collective responsibility to move toward those goals and preparing my generation, the next generation, of leaders is a critical step in that direction.

I am sitting in a room in Denver this weekend courtesy of a program called Front Line Leaders Academy, run by the Young Elected Officials Network. It is the 5th training in the program's history designed specifically for a group of young progressives who are interested in someday running for elected office. As you might expect, there is a lot of talent and ambition in this room. As you might expect me to say, there is a lot of passion and optimism in the room as well. And you'd be right- but it's more than a trite snapshot of the future of the progressive movement that I'm privileged to witness this weekend.

Andrew Gillum, Tallahassee city commissioner and creator of the Young Elected Officials Network, has been named the new Emerging Leader of the Year by Impact D.C.

Andrew received the award while co-hosting a reception with Sen. Barack Obama. His victory came after a two-week Internet poll in which “so many votes were cast that it crashed the Web site.”

    Our very own Andrew Gillum, a Tallahassee City Commissioner,  and the founder and national director of Young Elected Officials (YEO), a partner of YP4 and  program of People for the American Way Foundation, has been nominated by IMPACT to become their 2007 Emerging Leader of the Year!  Show your support by voting for Andrew!      

Front Line Leaders Academy is up and running again this year, and is now accepting applications for the class of 2007. Over the next month, you will hear from our 2006 fellows about how this progressive and innovative program changed their lives. But let's start at the basics.

What is FLLA?

FLLA, Front Line Leaders Academy, is the premier campaign leadership development program that provides prospective candidates and campaign leaders the ability to learn from successful political campaign professionals. Provided by the Young Elected Officials Network, a program of People For the American Way Foundation, Fellows selected to this elite academy are trained on how to be an effective candidate, campaign manager, finance director, communication director and field organizer.

(Cross-Posted at MyDD.com)

I'm spending my weekend at the Young Elected Officials Conference, a project of People for the American Way Foundation, which brings together over a hundred young elected progressive officials from all branches of local and state government and connects them. It's a vital step in what we often talk about, building the bench of future progressive leaders.

Tonight's opening session featured PFAW President Ralph Neas, Gerald McEntee the President of AFSCME, and the dinner keynote speaker was Congressman Tim Ryan (seen to right with YEO President and Tallahasse Commisioner Andrew Gillum)