Demos: Ideas & Action to Transform America

8/9/2019 Demos: Ideas & Action to Transform America

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"It's not just comforting but essential to have sane countervailing voiceslike Demos to remind us that government action is necessary to planfor the common good, to set proper rules for economic activity andto be a bulwark against predatory practices in the private sector."

- Bob Herbert, New York Times, April 9, 2010

P c: p2, Eflon; p4, Jim Kuhn; p5, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Pedro Ribeiro Simes ; p6, D. Sharon Pruitt; p7, Manitoba Historical

Maps; p8, Dar win Bell; p10, Jakob Montrasio; p11, Ransirimal, USArmyAfrica; p12, Kevin Collins; p14, Claudio Mufarrege.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ or send a

letter to Creative Commons, 171 Second Street, Suite 300, San Francisco, California, 94105, USA.


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Dmos is a non-proft policy, research and advocacy center dedicated to generating

new ideas and catalyzing social change, to help everyone achieve the American dream.

We believe that all Americans should be empowered to take part in our democracy,to make choices that will shape an economy that oers opportunities or all, to have

a government that can provide or our common interests and shared needs, and a

country that engages in the world with respect and accountability.

Through fve core programs, a partnership with The American Prospectmagazine, and

additional special projects that address new challenges as they arise, Dmos combinescutting-edge research with support or on-the-ground action to make equality and

democracy more than just ideals. By publishing reports, books and articles, organizing

events, and through television and radio appearances, we work to help the public and

policymakers see in a new light the challenges we ace as a country, and the underlying

causes o those challenges. And in this new light, policies, laws and lives are changed,

and we move closer to the America we all hope is possible.


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transformingthe debatefrom real-life exPeriences to Policy solutions

From the People. At Dmos, we understand that bold ideas matter to shaping our

countrys uture. We also know that these ideas don't just come rom think tanks and

traditional opinion leaders. Dmos is helping to re-shape the public discourse by

elevating the issues that matter to everyday people.

With the Grassroots. Dmos is a national policy organization with deep

connections to local, community-based organizing; a think-and-do tank willing to

take positions and organize to win them. Our policy work supports advocates in the

feld rom almost all 50 states, as well as at the ederal level.

Ahead o the Debate. Dmos commitment to our core values means that ourwork is not always bound by todays politics, or even by the politics o the next

election. Oten, our research-and-reorm ocus leads us to challenge entrenched

ideas and create policy solutions that are just beyond the horizon o whats currently

possible.


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how we do it

GivinG Bold ideasa new ForumDmos Events are a forum for debate

on some of the most challenging

public quesons of our me. Audi-

ences have the opportunity to hear

leading authors, community leaders

and scholars in our New York head-

quarters, on our live webcasts, and

in special events across the country.Since 2000, Dmos has conducted

nearly 1,000 public events.

sophisticatedcommunicationsstrateGyAt Dmos, we dont let our research

sit on the shelf. We understand that

print, radio, television and social

networking media coverage can move

ideas and people into acon, and we

are constantly innovang and evolv-

ing our plaorm to best engage our

audiences. Our experts appear in over

1,000 stories per year, and our website

demos.org incorporates the best of

web 2.0, and was an Oprah Magazine

top-pick in 2009. In 2010, we have

formed a strong instuonal partner-

ship with The American Prospect

magazine, in order to expand our joint

capacity to elevate and champion

progressive ideas in the public debate.

cuttinG-edGe researchDmos shapes the policy debate

with research that illuminates some

of Americas most pressing chal-

lenges. Our emphasis on the story

and eecve messaging helps compel

audiences grassroots acvists,

journalists, policymakers and everyday

cizens to queson the convenonal

wisdom on issue aer issue.

dmos FellowsDmos is helping to develop and sus-

tain more than 25 fellows from diverse

backgrounds, who produce books,

research reports, magazine features,

op-eds and media appearances to

shape a more vibrant and informed

public conversaon about policy. We

recently launched an Emerging Voices

fellowship program, which will helpcreate the next generaon of thought

leaders on domesc and global issues.


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transformingoPPortunityfrom inequality to ProsPerity

At the heart o the American Dream is the belie that each generation

can provide its children with a better lie. Yet todays young people have

inherited an economy marred by inequality and barriers to opportunity that

cant be easily overcome by hard work and determination. The decline

in economic opportunity is no accident. Public policy helped build

the American middle class, and recent policy shits have helped erode it.

More and more Americans are working harder, but are unable to get by

much less get ahead. Another way is possible. Working at the cutting

edge o economic and social policy, Dmos is advancing reorm ideas to

strengthen and expand the middle class and to create a path to

economic prosperity or young Americans and uture generations.

We choose issues that ocus the media and legislators on the struggles

common to millions, and we show the public that solutions do exist. By

combining rigorous statistical analysis with winning legislative strategies,

Dmos is helping develop a new social contract or a new generation andthose to come.


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how we do it

revolutionizinGretirement securityNot so long ago a secure rerement

consisted of Social Security, a pen-

sion and individual savings, but that

formula no longer works for the vast

majority of Americans. Dmos aims

to protect and strengthen Social

Security the foundaon of rere-

ment security for the majority ofrerees while advancing proposals

for a publicly supported, universal

pension system to replace the failed

401(k) system.

explorinG householddeBt and assetsAs household income stagnated and

basic costs rose over the last decade,

low- and middle-income households

oen borrowed to make ends meet.

Dmos original survey research on

indebtedness provided unparalleled

analysis about why households

borrow revealing that millions areborrowing in the wake of job loss or

to pay for basic necessies. Widely

cited in the media and rounely used

by policymakers, our research on

debt helps shine a spotlight on the

economic fragility of households and

the deregulated lending products that

exacerbate insecurity.

strenGtheninGtomorrows middle classAmerica needs a new social contract

between government, employers

and cizens to ensure a vibrant and

inclusive future middle class. Dmos

provides cung-edge analysis and

ideas, examining trends in economic

security and opportunity, with a focus

on todays new generaon of youngworkers. Our work also examines

nancial barriers students face in

compleng college, with a focus on

the experiences of community col-

lege, low-income and rst-generaon

students.


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transformingdemocracyfrom exclusion to engagement

The democracy America deserves is still to come. Too many o

usparticularly low-income and young people and other historically

underrepresented groupsstill ace unnecessary hurdles to registering

and voting. Vote suppression and voter intimidation endure, now

only more sophisticated than beore. The true promise o democracy

envisions all residents being empowered to participate in public

lie and inorm the policies that aect them, regardless o personal

wealth. Attaining this deeper level o democracy would undamentally

transorm American politics and reshape economic opportunity.

For that very reason, Dmos works to achieve a broad and ambitious

election reorm agenda while deending the hard-won voting rights

that exist today. Our team brings to bear the expertise o legal experts,

advocates, scholars and leading strategists, working together

in pursuit o Americas best democracy. And as a national

organization committed to supporting a democracy reorm network,

Dmos is a resource or advocates across the country and worldwide.


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how we do it

enGaGinG a Broad aGendaFor democracy reFormDmos plays a key role in convening

democracy reform organizaons

across a broad range of pracces

collaborave governance, deliberave

democracy, electoral reform, youth

engagement, transparent govern-

ment that seek to engage cizens

in decisions that aect their lives andimprove democrac processes. This

work knits together these perspecves

to ensure the democracy movement

is as strong as the challenges we

confront.

addressinG deepdistortions in ourdemocracyDmos is working to end prison-based

gerrymandering the pracce of

counng incarcerated persons as

residents of the prison in which they

are held, as opposed to their home

community that distorts representa-

on in state legislatures as well as

in local redistricng. Also, our long-

standing work on campaign nance

reform seeks to democraze the role

of money in polics and ensure that

government remains accountable to

people, not to corporaons.

BreakinG down Barriersto participationDmos works to eliminate the many

structural barriers that keep people

from fully parcipang in our democ-

racy. We focus on key reforms that will

make it easier to vote and increase

parcipaon: Same Day Registraon,

a proven reform to increase turnout,

especially among young voters; andPublic Agency Voter Registraon,

which ensures access to voter registra-

on for low-income cizens. Dmos

research, ligaon, tesmony and

on-the-ground support to community

organizaons has made us a trusted

resource for state legislators, elecon

ocials and elecon reform advocates

naonwide.


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transformingPublic willfrom skePticism to suPPort for governments role

In this new century, all o the challenges we ace and the opportunities we seek

will require an active and supported government. But or the past 30 years,

an anti-government, anti-tax movement has sowed distrust and disengagement

in the American people. The result has been decades o disinvestment and

the dismantling o core public protections, reducing the capacity o state

and ederal government to meet our collective needs. Now more than

ever, we need to reconnect Americans to the essential role that public

systems and structures play in the well-being o our society and the

health o our economy. Through Public Works: The Dmos Center

or the Public Sector, we are working to rebuild support or

the public good.


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how we do it

deFininG reGulation Forthe 21st centuryDmos provides a much-needed

counter to 30 years of deregulatory

zeal, making the case for responsible

regulaon in areas including nancial

services, transportaon and the

environment. Our research and wring

provide a commonsense case for

modernizing and improving regula-ons to protect the public interest.

BuildinG a newconstituency For thepuBlic sectorDmos has held hundreds of trainings

with state and local advocates and of-

cials, helping them rethink their own

relaonship to government and how

they communicate about the public

sector to the thousands of Americans

they connect with everyday. These

trainings have demonstrably helped

advocates change the debate in their

states and as a result helped advance

key progressive reforms.

GroundBreakinG,in-depth researchOur unique communicaons research

goes beyond studying stac public

opinion data to deeply examine how

Americans think about government,

and how to evoke a dierent way of

thinking about governments role in

our democracy and economy. Dmos

applies the ndings from our researchto help leaders across the country

more eecvely make the case for

public structures and systems and

to advance policies for the common

good. Our work informs a range of

issue-based advocacy, from tax and

budget issues to the environment.


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transformingamerica in the worldfrom imPerial to interdePendent

Nowhere is U.S. leadership more crucial than

in reshaping the rules o global governance. At

Dmos, we believe in open trade and robust

markets to spur new prosperity. But we also

insist on stronger protections or workers

and the environment, along with new steps

to ampliy democratic voices in world orums.

Globalization should beneft everyone, not just

a privileged ew, and todays economic growth

cannot come at the cost o tomorrows ecological

uture.

More than ever, in an age o global

interdependence, the United States must

work with other countries to conront the most

pressing challenges o our time rom climate

change to poverty to terrorism. This engagement

abroad should be guided by the same values

that Americans embrace at home: inclusive

democracy, shared prosperity and the belie

in the dignity o all human beings. The U.S.

must deend its national interests, to be sure, but

we do that best when we lead the struggle or a

world that is more air and just.


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how we do it

raisinG environmentalstandardsDmos is working with the Sierra

Club and other environmental groups

to demand that naons receiving

preferenal trade benets from the

U.S. do more to uphold their environ-

mental laws.

BuildinG a GloBalmiddle classDmos is advocang for changes in

U.S. trade policy and foreign aid to

help ensure that more workers in

developing countries share in the

fruits of globalizaon and can join a

growing global middle class.

new ideas ForGloBal GovernanceDmos brings together leading think-

ers in our monthly Global Governance

Seminar to debate and develop

cung-edge proposals for creang a

more just and democrac system for

global decision-making.

BuildinG aninterdependencemovementDmos is working with partners

around the world to deepen under-

standing of global interdependence.

Our annual Interdependence Day

Forum, held each year in a dierent

world city, brings together scholars,

acvists and youth leaders.


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transformingleadershiPfrom the status quo to new voices

Dmos is committed to helping cultivate leaders that reect Americas great

diversityin class, gender, age, race, education and ideology. Through our Dmos Ideas

or Change Forums, Fellows Program and Womens Leadership Initiative, we give a wide

range o thought leaders a platorm or sharing their ideas. We also support the leadership

and growth o other organizations, because at Dmos, collaboration is key to achieving

change. We believe that strengthening other institutions and leaders strengthens our own

work, and helps get us all closer to living in the America we believe is possible.


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how we do it

dmos BooksThought leadership and the power of

ideas oen gain the most currency,

and help shape the debate, through

the form of a book. Recognizing this,

we have established the Dmos Books

project, which helps fellows, sta

and partner organizaons develop

their ideas into compelling proposals,

manuscripts and then into publishedworks. In partnership with leading

publishing houses, Dmos helps

authors build a broadcast, print, social

media and event plaorm that elevate

their crucial arguments into the public

and policy realms.

cultivatinG womensleadershipDmos understands that social change

requires a seldom-discussed element:

balanced leadership with a crical

mass of women empowered to set

priories. Dmos is advancing this goal

through books, convenings and policy

proposals.

emerGinG voicesDmos Emerging Voices Iniave

nurtures the careers of excing young

thought leaders, parcularly those of

color, to help address the profound

lack of diversity among public

commentators and to bring urgently-

needed new ideas into the debate.


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transformingthe futurefrom dmos first decade into the next


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Dmos has dedicated its frst decade o work to making a dierence on key challenges that

conront our societyrom economic airness to democracys defcitsand to building an

institution capable o playing a constructive role in the policy debates that shape our uture.

In this next decade, we will continue to advocate or policies that improve the everydayexperience o Americans. Well also invest in developing the big ideas that will uel the

structural transormations o tomorrow. Our nations promise doesnt lie in the change that

happens rom one election cycle to the next. It rests in the constant questioning that leads to

proound changes in the way we view ourselves and our nation.

We believe in sustainable progress or our institution and the nation. Working collaboratively

with partners and communities around the country, we are looking orward to helping shape a

new era o transormational change.


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executive & administrative

Miles RapoportPresident

Tamara DrautVice President of Policy & Programs

Donna ParsonSenior Projects Manager

Kalin Drzewiecki-SezerDirector of Administraon

Halley ChambersExecuve Assistant

democracy proGramBrenda WrightDirector

Regina EatonDeputy Director

Steven CarbSenior Program Director

Lisa J. DanetzSenior Counsel

Sco NovakowskiSenior Policy Analyst

Allegra ChapmanCounsel

Susan GershonLegal Fellow

economic opportunityproGramNancy K. CauthenDirector

Jos A. GarcaAssociate Director for Research & Policy

Lucy MayoAssociate Director for Advocacy &Outreach

James LardnerSenior Policy Analyst

Viany OrozcoPolicy Analyst

Robert HiltonsmithPolicy Analyst

puBlic works: thedmos center Forthe puBlic sectorDianne StewartDirector

Patrick BreseeAssociate Director

Kym KingProgram Associate

Marcia KinseyProgram Associate

international proGramDavid CallahanDirector, Senior Fellow

Benjamin BarberPresident, CivWorld & Disnguished

Senior FellowCrisna VasilePolicy Analyst

Lauren Coakley VincentProjects Coordinator

Holly LaneExecuve Assistant

Stuart MacNivenProgram Associate

Harry MerriProgram Associate

Fellows proGram

Lew DalyDirector

dg s F

Benjamin Barber

Michael Edwards

Robert Frank

Teresa Ghilarducci

James Gustave Speth

Si Khan

Robert Kuner

Michael Lipsky

John Schwarz

Linda Tarr-WhelanWomens Leadership Iniave

s F

Sasha Abramsky

Rich Benjamin

David Callahan

Jonathan Cohn

Lew Daly

Allison Fine

Lorraine MinniteNomi Prins

Heather Rogers

Tova Wang

Jennifer Wheary

F

Jared Duval

Chris Rabb

d.c. oFFice

Heather McGheeDirector

Caleb GibsonFederal Aairs Manager

Michael LipskyDisnguished Senior Fellow

Tova WangSenior Fellow, Democracy Program

communicationsTimothy k. RuschDirector of Communicaons

Aaron BrownCreave Services Manager

Gennady KolkerOnline Communicaons Coordinator

Jinny KhandujaEvents & Outreach Coordinator

Cory IsaacsonDesigner

Irene LauDesign Assistant

developmentRachel WhingDirector of Development

Lauren StrayerManager of Foundaon Giving

Carol VillanoCalifornia Representave

Fa AhmedDevelopment Assistant

dmos means...d s


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Mark C. Alexander

Ben BinswangerRaj Date

Maria Echaveste

Gina Glantz

Amy Hanauer

Stephen Heintz

Sang Ji

Clarissa Marnez de Castro

Rev. Janet McCune Edwards

Arnie Miller

John Morning

Wendy Puriefoy

Miles Rapoport

Janet Shenk

Adele Simmons

Paul Starr

Benjamin Taylor

Amelia Warren Tyagi

Ruth Wooden

Charles Halpern,Founding Board Chair Emeritus

the american prospect

Robert KunerFounding Co-editor

Paul StarrFounding Co-editor

Mark SchmiExecuve Editor

Harold MeyersonEditor-at-Large

Ann FriedmanDeputy Editor

Phoebe Connelly

Web EditorRichard BoriskinBusiness Manager

Emily ParsonsManaging Editor

Mary ParsonsArt Director

Rebecca RuizSpecial Reports Project Director

Tim FernholzWring Fellow

Adam SerwerWring Fellow

Monica PosAssociate Editor

Christen AragoniCopy Editor

Gabriel AranaEditorial Assistant

Alexandra GuerrezAssistant Web Editor

Jocelyne Yourougou

IT DirectorRoss RapoportPublishing & Business Assistant

BuildinG movement project

Frances KunreutherProject Director

Caroline McAndrewsDirector of Leadership & Communicaons

Trish TchumeDirector of Civic Engagement

u.s. in the world initiativePriscilla LewisCo-Director

Susan Veres RoyalCo-Director

proGressive ideas networkBarry KendallExecuve Director

d b a Pj s

the PeoPle


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Demos: Ideas & Action to Transform America