Earlier in the year our good friends at OHWOW published a book entitled Downtown for Democracy. The concept seemed very heartfelt and something beyond what we normally fill our lives with - whether that be style, art or design. Downtown for Democracy comes from a deeper space and a truly important cause. We wanted to explain more about the alliance, but also explain ways in which you can become involve. The Downtown for Democracy website gives you the option to donate funds directly, buy the book, or attend a series of dinners entitled 'Dining for Democracy' starting July 11th. You can download the flyer for this series, which includes numerous amazing locations, guests and chefs, here.

 

Downtown for Democracy is an alliance of professionals in the arts and creative media who share a deep commitment to progressive ideals. As crafters of culture, we believe we have a unique opportunity to mobilize the creative community and transform its cultural capital into political power. Founded originally in 2003 to organize artists around the Bush/Kerry presidential election, D4D raised over $1.5 million in less than 12 months through auctions, benefits, street fairs, concerts, and merchandise sales. In addition to registering hundreds of thousands of new voters, the organization aired television ads, trained field staff, and mobilized volunteers in grassroots get-out-the-vote efforts in crucial swing states like Pennsylvania and Ohio.

 

The creative community cannot sit out 2012 - there is simply too much at stake. The fate of universal health care, Wall Street regulatory reform, gun control, global warming protections, and access to contraceptive freedom hang in the balance as America returns to the polls in November to elect a president, a quarter of the U.S. Senate and 435 members of the House of Representatives. Voting rights, immigration reform and the American labor movement are all under siege from a well-organized and outspoken faction of the conservative movement. That’s why D4D is back for the 2012 election cycle!

 

With your support, D4D plans to hold fundraisers, debate watch parties, concerts, auctions and other events with three goals - raise awareness in the creative community, register new voters and collect funds that will go towards unseating a targeted list of Tea Party incumbents who won office in 2010. D4D is working with the progressive political action committee CREDO to help unseat the “Tea Party 10”, the ten most extreme Tea Party-affiliated members of the U.S. House of Representatives.

 

downtown4democracy.com

Adam Bryce