Campus Progress 2012 Year in Review

the campus progress

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW building a progressive generation

CAMPUS PROGRESS ANNUAL REPORT 2012 OVERVIEW: STAFF, DIRECTOR’S LETTER IDEAS: POLICY ACTION: ADVOCACY VOICES: COMMUNICATIONS 2013: WHAT’S NEXT

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OUR STAFF

EDUARDO GARCIA

ADVOCACY MANAGER

ANNE JOHNSON

DIRECTOR

BRIAN STEWART

COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER

TARA KUTZ

VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

TOBIN VAN OSTERN

DEPUTY DIRECTOR

THANKS TO OUR 2012 INTERNS

JOSH MURPHY

SPECIAL ASSISTANT

ABRAHAM WHITE

COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

NAIMA RAMOS-CHAPMAN

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

LAYLA ZAIDANE

ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATE

AKBAR AHMED, ANNA ALEXANDER, CHRIS BOAN, AARON BRENNAN, MELISSA BROWN, KRISTEN DITTUS, JAQUI DUARTE, MOEY FOX, CARLY HANSON, SYDNEY HOFFERTH, JENNIFER HICKS, DOUG LAVEY, ZAZA KASHANI, KYLE MISKELL, ERIC MURPHY, CARRIE NAPOLITANO, PRATIK PANDA, JEFF RAINES, LEOR REEF, SHARON RESHEF, GREGORY SAVAGEAU, KELLAN SCHMIDT, AMISHA SISODIYA, EMMA WEINSTEIN-LEVEY, GRAHAM WHITE

‘A REMARKABLE YEAR FOR PROGRESS’ millennial generation

It’s been a remarkable year for progress and young advocates across the country. From our national conference, to training summits for young journalists and activists, to major online organzing efforts around student debt and voter suppression, Campus Progress has helped lift young voices and advance progressive ideas.

In 2012, we engaged with more than 1 MILLION young Americans through our work in policy, organizing, and communications.

These diverse networks of young people—represented in the figure to the right—continue to create progressive change on their campuses, in their communities, and across the nation.

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We’re grateful for your continued support as we embark on a new organizational phase in our efforts to reach, inspire, and mobilize Millennials across the country.

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As a growing number of Millennials continue to become immersed in discussions around important issues—such as the government’s role in economic growth, comprehensive immigration reform, equality for all Americans, protecting voter rights, and creating safe environments—our shared values continue to guide the country and our elected leaders in a progressive direction.

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LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR

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“

Whether it’s global climate change, the protection of our social saftey net or maintaining excellence in the classroom,

CAMPUS PROGRESS HAS NOT ONLY INSPIRED YOUNG PEOPLE TO STAND UP AND SPEAK OUT, but has led the way in the fight for the future.

” — Zach Wahls, young LGBT activist, 2012 Campus Progress National Conference speaker

IDEAS

policy & government affairs

ADVANCING POLICIES FOR YOUNG AMERICANS Our newly expanded policy program is our hub for progressive, youth-driven public policy. This program capitalizes on the strength and infrastructure of our parent organization, the Center for American Progress, to research and develop youth-led policy solutions that offer our generation’s proactive vision for a more just society.

We engage issue experts within the youth sector and other relevant issue areas to consult on policy development. Our policy recommendations are a central organizing and engagement point within our campaigns, articulating our vision and giving direction to our work.

produced 7 NATIONAL & 50 STATE reports & research papers

NATIONAL REPORTS

VOTER SUPPRESSION 101 4/4/12 COST OF COLLEGE WILL SOAR IF INTEREST RATES ARE ALLOWED TO DOUBLE 4/25/12

POLICY REPORTS

170,000+ readers of Campus Progress policy reports

“Cost of College Will Soar if Interest Rates Are Allowed to Double”

THE MOST DOWNLOADED REPORT on the Center for American Progress website with

123,652 DOWNLOADS

published

50

STATE-BASED

REPORTS on the impact of increased student loan interest rates for college students and their families.

SENATE DEAL TO KEEP STUDENT INTEREST RATES LOW (Policy Article) 6/27/12 ROMNEY TOO EXTREME FOR THE MILLENNIAL GENERATION 7/31/12 THE STUDENT DEBT CRISIS 10/25/12 MILLENNIAL VOTERS REFUSE TO BE LEFT OUT OF THIS ELECTION 11/5/12 COMPARING CONSERVATIVE & PROGRESSIVE INVESTMENT IN AMERICA’S YOUTH 12/6/12 STATE-BASED REPORTS

STATE-LEVEL ANALYSIS OF STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATE INCREASE (50 Reports) 5/4/12 8

IDEAS | CAMPUS PROGRESS

INFLUENCING OUR ELECTED LEADERS

200 276 YOUNG held more than

STUDENT DEBT DAY recruited

BRIEFINGS & MEETINGS

on policy recommendations with outside groups, including the White House, Senate, House, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.

alumni spotlight

hosted PRESS CONFERENCE on Capitol Hill with Sens. Tom Harkin (D-IA), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), & young leaders.

AMERICANS from 42 local & national organizations for

48 MEETINGS

with their elected officials.

PEN FROM POTUS

In recognition of our successful work to engage young Americans in pressuring Congress to prevent student loan rates from doubling in July, the White House presented us with the pen President Obama used to sign the legislation.

“It was a tremendous honor that the White House and President Obama, in recognition of our hard work to keep Stafford student loan rates steady, presented us with the pen used to sign legislation extending the rate.”

–Tobin Van Ostern, Deputy Director

ANGELA PEOPLES Policy Analyst at Consumer Financial Protection Bureau CP Affiliation: Former Policy & Advocacy Manager A graduate from Western Michigan University, Angela went on to serve as the Legislative Director of the United States Student Association where she played a key role in campaigns to enact legislation to increase college access and affordability, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. She also supported grassroots voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts during the 2008 election in Michigan and Wisconsin. Following her work at USSA, she joined Campus Progress as Policy and Advocacy Manager and continued her work on these issues as well as immigration reform, and LGBT rights. Angela now works at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau as a Policy Analyst.

CAMPUS PROGRESS | IDEAS

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“

There aren’t many organizations with as much

ENERGY, ENTHUSIASM, CREATIVITY, AND ACTIVISM AS CAMPUS PROGRESS. There is no end to what you can do.

”

— Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, speaking to young progressives at the Campus Progress National Conference

ACTION

advocacy & organizing

ENGAGING WITH YOUNG PROGRESSIVES The advocacy program trains, funds, and supports young progressives on the issues that matter to our generation. From college affordability issues, to LGBT equality, to advancing rights for immigrant youth, Campus Progress works to ensure that young people have the support they need to grow their leadership and organizing, while plugging into national politics to ensure that their voices are being heard in Washington.

PARTNER ENGAGEMENT

NATIONAL CONFERENCE

800 attendees

60

travel & lodging scholarships

presented

LEADER PELOSI

with our first-ever

CHAMPION of

CHANGE award

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ACTION | CAMPUS PROGRESS

speakers included:

HILDA SOLIS U.S. Secretary of Labor

NANCY PELOSI

engaged

1,300

DICK DURBIN Senator, Illinois

young people through events & trainings, including:

DEBBIE

CREATING CHANGE

Representative, Florida

JACK LEW

YOUNG PEOPLE FOR NATIONAL SUMMIT

JOSE ANTONIO VARGAS

NATIONAL STUDENT

Democratic Leader

WASSERMAN-SCHULTZ White House Chief of Staff

& &

Founder, Define American

POWER CONVERGENCE

RICHARD TRUMKA

&

President, AFL-CIO

ZACH WAHLS Activist, YouTube Star

ROOTSCAMP

YOUTH CAUCUS

alumni spotlight

SANDRA KHALIFA Media Relations, Planned Parenthood Federdation CP Affiliation: Former Policy & Advocacy Intern Having recently graduated from the University of California-Berkeley, Sandra Khalifa started her internship with Campus Progress during the summer of 2011. As an intern, she assisted with program planning and policy research for issues related to immigration and Voter ID. Her commitment to progressive youth organizing led her joining the Millennial division of Rebuild the Dream, and eventually to helping organize the National Student Power Convergence in Ohio, bringing together hundreds of young activists to strategize on college affordability and income inequality.

“Campus Progress is the organization that made the politics accessible to me,” Sandra says. “It showed me how much it matters for young people to make their voices heard on issues that matter, and it steered me in the direction where I am today.”

BUILDING A PROGRESSIVE ACTION NETWORK The Action Network is how Campus Progress works with young people on their campuses and in their communities to support youth-led issue campaigns to achieve concrete policy change that will improve people’s lives. It’s how we develop and invest in Millennials to be agents of change in their respective communities and serves as the vehicle for activating and mobilizing action on national policy issues that matter to our generation—such as economic justice, human and civil rights, and democracy.

ACTION NETWORK supported

22

Action Network partner organizations

Action Network presence on

70+

campuses & communities

supported organiztions in 14 states:

hosted a

TRAINING SUMMIT in Washington, DC for Action Network members, focusing on:

ORGANIZING SKILLS

NATIONAL NETWORKING &

POLICY BRIEFINGS supporting groups working on: ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION & TUITION EQUALITY FOR IMMIGRANT STUDENTS & LGBT-INCLUSIVE CAMPUS POLICIES

ELECTION 2012: ROMNEY U. hosted

YOUTH TOWN HALL

for more than 100 attendees & 300 online viewers hosted

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE WATCH PARTY

for 60 young people working in politics in Washington, DC

hosted an event with 20 student leaders about the

TRUE COST OF ROMNEY at the

UNIVERSITY OF RICHMOND featuring

TOM PERRIELLO

former Congressman, CEO of the Center for American Progress Action Fund

CAMPUS PROGRESS | ACTION

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“

Being in the Journalism Network has been a tremendous benefit for our publication.

IT’S GREAT TO HAVE THIS WIDE RANGE OF RESOURCES AT OUR FINGERTIPS —plenty of story ideas, connections to other publications nationwide, professional critiques.

”

— Lily Wan, editor of The Fine Print, a Campus Progress-sponsored publication at the University of Florida

VOICES

communications & editorial

UPLIFTING YOUNG, PROGRESSIVE VOICES Our communications work is instrumental in spreading the word about our policy proposals, events, advocacy work, and pushing back against those who oppose progressive values and ideals. Our level of engagement on social media and through email marketing has never been higher, and we’ve responded to increased interested by launching new social platforms and new websites.

VIDEO

EDITORIAL WORK published

1,211

pieces of original content on CampusProgress.org & Pushback.org

logged

587,407

views on original content

most popular search terms

DEFERRED ACTION FOR-PROFIT COLLEGES

top referrals

DEBT CEILING TOP STORY

Facebook 22.3%

Reddit 14.3%

Google 10.9%

“Ann Coulter: I’m OK With Revoking Women’s, Young Americans’ Right to Vote” 46,601 views

trained & mentored

30+ YOUNG REPORTERS writing for CampusProgress.org & Pushback.org

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VOICES | CAMPUS PROGRESS

produced

373,809

57

total YouTube views

original videos

4,154

total YouTube likes

1,206

total YouTube shares

TOP VIDEO “What do these brands have in common?

EMAIL sent

520 emails to Campus Progress subscribers

24.94%

average open rate

8.68%

35,389 views

average click rate

TOP VIDEO “Introducing the New iPad”

34,000+

18,722 views

Campus Progress email subscribers

ELECTION 2012: PUSHBACK.ORG

SOCIAL MEDIA

10,589 5,601 Twitter followers

2,551 new Twitter followers in 2012 10,585

8,055

30.15%

website traffic from social media

Facebook friends

899 new Facebook likes in 2012

140% increase in viral reach, year-over-year launched a new

TUMBLR

produced

20

youth-specific election factsheets, including:

YOUNG VETERANS YOUNG WOMEN LGBT YOUTH HEALTHCARE HIGHER EDUCATION IMMIGRATION &

YOUTH JOBS

on Election Day, published

54

new stories on youth turnout, young voters & ballot measures. provided

DAILY PRESS CLIPS to youth groups, progressive organizations, and young reporters.

political interivew with

MEGHAN McCAIN

cited by Gawker, drawing 40,000+ readers

alumni spotlight

EZRA KLEIN Columnist at the Washington Post & MSNBC Contributor CP Affiliation: Former CampusProgress.org Reporter

A trailblazer in a new kind of journalism, Ezra got his start when he was still a student at the University of California-Los Angeles. Soon after the school newspaper rejected him, he took to the blogosphere and never looked back. It wasn’t long before he got noticed by the American Prospect and was recruited to write for them full time in 2005. When he first came to Washington, DC, he also started contributing as a writer to CampusProgress.org. Four years later he caught the eye of the Washington Post and is now one of the paper’s best-known writers, with his blog frequently getting more hits than any other on their website.

CAMPUS PROGRESS | VOICES

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IN THE NEWS

“Online Degree Programs: How to Tell the Good From the Bad” Anne Johnson interview, 11/9/12

“Young Voters Help Secure Obama Victory, Passage of Progressive Ballot Measues” Tobin Van Ostern interview, 12/7/12

“What Does LowCost Contraception Mean to Young Americans?”

Campus Progress coverage, 7/31/12

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VOICES | CAMPUS PROGRESS

“Expert: Romney At ‘Natural Disadvantage’ With Ohio’s Young Voters” Campus Progress coverage, 4/5/12

“Has Obama Lost His Best Chance to Rally the Youth Vote?

Campus Progress coverage, 7/3/12

“Not-So-Smart ALEC Loses Members Coca-Cola Over Voter Suppression”

“Young Democrats Still Believe in President Obama”

“US Student Loans: The Trillion Dollar Debt Trap” Anne Johnson interview, 12/10/12

Campus Progress coverage, 4/5/12

“Students Lobby to Stop Interest Rate Increase” Campus Progress coverage, 3/14/12

“The War Room with Jennifer Granholm” Anne Johnson interview, 6/18/12

Campus Progress coverage, 4/5/12

Anne Johnson interview, 9/5/12

Campus Progress coverage, 4/5/12

“Eagle Scout Pushes Against Scouts Ban On Gays One Member, Council At A Time”

“War On War On Voting”

“Romney Offers Praise for a Donor’s Business” Campus Progress coverage, 1/14/12

“Youth, Latino Vote May Mean Clout on Key Issues” Campus Progress coverage, 12/5/12

“Income-Based Student Loan Repayment May Favor Graduate Students” Tobin Van Ostern interview, 12/10/12

“Could Tougher Voting Laws Squelch the Youth Vote?”

Tobin Van Ostern interview, 8/4/12

SUPPORTING PROGRESSIVE STUDENT MEDIA The Campus Progress Journalism Network continues to support progressive journalism by funding on-campus media outlets and training student journalists. In 2012, the 64-publication network represented a diverse spectrum of print, online, and broadcast student media on college campuses. Network members are regularly recipients of top-level collegeiate journalism awards.

63

progressive student media oulets

our publications reach

500,000+ readers each month

sponsored publications in 24 states:

SUE KHIM

Founder & CEO, EduLender CP Affiliation: Former Journalism Network Editor

JOURNALISM NETWORK funded

alumni spotlight

hosted

TWO

TRAINING SUMMITS for editors of publications in our Journalism Network with:

100+ ATTENDEES and a diverse network of trainers and speakers, including:

TIM HARROWER MARK LUCKIE FRANK LOMONTE PEMA LEVY & CHRIS GEIDNER

Working as the Editor for Diskord, the University of Chicago’s alternative campus newspaper, Sue had the task of ensuring that the stories were fresh and that the students’ progressive voice would be heard and respected. As a Campus Progress grantee, Diskord had the resources and guidance it needed to go from a fledgling campus newspaper to a robust publication both online and in print with a growing readership.

With a commitment to fresh, local stories and magnifying progressive voices, Sue was able to take her campus newspaper from a small operation on a shoestring budget to a robust publication.

Shortly after serving as editor of Diskord, Sue founded EduLender, a successful and growing business which helps students find affordable loans and consolidate existing loans.

Yale’s Q Mag awarded

PACEMAKER the highest recognition for collegiate journalism

CAMPUS PROGRESS | ACTION

19

“

Campus Progress provided me with the

RESOURCES TO FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE RIGHT and I relished the opportunity to meet like-minded progressives.

”

— Lee Fang, senior investigator for United Republic, former Campus Progress advisory board member and reporter

2013

what’s next

EXPANDING & REDEFINING OUR REACH IN 2013 “OUR NEW PROGRAMS WILL CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM FOR YOUNG PROGRESSIVES TO DEVELOP PUBLIC POLICY SOLUTIONS, COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY, GAIN LEADERSHIP AND ADVOCACY SKILLS, AND BUILD OUR GRASSROOTS POWER TO CREATE PROGRESSIVE CHANGE.” As we seek to educate, engage, and mobilize a new generation of young progressives, we have reorganized to build an even stronger, more innovative organization prepared for 21st century activism.

After seven successful years of engaging young people to bring about positive change on issues ranging from economic opportunity and sustainability to human rights and justice, we are excited to announce that Campus Progress is reorganizing, expanding, and building on our innovative programs in activism, journalism, and events.

As our 90 million strong Millennial generation comes of age and enters the work-force, public service, and the voting booths, our new programs will create an ecosystem for young progressives, ages 18-30, to develop public policy solutions, communicate effectively, gain leadership and advocacy skills, and build our grassroots power to create progressive change.

Our commitment to raising our generation’s voices has never been stronger and our new, expanded structure will take Campus Progress to the next level.

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2013 | CAMPUS PROGRESS

All of our issue campaigns will be framed within three progressive areas: Economic Justice, Human and Civil Rights, and Democracy.

Our economic justice work is focused on creating an economy that works for our generation. We’ll focus on access to and success in higher education, loan rates, student debt, youth employment, and other economic issues—including the federal budget, and progressive economic growth— that impact young people.

Our human and civil rights work includes our continued advocacy for LGBT rights, immigration reform, preventing gun violence, and other issues of creating a more just society grounded in our progressive values.

Our democracy campaigns will explore ways to engage young people in the electoral process and civic engagement, including voting rights, voter education, and civic participation.

The fight for a progressive America will only become more intense. It is more important than ever before that we fight for the rights of all with a unified voice and an unrelenting march for equality and justice for all.

UPDATING OUR ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE The new structure of Campus Progress divides our work into three teams and concepts: Ideas, Action, and Voices. Programs in these fields will allow young leaders to develop policy solutions, learn effective advocacy practices, and understand how to effectively use communications and journalism skills. Collectively, these efforts help us move Millennials through our ladder of engagement on various campaigns.

VOICES

K OR TW NE H M EAC LIS R UT IA NA D UR & O JO SS TIME E PR MUL ZING & NI EO RGA G VID E O RTIN LIN EPO ON AL R IN TS IG EN OR EV LD ITS FIE MM SU NS S & IO NG ALIT NI K AI CO OR TR TW NE NS N IG TIO PA AC AM NS IG LC CA MPA LO A LC E& A G AT ST TION YIN BB NA LO CH R CT EA RE DI RES S P HI AL IN NS IG IO S OR LAT ORT E P L R RE ICA LICY

ACTION

This concept is conveyed below:

LIT

PO

IDEAS

Each campaign functions across all three teams. For instance, our work around student debt will include, among other things, policy reports from our Ideas team, sponsored groups and national advocacy for our Action team, and editorial work and outreach from our Voices team.

PO

ECONOMIC JUSTICE CIVIL & HUMAN RIGHTS DEMOCRACY

STUDENT DEBT PROGRESSIVE ECONOMICS IMMIGRATION LGBTQ RIGHTS ENVIRONMENT GUN VIOLENCE VOTING RIGHTS CIVIC PARTICIPATION CAMPUS PROGRESS | 2013

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the campus progress

2012 YEAR IN REVIEW building a progressive generation

Campus Progress Center for American Progress 1333 H St. NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20005 202–682–1611 202–682–1867 (fax) campus@campusprogress.org Report available at: campusprogress.org/2012review