Jim Dean stepping down as Head of Democracy for America
I hope this email finds you well. I have some important news below about the future of DFA, I hope you will take the time to read this message and reach out with any questions or thoughts.
It has been an amazing and tumultuous election cycle. I am enormously grateful for all of the work that you and my colleagues have put into so many great campaigns and for all of the support that you have given us to make it possible to do this work.
More than any other time since I got into politics, 2018 has seen a big leap in people powered politics. The candidates’ victories, the people involved, and the different ways that they ran campaigns point to a better direction in our political process, a direction that is about voters and hope, not lobbyists and oppression. If DFA is to continue to add value to this effort, it will require more changes in the way we do things and the way that organizations like DFA approach the political process. That's why I have long been a proponent of trying new systems and especially for bringing along a new leadership.
In that spirit, I am reaching out to let you know that after 14 years as Chair of Democracy for America, I will stepping down from that position and moving into the unpaid role of strategic advisor, effective on January 1st.
In the last 14 years, we have elected more than 1,000 progressives to all levels of office. We have helped the Democratic Party run stronger candidates -- and change the way campaigns are run. Just this past cycle, we expanded the electorate and helped Democratic candidates speak to and turn out Democratic voters instead of the mythical flippable Republican. I am proud of all that we have accomplished and I know that the time is right -- and we have the right leaders in place -- to keep moving forward and building on our successes.
I am absolutely thrilled to tell you that my colleague Yvette Simpson is going to take the helm as Chief Executive of Democracy for America. Yvette is an accomplished attorney and a proven leader with executive skills. She has run and mentored several organizations in addition to running her campaign for Mayor of Cincinnati (which we supported). She also had a highly successful tenure on City Council in Cincinnati. Yvette also knows DFA well, having worked with us over these last several months running our Federal Elections program. In a year of firsts for women candidates across the country, we are excited to be bringing our first female Chief Executive on board to build on our past success while pushing our community into the future.
In addition to bringing Yvette on board, I am equally thrilled that Charles Chamberlain will become Chair of DFA. Charles has been involved with DFA since Howard’s run for president in 2003 -- and has been our Executive Director since 2013, following five years as DFA's Political Director as well as his time serving as Executive Director at Progressive Congress, the Congressional Progressive Caucus' Foundation.
Charles has extremely deep roots in grassroots organizing and the DFA community, which has been an incredibly important attribute and framework for our candidate and issue work, helping channel the amazing activism and vibrant ideas of the people who make people-powered politics possible.
I feel very strongly about Yvette and Charles taking on these roles and I believe that this transition is a very positive and important step toward DFA empowerment of a new generation of activists and, most importantly, continuing to be a vehicle for their ideas and participation in the electoral process.
I have enough thank-yous and shout-outs to keep people’s inbox full for decades, starting with a big thanks to my brother Howard who started DFA and whose presidential run gave me the opportunity to be part of the movements for change that emerged from and were inspired by his campaign, and our previous Executive Directors -- Tom Hughes, Arshad Hasan, and Charles -- and Chief of Staff Mia Moore, all of whom mentored me and grew this organization from the ground up.
Very importantly, I also want to thank our past and current colleagues, all of whom have worked hard, made incredible contributions to DFA, and made us a better organization -- as well as the amazing community of activists, members, allies, candidates, and electeds who are the heart of DFA, driving us through their amazing work in their communities and challenging the organization to be the best that it can be since our founding 14 years ago.
My biggest thanks will always go to you, your activism, ideas, and support. You have sustained this organization for a very long time. I will always be thankful to your financial support to DFA and for your work toward keeping the dream of a real Democracy alive.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you all these years and for giving DFA the chance to keep making a difference.
With very best wishes,
- Jim
P.S. As I mentioned in the subject line, POLITICO was the first to cover the news (followed by the AP and several other news outlets) with a great article you can check out in full here: https://www.politico.com/story/2018/11/14/democracy-for-america-female-executive-yvette-simpson-989236
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James H. Dean
Chair, Democracy for America
802.651.3200
Support our work in 2018 -- and beyond
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