A Common Agenda: New Progressive Voices

Today, the Progressive Ideas Network, a diverse coalition of 20 think tanks and activist organizations, released "New Progressive Voices: Values and Policy for the 21st Century," a collection of essays that outline a long-term vision for America. The nine essays present ideas and policies for a bold new direction for our country. The Commonweal Institute's Executive Director, Barry Kendall, leads this network as one of two Co-Chairs, and he provided the Preface for this shared agenda.

The authors are an unusually diverse group from a wide array of organizations, perspectives and backgrounds; together, they grounded their essays in shared, progressive values. The result is a cohesive plan that establishes sound priorities for America’s future, and also lays the foundation for building a new progressive intellectual base for American politics.

This groundbreaking collaboration is a project of the Progressive Ideas Network, a new alliance of national multi-issue think tanks and advocacy organizations working together to amplify the power of ideas in advancing today's progressive movement. Its mission is to provide opportunities for collective action, offer service and training to its members, and create a forum for crafting long-term strategies and ideas.

In the Preface, Dr. Kendall writes, "The members of the Progressive Ideas Network believe in the possibilities for bold, transformational change in American society, and our business is to generate the ideas and policies needed to create that change. Our organizations contain hundreds of original thinkers in progressive politics, and our networks reach thousands of talented activists who fight every day for the rights and well being of millions of Americans."

Click here to read the complete report.