State of the Union August 2018

Note from the President: Amazing work everyone! July was a record month for both grassroots lobbying and fundraising. We’ve already had more lobbying meetings this year than all of last year! Let’s keep this momentum going. With Congressional leaders back in their districts and the mid-term election approaching, this is a crucial time of year to make sure leaders are hearing from you. The entire House of Representatives is up for re-election and many previously “easy win” districts are now up for grabs. Most leaders are feeling vulnerable and they are going out of their way to keep voters in their district happy. Every call, email and letter you can mobilize into their office makes a huge difference in getting them supporting poverty-reduction efforts. As a member of The Borgen Project, you are an ambassador for the world’s poor, giving them a voice in your district… Make it a loud voice!

– Clint Borgen

Political Updates

Lobbying Efforts

Total # of Lobbying Meetings in July: 89
Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2018: 541
Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2018: 560

Advocacy Emails

Number of Advocacy Emails in July: 10,510
Advocacy Emails Goal for 2018: 100,000
% of Congress Emailed in July: 96%

Congressional Office Meetings

Political Affairs Team member Andrew Wedeking met with Michael Callesen – Legislative Correspondent for Senator Rob Portman (R – OH).

Political Affairs Team member Michaela Poole with Megan Sims
and her intern. Megan is District Director to Representative Andre Carson (D – IN 7th).

PR/Mktg Team member Yoolim Jeon with Anthony Nguyen – District Director for Representative Scott Peters (D – CA 52nd).

Warren’s Address

Listen to the latest from Warren about the goings-on in D.C.

Content Team Updates

Here are the Top 10 Articles for July on BORGEN Magazine.

HR Team Updates

There is an 11.6% increase in applicants – July 2017 vs. July 2018.

Professional Development Help

We are pleased to offer professional development help to our interns. To find out more go to: https://borgenteam.org/professional-development-help/

Recognition

Congratulations to the following team members that have achieved Borgen Project Honors & Recognition.

- - Capital Achievement Award (raised $2,000 or more): Abigail Dunn, Content Team; Katey Reiff, PR/Marketing Team (August); and Megan Maxwell, Content Team (August).
  - Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more): Andrew Wedeking, Political Affairs Team (August); Gavin Isbell, Political Affairs Team (August); Ian Greenwood, Content Team (August); Jenna Walmer, Content Team; Jessie Serody, Content Team (August); Molly Dunn, Political Affairs Team (August); and Sara Olk, Content Team (August).
  - Honors Award (raised $3,000 or more): Katey Reiff, PR/Marketing Team (August).
  - President’s Circle: Addison Engelbrecht, PR/Marketing Team and Sierra Arral, Political Affairs Team.

Visit the Our Team Members page and read about success stories with our organization.

Getting the Word Out

Regional Director Amy Ramirez was featured by Craftimatis on Instagram and Facebook.

Political Affairs Team member Alex Bicknell held “A Week of Advocacy: Educate. Advocate. Mobilize.” Alex taught her friends how to call, write, and email Congress.

Here’s a photo of one of the interviewees that Political Affairs Team member Qui “Kelly” Mai spoke with at a local shopping district. Kelly asked them about their opinions on the current foreign aid dollar usage and their opinions on current bills in session such as the Global Food Reauthorization Act.

Political Affairs Team member Tyler Adams held a BBQ Living Room Summit.

And here is PR/Mktg Team member Zhiyuan Zhang and the sign she created to get the word out in her community about The Borgen Project.

On the Radio

PR/Mktg Team member Tyler Greene was interviewed by The Beat KOSP 92.9 in Springfield, Missouri.

Instagram

PR/Mktg Team member Anna Zagorski posted to IG about “Write to Congress Wednesdays” and she held an Insta Live Info Session.

One-Mile Campaigns

Check out some of the photos from this summer’s One-Mile campaigns.

PR/Mktg Team member Juliana Mangano.

PR/Mktg Team member Marie Gigliotti.

Political Affairs Team member Sabrina Angel.

Political Affairs Team member Xiaohang “Violet” Wang.

Letters to the Editor

Anna Zagorski, PR/Mktg Team, in the Odyssey Online: The Myths of Global Poverty.

Gavin Isbell, Political Affairs Team, in The Mercury News – Letter: What US actually spends on foreign aid is shocking.

Henry Colyer, Political Affairs Team, in the VT Digger: Henry Colyer – International affairs budget needs rebalancing.

Kelli Ryan, Political Affairs Team in the Northern Kentucky Tribune: Letter to the Editor: As Americans, we must be part of the initiative to end global poverty, says Kelly Ryan.

Rashi Mahato, HR Team, in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Letters to the Editor – Foreign aid isn’t charity; it’s an investment.

Outreach & Mobilizing Materials

PR/Mktg Team member Grant Yeatts played “Congress Pong”.

Fundraising

Here are some of this summer’s fundraising activities and ideas.

Donor Relations Team member Anna Taylor created this brochure to send out with her fundraising letters.

“Selling homemade bracelets in a local shoe store in my hometown. My campaign idea has the bracelets next to a sign stating how 100% of the sale will go to The Borgen Project. When there is a purchase, a homemade card about the Borgen Project goes with them and a link to the website to learn more about us. ” – PR/Mktg Team member Danielle Johnson

Political Affairs Team member Jared Francis held a fundraising event at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers.

PR/Mktg Team member John Schmitz designed this flyer to encourage others to divert coffee money towards helping others.

Political Affairs Team member Maria Cortazar held a bowling fundraiser and raised $306!

HR Team member Rashi Mahato auctioned off artwork for donations of $30 or more.

HR Team member Shanita Howard auctioned her time and helped a friend move.

“This is the art piece that I’m currently raffling off to raise money. I went ahead with the idea of “tribes” and one animal renowned for its dedication to looking out for all in its fellow tribe members. Additionally, the spirit of the wolf embraces the curiosity I find comes with being engaged about the realities of the world around us as an advocate.” – PR/Mktg Team member Taylor Jennings

And PR/Mktg Team member Victoria Beyer set-up an Etsy shop to sell her artwork.

Videos

PR/Mktg Team member Marie Gigliotti created this video addressed to Senator Chris Murphy.

Check out this animated video created by fellow PR/Mktg Team member Meena Pyatt.

Advocate Sarah Chocron created this video about supporting the International Affairs Budget.

Click here to view the video.