State of the Union July 2019
Political Updates
Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts
- Total # of Lobbying Meetings in June: 36
- Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2019: 225
- Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2019: 775
Advocacy Emails
- Number of Advocacy Emails in June: 14,324
- Advocacy Emails Goal for 2019: 80,000
- % of Congress Emailed in June: 95%
Congressional Office Meetings
Political Affairs Team member Breanna Green met with Jessica Merritt and Mitzi Bach of Rep. Mike Quigley’s (D-IL-5th) office to discuss the International Affairs Budget and the Keeping Girls in School Act.
Political Affairs Team member Keely Dion after meeting with Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) LA Farrah Ridore in Boston.
Political Affairs Team member Kristin Allgaier met with Legislative Correspendent to Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Guy Mentel to discuss the International Affairs Budget and Keeping Girls in School Act.
Political Affairs Team member, Connor Bulgrin, met with a staff member of Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).
Content Team member Furaha Njorog, Political Affairs Team member Morgane Laine, met with Rep. Rob Woodall (R-GA-7) to discuss the Keeping Girls in School Act.
Political Affairs Team member Jake Eastridge met with PJ Waldrop, Deputy Chief of Staff for Sen. David Perdue’s (R-GA) ATL office
Political Affairs Team member Emma Smith met with Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s office (D-MI).
Political Affairs Team member Jason Andreacchio secured a meeting with Dwayne Mallory, Rep. Kathy Castor’s (D-FL-14th) Outreach Director.
Political Affairs Team member Taylor Hawkins met with Kelly Johnson, Outreach Representative to Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
PR Team member Alexandria Rodriguez had a fantastic meeting with Rep. Xochitl Torres Small (D-NM-2nd). They discussed the importance of supporting the Keeping Girls in School Act!
Town Halls
Political Affairs Team member Emma Smith attended a Town Hall for Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI). Emma thanked Sen. Peters for supporting TBP and for cosponsoring the Global Fragility Act.
Warren’s Address
Listen to the latest from Warren about the goings-on in D.C.
Content Team Updates
Website traffic continues to grow, thanks to the content created by our team of Writers and Journalists. Website traffic is up almost 50% on the same period last year.
Recognition
Congratulations to the following team members that have achieved Borgen Project Honors & Recognition.
-
-
- Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more): Melina Benjamin, Sarah Musick, Katherine Desrosiers from the Content Team and Jamie McCarthy, Emma Smith, Kristin Allgaier, Gabrielle Regimbal from our Political Affairs Team
- President’s Circle (held 3 congressional meetings): From our Political Affairs Team: Jason Andreacchio, Sandy Kamel, Jake Eastridge, Megan Tigue, Esmé Graziani, Logan Channer, Victoria Maxine Haburka, Bryan Portinari, Connor Bulgrin, Myranda Scott, Emma Smith, Madison Gaffney, Christopher Nolan, Morgane Laine, Elizabeth Snyder, Sehee Min and Martina Rethman. Marche Beadles, PR/Marketing Team member and Alexandria Rodriguez, PR/Marketing Team member who has had 4 meetings!
- Public Outreach Award (30 or more people mobilized): Meredith Walker and Ryan Hodge, Political Affairs Team members
- Article of the Month: Foreign Aid to Central America: A Solution to Immigration by Peter Trousdale
-
Visit the Our Team Members page and read about success stories with our organization.
Getting the Word Out
Mobilizing
PR/Marketing Team member Marche Beadles mobilized people in the park
Political Affairs Team member Kother Maru: “I mobilized with a friend of mine in Atlanta along a popular walking trail, the Beltline. Many people walk, bike and skate on this trail so it’s the perfect spot to find people not too busy. We handed out fliers and instead of struggling with wifi connection on the trail, we made a spreadsheet with info (name, number, email, etc.) to input on the e-mail Congress page.”
HR Team member Keya Patel mobilized in the center of New York City.
One-Mile Campaigns
Political Affairs Team member Liana Wang completing her One-Mile Campaign
PR/Marketing Team member Madison Mullis
Political Affairs Team member Tanisha Mali completed her 1-mile campaign around Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-TX) office and the University of Texas Tower
Political Affairs Team member Gage Parks traveled to the area of Rep. Max Rose (D-NY-11th) and posted signs on parking meters and fences and talked to restaurants and fast food chains.
Political Affairs Team member Jake Eastridge completed his 1-mile campaign in Woodstock, GA.
One-Mile Campaign checked off for Political Affairs Team member Sandy Kamel
Letters to the Editor
Grace Vaule, Political Affairs Team, in the Boston Globe: Trade war and immigration don’t mix
Aparna Marathe, PR/Marketing Team, in the Radford News Journal: Consequences of Trump Slashing Foreign Aid
Ashley Delgado, PR/Marketing Team, in the Marin Independent Journal: It’s up to you to Advocate for the America you want
Omara Castillo, PR/Marketing Team, in the Tampa Bay Times: Aid would stem undocumented immigration
Natasha Otton, PR/Marketing Team, in Patch: Protect the International Affairs Budget
Michaela Janssen, PR/Marketing Team, in The Santa Fe New Mexican: Making a difference — globally, together
Jared Schooley, Political Affairs Team, in The Elkhart Truth: The power of small grants
Hunter Mihalinec, PR/Marketing Team, in The Gainesville Sun: Fighting world poverty
Kendall Altenburg, PR/Marketing Team, in the Midland Daily News: International Affairs Budget is good for U.S. business
Annabel Gregg, Advocate, in The Post Star: World’s poor will be target for terrorists
Amy Ramspoth, Political Affairs Team, in El Paso Times: Julián Castro understands border issues
Grace Vaule, Political Affairs Team, in the Beacon Hill Times: Time to Adopt a New Strategy
William Ellis, PR/Marketing Team, in the Tucson: International Affairs Budget
Monique Tania Santoso, Content Team, in Addison County Independent: U.S. spending priorities are wrong
Ananta Arora, PR/Marketing Team, in The Florida-Times Union: The U.S. must do more to help Central America
Nicole Soulas, Political Affairs Team, in The Bernardsville News: Empty promises, dangerous patriotism
Outreach & Mobilizing Materials
“The Borgen Project: What is it?” created by PR/Marketing Team member Shelby Prizer
“Keeping Girls in School Act” by PR/Marketing Team member Shelby Prizer
“Global Fragility Act” created by PR /Marketing Team member Shelby Prizer
PR/Marketing Team member Hayes Dunlap created an infographic with facts about global poverty
“Contact your Senators” created by Political Affairs Team member Maheera Siddique
PR/Marketing Team member Gianna Gonzalez created a poster for an information event
PR Team member Hayes Dunlap shared branding materials across Austin and Berlin
Fundraising
Political Affairs Team member Felix De Simone tabled at his local farmer’s market and raised $114!
HR Team member Katarina Moehring hosted a pizza fundraiser to raise money for her campaign.
Political Affairs Team member Meredith Walker created donation boxes to station at local spots in her community.
PR/Marketing Team member, Ananta Arora, has created Borgen Project T-shirts to sell for her fundraising campaign: https://fundit.realthread.com/shop/the-borgen-project
Media Outreach
PR/Marketing Team member Benjamin Olson was interviewed by KAGG 96.1 Radio where he was able to discuss The Borgen Project and promote his information event.
Videos
PR/Marketing Team member Ananta Arora created a parody of Old Town Road:
Writing
HR Team member Raga Bolisetty’s 11-year-old daughter entered a persuasive essay project in support of a non-profit organization. She took up The Borgen Project as her subject of research and came up with a wonderful write up:
3.6 seconds, that’s how long it takes for a child dies from poverty, lack of clean water, diseases that are preventable, or hunger. Help reduce poverty and make sure your money is being used for a good cause by donating to the The Borgen Project , a non-profit organization dedicated to help eradicate poverty. I got to know about this organization from my mother, who volunteers to help The Borgen Project eradicate extreme poverty on Earth.
In 2015, extreme poverty fell below 10% due to funds from organizations. Since 1990, 2.6 billion more people now have access to improved drinking water sources from money donated by organizations who work to help poverty. HIV/AIDS is no longer the leading cause of death in Africa, according to the WHO, because of resources donating and funded by organizations, such as The Borgen Project.
But, there’s a bright side. All this helping is going to benefit us in return. It will be an advantage for us to help out because small investments to the poor make a big return on investment for the U.S. The website National Security and Global Poverty/The Borgen Project quotes, “The events of September 11, 2001, taught us that weak states, like Afghanistan, can pose as great a danger to our national interests as strong states. Poverty does not make poor people into terrorists and murderers. Yet poverty, weak institutions, and corruption can make weak states vulnerable to terrorists networks within their borders” -National Security Strategy of the Bush Administration. This shows us that if we donate, we get more security and it makes a return to us in the U.S.
In conclusion, I think we should donate our money to The Borgen Project, which will not only help get rid of severe poverty, but it will also make a difference and return the favor to us by keeping America more protected. So, will you make a big impact in world poverty by supporting The Borgen Project?
-Amulya Kollipara