Archive for category: State of the Union

Political Updates

Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in May: 26
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2025: 175
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2025: 325

Advocacy Emails

• • Total # of Advocacy Emails in May: 2,915
  • Total # of Advocacy Emails in 2025: 15​,655
  • Advocacy Emails Goal for 2025: 50,000
  • % of Congress Emailed Year to Date: 81%

Congressional Office Meetings and Bird Dogging

Kim Thelwell and Content Team Members Abegail Buchan and Tyler Payne met with Senator Fetterman’s (D-PA) staffer – Cameron Smith

Advocate Allison Chi bird-dogged Senator Chris Coons (D-DE)

Political Affairs Team member, Charles Ozumba met with his MP, Mary Creagh (Coventry East)

Updates from DC

Listen in to hear all of the latest updates from DC.

Recognition

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

• • Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more):
    • Political Team: Ella Neith
  • Bird-Dog Award:
    • Political Team: Claire Averette, Nicholas Lubaev, Samuel Karp, Eva Kroh

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

Getting the Word Out

Political Affairs Team

Indira Barreto gave a class presentation

1-Mile Campaigns & Mobilizing

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Paul Garcia, US

Dominika Kapalova, US

PR/Marketing Team

Tala Deir

Sarah Schmitt

Content Team

Rhasna Albuquerque, Brazil

Amber Lennox created a poster for her local cafe’s flier board

Letters to the Editor

Content Team

Blessing Nkama – The Zimbabwean

PR/Marketing Team

Sonia Kaila – The Hill Times

Kat Urban – Rocky Mountain Telegram

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Felisha Alexander – The Oklahoman

Content Team member, Amber Lennox wrote a segment for a young professional’s advice newsletter that she is a part of

Fundraising

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Felisha Alexander, Fundraising Event

Zelie Barton, Flier for her Daycare fundraiser

Content Team

Amber Lennox did a charity bike ride for her fundraiser

Political Affairs Team

Angelica Hanna hosted a garage sale for her fundraiser

PR/Marketing Team

Sarah Bentley’s Fundraising Event

Videos

PR/Marketing Team

Olivia Bain

Charlotte Faricy

Kat Urban

Gabriella Govantes

Political Affairs Team

Idiris Abdi

The President of The Borgen Project spoke at the World Forum in Berlin in March. The World Forum on the Future of Democracy, AI/Tech and Humankind brought together people ranging from human rights leaders to current and former Heads of States.

President Bill Clinton, Secretary Hillary Clinton, President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te, Heads of States of Kosovo, Israel, Palestine, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Romania, Moldova, and Lithuania, Nobel Peace Laureates Maria Ressa & Oleksandra Mathviichuk, Co-Godfather of AI Yoshua Bengio, the “President of Russia in-exile” Vladimir Kara-Murza, the High Representative for Bosnia Christian Schmidt and the Founder of The World Forum & Cinema for Peace Jaka Bizilj.

Political Updates

Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in March: 33
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2025: 136
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2025: 325

Advocacy Emails

• • Total # of Advocacy Emails in March: 2,857
  • Total # of Advocacy Emails in 2025: 8,344
  • Advocacy Emails Goal for 2025: 50,000
  • % of Congress Emailed Year to Date: 70%

Updates from DC

Listen in to hear all of the latest updates from DC.

Recognition

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

• • Bird-Dog Award:
    • Political Team: Pranav Sudhir
  • Articles of the Month: Cuba Skate: Skateboarding In Cuba by Jacob Christopher

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

Getting the Word Out

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Hannah Spilhaus held a swarm

Content Team

Arabella Kamunyori

Cheyenne Weller

Political Affairs Team

Lila Tschetter

Sophie Fitzpatrick

PR/Marketing Team

Socorro Leon Cazares

1-Mile Campaigns & Mobilizing

Political Affairs Team

Mohamed Tahar Kossai Hadji

Jamie Mclaughlan

Emaan Gubitra

Erica Estes

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Anna Smith.

Letters to the Editor

PR/Marketing Team

Hongbo Ren – The Mancunion

Fundraising

Political Affairs Team

Freya Youssef held a clothing exchange for her fundraiser

Sam Johnson sold cards for his fundraising campaign

Sumanpreet Mehat hiked Mount Snowdon, Wales for their fundraiser

Nonprofit Leadership Team

Anna Smith completed a half marathon for her fundraising campaign

Anna also presented to her Church congregation for her fundraiser

Alyazia Mahmood hosted a bake sale for her fundraiser

Content Team

Helena Pryce’s fundraising flier

Videos

Political Affairs Team

Jamie Mclaughlan

Haley Manley

TikToks

@ydb_borgenproject If you want to make a change in your area, get in contact with your leaders and join The Borgen Project! #charity #politcs #awarness #theborgenproject ♬ original sound ydb_borgenproject

Nonprofit Leadership Team member, Yason Borjas

The Borgen Project and Medics from Gaza Lobbied in DC

Clint Borgen, Kim Thelwell and medical professionals who volunteered in Gaza, met in DC with Government Leaders – Conference Video. They did almost 90 meetings with Congressional offices.

Dr. Ayesha, Dr. Feroze, Lana (nurse), Caroline (volunteer) and The Borgen Project’s Kim Thelwell

Urgent Call to Action

Help us improve the visibility of this important clip of Dr. Mark Perlmutter during a briefing that the team and the medics held. This clip should be viewed by as many as possible. Please share the clip far and wide.

Social media links to the video:

• TikTok
• Instagram

Political Updates

Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in January: 87
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2025: 87
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2025: 325

Advocacy Emails

• • Total # of Advocacy Emails in January: 2,079
  • Total # of Advocacy Emails in 2025: 2,079
  • Advocacy Emails Goal for 2025: 50,000
  • % of Congress Emailed Year to Date: 36%

Updates from DC

Listen in to hear all of the latest updates from DC.

Recognition

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

• • Big Kahuna Award (raised $5,000 or more):
    • Advocate: Divya Beeram
  • Capital Achievement Award (raised $2,000 or more):
    • Political Affairs Team: Chase Bell
  • Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more):
    • Political Affairs Team: Ryan Patrick
    • Content Team: Avery Hazard
  • Bird-Dog Award:
    • Political Affairs Team: Nina Nelson
  • Articles of the Month:
    • Egypt’s Food System: A Possible Shift in Subsidies for 2025 by Sophia Ghoneim

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

Getting the Word Out

Information Events

Political Affairs Team member, Chase Bell presenting to a Church congregation in her local area

Swarms

Political Affairs Team

Nina Nelson

Oishe Paul

Afia Mubashir

1-Mile Campaigns & Mobilizing

Political Affairs Team

Anrui Shi around Manchester, UK

Chase Bell

Phoebe Gregson, UK

Maia Bozovich, Wisconsin, US

Advocate Rosie Wood offered sweet treats in exchange for people emailing their MPs

Content Team

Miriam Hulley, UK

Fundraising

Political Affairs Team

Chase Bell’s fundraising poster

Samantha Arias training for her fundraising cycle to Stone Henge, UK

Content Team

Sophia Ghoneim created fundraising cards to send her fundraising details to her neighbors

Nivea Walker’s fundraising flier

TikTok

@w.s.volounteerFor more information go to ourcommons.ca Check out the Borgen Project for guidance on how to be an advocate.♬ original sound – w.s.volounteer

The Borgen Project is now on TikTok! Give us a follow @theborgenproject.

Have an idea for a TikTok? Please email them [email protected].

Videos

Regional Director Nibin Koshy

Political Affairs Team

Paula Castro Davila

Olivia Rush

Very Happy Holidays to all of our amazing team members from everyone at

The Borgen Project

Political Updates

Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in November: 5
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2024: 345
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2024: 390

Advocacy Emails

• • Total # of Advocacy Emails in November: 2,291
  • Total # of Advocacy Emails in 2024: 45,493
  • Advocacy Emails Goal for 2024: 84,000
  • % of Congress Emailed Year to Date: 98%

Congressional Office Meetings and Bird Dogging

Senior Program Manager, Amy Jenkins and Political Affairs Team member, Dani Masri met with Representative Neguse’s office (D-CO-2)

Political Affairs Team member, Kate McMonagle met with Brighton MP Sian Berry and her assistant Matt.

Updates from DC

Listen in to hear all of the latest updates from DC.

Recognition

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

• • • Honors Award (raised $3,000 or more):
      • Regional Director: Blake Lee
      • Advocate: Divya Beeram
    • Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more):  
      • Political Affairs Team: Katherine Soper
    • Articles of the Month: 
      •  Xianshan Botanical Garden in China Tackles Poverty by Yuhan Ji

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

Getting the Word Out

Information Events

Clint spoke at the Bellarmine Preparatory School, WA

Political Affairs Team member, Katherine Soper presented to the Rotary Club of Winnipeg-Charleswood, Canada

One-Mile Campaigns & Mobilizing

Political Affairs Team

Clara Birling, London, UK

Maya Mithani, Pleasanton, CA

Daniela Masri, Tacoma, WA

Katherine Soper, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Content Team

Nalini Vijayakumar, Australia

Letters to the Editor

Political Affairs Team

• Riley Emel Raleigh News & Observer and The News & Observer
• Isaiah LaCombe The News Tribune

PR/Marketing Team

• Amber Walkinshaw
  

Outreach & Mobilizing Materials

Nonprofit Leadership Team member, Mohammed Aakif

Political Affairs Team member, Clara Birling

Fundraising

Political Affairs Team member, Katherine Soper, held a Halloween fundraiser. She had 190 attendees, 6 prizes including a record player with records, a golf kit, a kitchen package, a jet’s prize and a movie night with the three organizers!

Content Team member, Rebecca Aziz held a bake sale

Nonprofit Leadership Team member, Amanda Weiss

Content Team Member, Gufran Elhrari

TikTok

@w.s.volounteerFor more information go to ourcommons.ca Check out the Borgen Project for guidance on how to be an advocate.♬ original sound – w.s.volounteer

Nonprofit Leadership Team member, William Shoukri

The Borgen Project is now on TikTok! Give us a follow @theborgenproject.

Have an idea for a TikTok? Please email them [email protected].

Videos

Political Affairs Team

Isaiah LaCombe

Aditya Alex

Jordan Payne-Knauf

PR/Marketing Team

Olamiposi Akinfolarin

Aiden Miller

Hannah Martin

Ella Campbell

Jiyeon Park

Political Updates

Lobbying and Advocacy Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in September: 21
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2024: 304
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2024: 390

Advocacy Emails

• Total # of Advocacy Emails in September: 3,390
• Total # of Advocacy Emails in 2024: 40,819
• Advocacy Emails Goal for 2024: 84,000
• % of Congress Emailed Year to Date: 97%

Congressional Office Meetings and Bird Dogging

Amy Jenkins and Political Affairs Team member Maya Mithani met with Representative Eric Swalwell’s (D-CA-14) National Security Advisor

Kim Thelwell and PR/Marketing Team member Bobbee Russell-Verhoef met with Representative Moore’s staff (R-UT-1)

Amy Jenkins, NonProfit Leadership Team member Tyler Conroy and Regional Director Team member Tiffany Li met with Senator Murphy’s office (D-CT)

Political Affairs Team member, Lucas Bedford Comte met with MP Kate Osamor (Edmonton and Winchmore Hill, UK)

Political Affairs Team member Alexia Orban met with Konstantina Vervitas, Senator Rubio’s (R-FL) Outreach Assistant

Regional Director Team member Prabhav Keerthipati was able to bird-dog Representative Bill Foste (D-IL-11)

Political Affairs Team member Fairooz Jahan had a lobbying meeting with MP David Simmonds (Conservative, Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner)

Updates from DC

Listen in to hear all of the latest updates from DC.

Recognition

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

• • • President’s Circle Award (Mobilized 50+ people):
      • • Political Team: Alexia Orban

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

Getting the Word Out

Political Affairs Team member Zach Zeidler with Regional Director Team member Lucrezia Gentili presenting at KCL 1

Content Team member Alissa Naydenova  – Summit with dinner

Nonprofit Leadership Team member Ronan Nealis, Branding Campaign

Political Affairs Team member, Katherine Sopher

Political Affairs Team member Daniela Masri

One-Mile Campaigns & Mobilizing

Political Team

Lucas Bedford Comte

Sheyaun Chaudhry

Bahir Zahine in Toronto, Canada

Anastacia Palmer

Sarah Roshi in Chicago, IL

Lauren McMullen in Sheffield, UK

Content Team member Matilda Phillips, 1-Mile Campaign

Letters to the Editor

Political Affairs Team member Elisabeth Flynn received a personalized, handwritten letter in the mail from Senator Sherrod Brown after a letter to the editor of hers was published – “Ms Flynn – Good letter to PD. Keep speaking out, on social media and to people all over Ohio, Thank you, Sherrod Brown”

PR/Marketing Team

• Isabella Perkovic – CaledonCitizen

Political Affairs Team

• Shayla Stewart – Dayton Daily News
• Musarrat Shaira – Tampa Bay Times

Content Team

• Kipling Newman – The Gazette

Fundraising

Advocate Sasha Richman held a bake and plant sale

Regional Director Tiffany Li held a bake sale

Political Affairs Team member Katherine Soper is planning a Halloween social fundraising event

Political Affairs Team member Nikita Odedra, organized a football tournament for his fundraising.

Content Team member Archie Day, 31st consecutive day cold swim in the Scottish North Sea to raise money and awareness

Nonprofit Leadership Team member Vipasha Patel, flyer for her fundraiser

Political Affairs Team member Lucy Hardman, Fundraising Prize Draw

Political Affairs Team member Shayla Stewart doing a coin drive ‘Change 4 Change’ collection and a raffle

Content Team member Chelsey Saya McLeod washing cars for her fundraiser

Content Team member, Jimmy Nguyen’s fundraising crotchety

Media Outreach

Political Affairs Team member Alannah O’Shea

Political Affairs Team member Ema Bajrami

Videos

Political Affairs Team

Samson Adebayo

Nicholas Schneider

Regional Director Team

Annie Sala

Katherine Soper