Archive for category: State of the Union

 

Political Updates

We did it! On Monday, January 14, 2019, S. 1580, Protecting Girls’ Access to Education in Vulnerable Settings Act, was signed into law with overwhelming bipartisan support in Congress. Thank you Borgen Project Team members for your continuous efforts in helping to pass this important piece of legislation. It would not have been possible without your advocacy. Great work, team!

Lobbying Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in January: 12
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2019: 12
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2019: 775

Advocacy Emails

• Number of Advocacy Emails in January: 4,232
• Advocacy Emails Goal for 2019: 80,000
• % of Congress Emailed in January: 65%

Warren’s Address

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

 

Content Team Updates

A great start to the year, our website traffic is 75% higher than this time last year.  Great job everyone.

 

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.

• • • Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more): Raquel Ramos, Content Team; Daniel McAndrew-Greiner, Content Team
    • Public Outreach Award (50 or more people mobilized): Mika Brouillette, Political Affairs Team, mobilized 60 people

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

 

Getting the Word Out

Political Affairs Team member Adrian Ghainda gave six presentations within one week! Adrian was able to mobilize close to 27 people to email Congress. During his presentation, he discussed the importance of calling Congress.

Political Affairs Team member Maggie Wells created a swarm by hosting a meeting with her sorority sisters. Maggie had them call and email Congress.

Political Affairs Team member Kellen Cody also created a swarm and had several of her friends email their congressional leaders on the same issue.

One-Mile Campaigns

Content Team member Luis Santos created a flyer for his One-Mile Campaign and posted it throughout his school campus. Great work, Luis!

Letters to the Editor

Alexander Lutton, Political Affairs Team, in The Baltimore Sun: No mom should have to travel 2,000 miles to get medical care for their child

Adrian Ghainda, Political Affairs Team, in NJ.com: Protect future of the global community

Outreach & Mobilizing Materials

PR Team member Hazel Gonzalez created a series of graphics to use for social media, which were recently featured on TBP Instagram story.

 

Hazel also created infographics detailing the benefits of shopping through Amazon Smile.

As well as how to contact Congress. Don’t forget to Act Now!

And, finally, Hazel created a Borgen Project event flyer.

PR Team member Krithi Sekaran created an infographic to show how powerful your phone can be in helping to alleviate global poverty.

Regional Director David Fladger created a meme for the Food for Peace Modernization Act.

Facebook

Political Affairs Team member Mika Brouillette shows us how to mobilize through Facebook. Mika followed up with people who liked her original post and sent them a private message to spread the word.

Videos

Political Affairs Team member Julya Generoso created a video to introduce her followers to The Borgen Project and the global poverty fight.

Political Updates

Lobbying Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in November: 17
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2018: 720
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2018: 560

Advocacy Emails

• Number of Advocacy Emails in November: 4,204
• Advocacy Emails Goal for 2018: 100,000
• % of Congress Emailed in November: 98%

Congressional Office Meetings

Warren’s Address

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

 

Content Team Updates

Another record-breaking month for website traffic, amazing work everyone.

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.

• • Public Outreach Award: Andrea Arivella, HR Team.
  • Leader Board Award: Julia Torres, HR Team. Julia is now our highest ever fundraiser, raising $4,270 to date!
  • Chief Closer Award: Natasha Malik, Political Affairs Team and Caitlyn Corcoran, PR/Marketing Team.

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

Getting the Word Out

PA Team member Greysi Lopez created a swarm on campus to mobilize people to email their Congressional leaders.

PR/Marketing Team member Elise El Nouchi hosted an information event about TBP.

Content Team member Luis Santos seen giving a presentation to his class about TBP.

PA Team member Stephanie Romero created business cards to give out during her program.

One-Mile Campaigns

PA Team member Claire Jordan had a successful One-Mile Campaign! Claire and her two best friends hung posters downtown and spoke with members of the community about TBP. Afterwards, Claire went to Sen. Deb Fischer’s office and taped posters to telephone poles located outside of her office.

PA Team member Natalie Richards completed her One-Mile Campaign in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina. Fliers were posted within one-mile of both Rep. David Price and Sen. Thom Tillis’ office. While posting fliers, Natalie met another activist group outside of the Federal Building and had the opportunity to introduce them to TBP.

PA Team member Kevin Fagan printed out 50 fliers to put up in a 1-mile radius around two of his Congressional leaders’ offices. Posters were hung from the office to the nearest coffee shop– a favorite of many Congressional leaders and their staffers. After putting up all 50 posters, Kevin spoke to a few curious folks about emailing Congress. 

PR/Marketing Team member Brigitte Buckholtz posted TBP fliers inside several local businesses for her One-Mile Campaign.

PR/Marketing Team member Josh Ranft made original TBP stickers for his One-Mile Campaign!

PA Team member Noah Bartholomae’s One-Mile Campaign took place in Eugene, Oregon, next to the Lane County Circuit Court where the offices for Rep. Peter DeFazio, Sen. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden are located. Noah posted fliers at busy intersections to grab the attention of commuters.

PA Team member Timothy James Conway walked around Rep. Peter DeFazio’s office and posted fliers on nearby telephone, power poles and trees. Surrounding the area was the Lane County Elections Office– a perfect high-traffic area. Timothy also visited the EMU at the University of Oregon to post fliers in the Social Science building. 

PA Team member Josue Hernandez Juarez had a fantastic One-Mile Campaign.
“The One-Mile Campaign went really great. It was nice to put up different Borgen Project posters around my school’s campus and spread the word about the organization. I was really excited to spread the word about the organization and hopefully people from my campus reach out and apply to intern for The Borgen Project, so that the word can continue to be spread out about contacting our Congressional leaders, so the U.S. can be more involved to help combat global poverty.”

Letters to the Editor

Megan Todd, Political Affairs Team, in Springfield News-Leader: Helping world’s poor an important and neglected issue
Christina Taylor, PR/Marketing Team, in Fairfax County Times: When we all do better, we all do better
Nakyung Lee, PR/Marketing Team, in Park Slope: Why we need to protect the International Affairs Budget.
Maddie Engledow, Political Affairs Team, in Indy Star: Foreign aid investment will bolster national security measures
Aleksandra Sirakova, Content Team, in The Salt Lake Tribune: U.S. foreign aid is small but powerful

Outreach & Mobilizing Materials

An infographic created by PR/Marketing Team member Christina Taylor

PR/Marketing Team member and Regional Director David Fladger created an infographic acknowledging the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

PR/Marketing Team member Brigitte Buckholtz’s infographic was featured on Medium: Be the Change: Call Congress

PR/Marketing Team member Fatima Shaban created a Borgen Project flier to pass out at her information event.

HR Team member Julia Torres created a comic strip for her 10 awareness points.

PR/Marketing Team member Elise El Nouche’s infographic shows us how our everyday actions can have an impact.

PR/Marketing Team member Nakyung Lee wants you to take action.

Fundraising

PR/Marketing Team member Brigitte Buckholtz sold handmade soap for her fundraising campaign.

Videos

Calling Congress in 30 Seconds with PR Team member Alex Bicknell

Note from the President: Hi everyone, I want to apologize if you’ve experienced issues with the website recently. We’ve been told by our web hosting provider that the issue is fixed and we shouldn’t see ads or layout issues. We’ve had a remarkably, smooth run this past 15-years without website disturbances and this glitch was an unexpected headache for everyone. For Content Team members, our Editors weren’t able to access the site for a few days, so Writers hang in there while things get caught up. Mid-term election soon! Go vote! Go vote! Go vote!

– Clint Borgen

 

Political Updates

 

Lobbying Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in September: 33
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2018: 641
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2018: 560

Advocacy Emails

• • Number of Advocacy Emails in September: 4,018
  • Advocacy Emails Goal for 2018: 100,000
  • % of Congress Emailed in September: 97%

 

Congressional Office Meetings

 

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Warren’s Address

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

 

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Content Team Updates

The month’s top 10 magazine articles:

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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/

 

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Recognition

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

• • • Bird-dog Award: Brigitte Buckholtz, PR/Marketing Team
    • Capital Achievement Award (raised $2,000 or more): Morgan Harden, Content Team
    • Chief Closer Award (raised $1,000 or more): Charlene Frett, Content Team, Noah Bartholomae, Political Affairs Team

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

 

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Getting the Word Out

 

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One-Mile Campaigns

Political Affairs Team member Olivia Thomajan asked several cafes to write about The Borgen Project on their cups for her One-Mile Campaign

Political Affairs Team member, Tyler Freeman, completed his one-mile campaign in the center of Los Angeles! Tyler, with the help of some friends, targeted Wilshire Blvd and had flyers at every light post within a dozen blocks of the Congressman’s office.

Michaela Poole, Political Affairs Team member, posted fliers and did chalk art in areas with high foot traffic. Michaela also implemented clothespins into her One-Mile Campaign by attaching them to people’s clothing to spread the word about The Borgen Project. 

   

Political Affairs Team member, Dalvida Palmer, posted fliers in places such as the library, computer labs, the food court, and the dorms. She also targeted “waiting areas” like bus stops and elevators.

 

Samantha Suib, Political Affairs Team member, took her one-mile campaign to the Great Falls Village Center in Great Falls, VA. She posted signage, reached out those passing through and informed them about The Borgen Project and encouraged the community to contact their congressional leaders.

Bonnie Greer, Political Affairs Team member, undertook her 1-mile campaign in downtown Seattle.  Bonnie chose Pike Place as her starting point since this is in-between her Representative and Senator’s offices. She was able to get about 80 flyers up.

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Letters to the Editor

Victoria Beyer, PR/Marketing Team, in The Telegram & Gazette: Support bill to help assure world maternal, child survival
Cameron Johnson, Regional Director, in Bristol Herald Courier: Trump’s budget cuts funds needed for development, jobs
Evann Orleck-Jetter, Content Team, in Valley News: Aid Cuts May Cost More Later
Zachary Filtz, Political Affairs Team, in Fredericksburg: Tackling global poverty

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Outreach & Mobilizing Materials

PR/Marketing Team member Victoria Beyer designed infographics to compare spending habits with the cost of global poverty reduction.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fundraising

HR Team member Julia Torres walked dogs in turn for donations during the first week of her internship!

Julia also hosted a movie and wine night and charged admission as a fundraising event.

Danielle DalPorto, HR Team member, organized a fundraising event in her student union. Danielle sold candy, mobilized people to email their Congressional leaders and answered general questions about TBP and global poverty. In total, she raised $130 and mobilized 64 people!

PR/Marketing Team member Victoria Beyer sold personal artwork and distributed TBP flyers on campus as a part of her fundraising/information campaign.

 

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Videos

PR/Marketing Team member Alexandra Bicknell gives a brief overview of foreign aid in the United States.

PR/Marketing Team member Tori Fejfar reminds us of the importance of the International Affairs Budget.

A PSA created by PR/Marketing Team member David Fladger.

 

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

 

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

 

 

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

Note from the President: Welcome to summer excitement! When it comes to advocacy this is my favorite time of year. Members of Congress spend the majority of the summer back in their districts meeting with constituents and finding out what issues to focus on. What makes this year extra interesting is the mid-term election in November. All 435 members of the House of Representatives are up for election and 33 out of 100 Senate seats are being voted on. Be sure to focus on candidates as well as current Members of Congress. Many of these candidates will be elected and serving in Congress next year. Below are a handful of items we need everyone doing this summer. Even if you’re not on the political team, you can expand your skillset and participate.

• Lobby Members and Candidates: Beyond the normal channels for setting up a lobbying meeting with Members of Congress, you can also contact the campaigns of candidates and request a meeting.
• Mobilize: It always amazes me the impact 7-10 people emailing a leader can have in getting that leader to support a bill. The more people emailing the more engaged leaders tend to get in fighting global poverty.
• Bird-Dog: Members of Congress hold town halls to talk to constituents and find out what issues are important to them. Attending these and asking them what they’re doing to address global poverty is a highly effective way to put them in the “hot seat” in front of their voters. As always, be polite and know the leader’s background on the issue before the event. Many leaders are doing wonderful work when it comes to fighting poverty and you’ll want to thank them.
• Send Thank-Yous to leaders: If there is anything your Members of Congress have done related to global poverty that you can thank them for, please do (co-sponsored one of our bills). Ideally, send a handwritten note. We hear this frequently from congressional staffers that are friendly to the cause, but leaders really appreciate Thank-Yous and it tends to get them more active on the issue.

– Clint Borgen
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Political Updates
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Lobbying Efforts

• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in May:  71
• Total # of Lobbying Meetings in 2018:  373
• Lobbying Meetings Goal for 2018:  560

Advocacy Emails

• Number of Advocacy Emails in May:  8,013
• Advocacy Emails Goal for 2018:  100,000
• % of Congress Emailed in May:  91%
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Congressional Office Meetings

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PR/Marketing Team member Ani Gevorkian met with her congressional leaders in California at a town hall and through bird-dogging.

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Warren’s Address

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

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Content Team Updates

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

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HR Team Updates

There is a 96% increase in applicants – May 2017 vs. May 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/

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Recognition

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

• • • Bird-dog Award:  Ani Gevorkian, PR/Marketing Team.
    • Chief Closer Award:  John Davis Williams, Political Affairs Team.
    • President’s Circle:  Cheyenne Roinestead, Political Affairs Team.
    • Public Outreach Award:  Annie Goldstein, Political Affairs Team (June 2018) and Emme Arnesen, Political Affairs Team (June 2018).

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

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Getting the Word Out
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In The News

The Borgen Project was cited this week in Newsweek!  Kim Jong Un Stays in Luxury 5-Star Singapore Hotel While His People Starve

 

Information Events & Group Presentations

 

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Letters to the Editor

Cade Phillips, Political Affairs Team, in the Letters section of ArkansasOnline.

 

Olivia Booth, Content Team, in The Fairfax County Times – Let’s not be so parochial in our thoughts about foreign aid.

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Outreach Materials

Infographs designed by PR/Marketing Team member Anna Zagorski.

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PR/Mktg Team member Grant Yeatts added some additional info to the “What Happens As People Transition Out of Poverty” infograph.

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And PR/Mktg Team member Juliana Mangano created an infograph and a poem about The Borgen Project.

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Fundraising

Check out photos from Political Affairs Team member Cade Phillips’ fundraising concert at a local coffee shop.

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PR/Marketing Team member Jenna Kobular created this flyer for her fundraiser.

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YouTube

Here’s a video created by PR/Mktg Team member Lenna Iskenderian.

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