Hello Friend!
Happy Juneteenth Eve & Obama Presidential Library opening week (live now). I'm coming to you late, sad, angry, excited, and inspired. Just a jumble of emotions that are all deep and real. Sorry, this is long, but there is so much to report that it is hard to keep up!! The most exciting update to share is that GAIN Power has two new team members who started this past month. You can meet them at our virtual career fair next week, and I will, too, along with Christine Cartagena, who manages our online events!
Jennifer Treat joined our team as an Interim Executive Director and will be here through the end of this year and our post-election programming (longer if we can convince her). She is helping guide programming, outreach, and execution of our career center, newsletter, professional directories, networking events, Powerful IDEA Awards, and RootsCamp.
Jennifer brings nearly 40 years of political and campaign experience, serving as the finance director on numerous campaigns, a fundraising consultant to a number of DC-based progressive organizations (including the DSCC, EMILYs List, and Planned Parenthood), a dedicated mentor to rising talent (for the Human Rights Campaign, DNC, Texas Democratic Party, and others) and, most recently, as the Executive Director of the Texas Future Project – the progressive donor table for Texas.
We’re excited about her organizational expertise, depth of fundraising experience, and pragmatic as well as strategic thinking.
Evie Scott joined our team this past month as well. She is working to transition our website across development, data, and communications. Evie lives in Washington State, outside of Seattle, and recently graduated from Cascadia.
Evie's background spans community services, nonprofit leadership, customer success, and technology operations. She has worked in unhoused services and emergency shelter programs, supported volunteer-led organizations, and helped mission-driven teams strengthen their operations through data management, CRM administration, and automation. Outside of work, Evie serves on the Board of Directors of A Supportive Community for All and volunteers with the American Red Cross.
You’ll hear more from and about these amazing women. Our team is small but mighty, and I’m honored to have them as part of it - look forward to hearing from them directly.
Late reporting on this year's Netroots Nation. I want to give a big shout-out to Anthony Robinson, who led the Year's Event in Philly for the first time as Executive Director, and kudos to the whole team: board, staff, and volunteers. The conference was energizing, emotional, and exactly what I needed after so many months on the sidelines this year with my health challenges. A meaningful moment at Netroots was a memorial gathering for Erin Hofteig, one of the true pioneers of digital organizing in our movement and a fixture at every Netroots I can remember.
Loving seeing my feed this week filled with friends and alumni of the Obama campaigns and administration in Chicago for the opening of his Presidential Library. I’m watching their live stream now to get pumped. Compared to how I've felt being back in DC while the "Freedom 250" events are happening, the contrast of love, joy, and positive change-makers celebrating together made my heart sing. I have no words for the White Trash bonanza and racist POS Josh Hokit being given a platform in OUR HOUSE, disparaging our beautiful, forever First Lady Michelle Obama. The contrast between these two worlds could not be starker.
All fuel to keep fighting — and fight we must, because they are coming for us strong right now.
I went back to Boston for a few days after NN, then drove to DC in part to continue the celebration of Erin’s life and for Congressman Hoyer’s last Bull Roast before his retirement, stopped for gas somewhere in Maryland, checked my phone, and learned that 120 federal agents had descended on the Ohio Organizing Collaborative - and then this week they went after anti-ICE Organizers in MN. I wrote a longer post on Substack that I hope folks read, as it impacts all of us - and will be sharing more about what we can all do to support their work and protect our own.
Big shout-out to Prentiss Haney, who is my vote for Democracy Hero of the week - and please follow him on Substack for some really great ideas and a showcase of the changes he is working on. I’m so grateful for the work of the Brennan Center and The Center for Popular Democracy (who have jobs in our career center this week).
Today, I’m excited to hear about the launch of Guardrails Alliance, a new super PAC dedicated to exposing the influence of anti-regulatory AI money in politics. I’d support anything organized by Shaunna Thomas and Leah Hunt-Hendrix - and this comes exactly at the right moment. Read what they are doing in the NY Times today.
Another thing bringing me joy this week is watching Knicks fans celebrate in NY and all the World Cup Madness. Props to Nelini Stamp and the Working Families Party for always getting that culture matters as much as politics - check out the World Cup, Our Copa. And OMG - the #TartanArmy in Boston is everything we need right now.
It’s Primary season: Congratulations to everyone who worked the recent primaries in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, Iowa, Montana, Georgia, DC, Alabama, and South Dakota. Whether your candidate won or lost, thank you for your service. And if your campaign has ended, we're here for you.
Our next virtual career fair is next Thursday, June 25th. Register here. Will have a special email on this tomorrow, too.
It's peak hiring season, and the career center knows it. Field, campaign management, operations, fundraising, research, and policy roles are heating up fast. Recent postings include positions at AGENCY, The Pivot Group, Movement Labs, 617MediaGroup, Emerge, Climate Power, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice, Democratic Attorneys General Association, Progressive Turnout Project, Rising Tide Interactive, For Our Future Action Fund, DCCC, and more. Many roles are remote-friendly. Browse the full job board.
In addition to GAIN Power's career coaching and networking opportunities, I recently learned about The POUR Project, which connects Democratic and progressive campaign staff with professional career coaches who offer up to 4 free sessions. If you're navigating a transition, processing a tough loss, or thinking about what's next — check them out.
We need beta testers. We're rebuilding our entire platform and want real feedback — on function, vibe, and new features. Full disclosure: it's still full of test data and placeholders. This is not a polished preview. But the bones are there, and I want honest eyes on it. I'm especially excited about our new organization pages and search. Sign up at gainpower.app and dive in.
On a personal note: I got my drains out! For those who've been following my health journey since my DMX surgery in January, this is a big milestone. The best news: no more surgeries planned until after the election. Thank you to everyone who has checked in, sent encouragement, and held me up along the way. It has meant more than you know.
These are hard times. Some days feel heavier than others. But spending time with the people who still believe democracy is worth fighting for recharged my batteries - and that is all of you. I hope you feel the same. Thanks for all you do.
More soon. Stay fierce.
—Amy & the GAIN Power team
