This link has been bookmarked by 5 people . It was first bookmarked on 02 Apr 2008, by cdetrio da juggaer.
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12 May 08
Claire FontaineDemos works with advocates and policymakers around the country in pursuit of four overarching goals: a more equitable economy; a vibrant and inclusive democracy; an empowered public sector that works for the common good; and responsible U.S. engagement in an interdependent world.
nonprofit organization nyc policy urban globalization economics
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02 Apr 08
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Demos: A Network for Ideas & Action is a non-partisan public policy research and advocacy organization committed to building an America that achieves its highest democratic ideals. We believe this requires a democracy that is robust and inclusive, with high levels of electoral participation and civic engagement; an economy where prosperity and opportunity are broadly shared and disparity is reduced; and a strong and effective public sector with the capacity to plan for the future and provide for the
common good. Founded in 2000, Demos. work combines research with advocacy-melding the commitment to ideas of a think tank with the organizing strategies of an advocacy group. -
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA): Demos has tracked state implementation of HAVA in order to help advocates affect a progressive approach to election reform. We have researched provisional balloting, voter identification and other HAVA-mandated changes, and helped organizers in the field prepare voters for new election procedures. Our post-2004 election focus will include state development of computerized voter registration systems; uniform standards for provisional voting; voter identification; voting machine technology; and voter fraud, vote suppression and irregularities in election administration.
- Voting Rights Restoration: We are working to overturn laws that unfairly bar former prisoners from voting.
- National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) Implementation: Lesser-known provisions of the so-called "Motor Voter" law require states to offer voter registration assistance in various public assistance agencies. Almost all states are doing a very poor job of complying with the public assistance office requirements - dampening the political participation of low-income citizens. Demos and Project Vote have launched a targeted campaign to enhance the voter registration activities in public assistance agencies in advance of the 2004 election and beyond.
- Election Day Registration: Demos is collaborating with a range of state-based partners to help enact Election Day Registration, a reform that demonstrably increases voter turnout and reduces problems at polling places, as evidenced by the six states that currently allow for Election Day Registration.
- Democracy Dispatches: Demos' web-based e-journal offers a daily news-feed on democracy-related issues, a blog analyzing current trends, and in-depth commentary.
- Help America Vote Act (HAVA): Demos has tracked state implementation of HAVA in order to help advocates affect a progressive approach to election reform. We have researched provisional balloting, voter identification and other HAVA-mandated changes, and helped organizers in the field prepare voters for new election procedures. Our post-2004 election focus will include state development of computerized voter registration systems; uniform standards for provisional voting; voter identification; voting machine technology; and voter fraud, vote suppression and irregularities in election administration.
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- Debt and Assets Project: This project has taken a lead role in highlighting the dramatic rise in personal debt among low- to middle-income families over the last decade, focusing on how this growing problem is related to broader changes in the economy and in our public policy. Demos is working with national and state-level advocates to combat predatory lending practices, and to educate policymakers and the public about this increasingly devastating obstacle to family economic security.
- Growing and Protecting the Middle Class: Widely shared middle class prosperity, the signature strength of American society, is in danger. It is increasingly difficult for Americans to reach the middle class and harder for those in the middle class to stay there and feel secure. Demos is working to promote a framework for talking about this problem, as well as promoting new policy ideas to expand and protect the middle class, including: investments in higher education; incentives for home ownership; and, support for income growth.
- Around the Kitchen Table E-Journal: Our new monthly e-journal provides advocates, policymakers and the media with ideas and analysis on how national economic trends in debt, assets, education and income play out around the kitchen tables of individuals and families in America.
- Debt and Assets Project: This project has taken a lead role in highlighting the dramatic rise in personal debt among low- to middle-income families over the last decade, focusing on how this growing problem is related to broader changes in the economy and in our public policy. Demos is working with national and state-level advocates to combat predatory lending practices, and to educate policymakers and the public about this increasingly devastating obstacle to family economic security.
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- Researching Americans' Perceptions of Government:We began our work in 2005 by trying to understand Americans' distrust of and disdain for government.We partnered with the FrameWorks Institute to undertake extensive research into current perceptions of government and to identify communication strategies that could open up Americans to a broader understanding of government.In 2007, we are conducting further research into Americans' understanding of taxes and government's role in the economy.
- Building a Constituency for Public Sector:We are all both constituents and mangers of our public sector. We are working with local community leaders, elected officials, public service employees, public policy advocates, and regular folks who care about whether their government is working well.We are engaging with all of these constituencies and stakeholders across the country, sharing the findings from our research and training them in techniques to communicate more effectively about government, its role and its mission.
- Creating a new Vision for our Public Structures:We believe our research offers more than a new message about government.It provides the foundation for a new way of thinking about our important public structures, one that helps average Americans people become smarter about what government is and does and why it exists.Fundamentally, we believe those of us who care about have the government we all aspire to must work together to restore Americans' basic understanding of and appreciation for our government.
- Researching Americans' Perceptions of Government:We began our work in 2005 by trying to understand Americans' distrust of and disdain for government.We partnered with the FrameWorks Institute to undertake extensive research into current perceptions of government and to identify communication strategies that could open up Americans to a broader understanding of government.In 2007, we are conducting further research into Americans' understanding of taxes and government's role in the economy.
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11 Nov 06
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