Author Archives: Tom Tresser

CivicLab Launches The POWER Institute

The CivicLab proudly announces the launch of a new series of training programs to help you organize, resist, engage and WIN for social justice!

Our first workshops are on basic subjects to prepare people who are new to public life. All attendees will get a copy of “Chicago Is Not Broke. Funding the City We Deserve.”

Session #1 – Wednesday, September 13 – 7-9pm – “Chicago 101” – What are the basics for preparing to organize and win in a city dominated by the Democratic Machine for 75 years?  You will learn the about the political and geographic context for Chicago politics.

Session #2 – Wednesday, October 11 – 7-9pm – “Organizing 101” – Did you know Chicago is the home of modern community organizing? Learn the basic skills and mindsets of a community change maker. This will be a highly interactive session with a lot of small group work as you build a case and work on power analysis.

Session #3 – Wednesday, November 8 – 7-9pm – “Grassroots Campaigning” – Learn the basic steps toward putting together a principled grassroots campaign for change and justice. All attendees will receive the chapter “Organizing a Campaign” from Winning Elections in the 21st Century by Dick Simpson and Betty O’Shaughnessy.

These sessions are $40/person per session. You can attend all three for $100. We will have snacks but not dinner. All attendees will receive take-away materials with resources and links to more in-depth materials.The workshops will be at the Loyola Law School, 25 E. Pearson.

You must register via EventBrite -> https://power-institute-fall_2017.eventbrite.com. [or use the form below]

++ Our first full day workshop for running for local office will be on Saturday, October 14, from 10am to 4pm! Details here: https://campaign-training-fall-2017.eventbrite.com. ++

Participants at our first round of “101” sessions said…

o “I wish it could be more than two hours a session”
o “I was really inspired by the class and appreciate thinking about Chicago history and politics.”
o “I learned so much! Thank you!”
o “Very excited about the organization and class – learned a lot today!”
o “I loved the first session and am looking forward to learning more in the forthcoming seminars. I haven’t been able to stop talking about CivicLab with colleagues and friends.”
o “I wish the workshops were more often and closer together!”
o “More time! I would pay more :)”

Civic workshops from the POWER Institute!
Your trainers will be Jonathan Peck and Tom Tresser.

Tom Tresser Jonathan Peck

Tom Seeks To Raise The Bar at Our Revolution Chicago Launch

Bernie Sander’s legacy organization Our Revolution launched its Chicago effort today at a forum at CTU Center on Carroll Street. Cook County Commissioner and 2015 Mayoral candidate Chewy Garcia led off with a call to build a progressive infrastructure to win aldermanic seats and the mayor’s office in 2019. While he spoke “Chicago Is Not Broke” gained its youngest reader!

Listen to my comments on the budget and Mayor Emanuel’s performance (12:45)…

We Were Right In 2009…Will You Listen Now?

Oh, my colleagues in the nonprofit world. I may sound like Chicken Little crying “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!” when I urge you to get involved in power politics in order to see your values realized in public life. But – here is an interview with Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander from October 7, 2009 – just five days after the International Olympic Committee eliminated Chicago from consideration for the 2016 Games in the first round of voting…

Read the full article…
Continue reading →

Wide Ranging Interview With Bill Cameron

Tom was interviewed on the “Connected To Chicago” radio program with long time political reported Bill Cameron. We discussed “Chicago Is Not Broke. Funding the City We Deserve” in light of the Inauguration of Donald Trump, which took place shortly before we began the interview.

Democrats Did Not Listen To Harry, Paid the Price

Democrats, listen up. Here’s what Harry S. Truman said to the 1952 convention of Americans for Democratic Action:

Harry Truman

“The first rule in my book is that we have to stick by the liberal principles of the Democratic Party. We are not going to get anywhere by trimming or appeasing. And we don’t need to try it.

The record the Democratic Party has made in the last 20 years is the greatest political asset any party ever had in the history of the world. We would be foolish to throw it away. There is nothing our enemies would like better and nothing that would do more to help them win an election.

I’ve seen it happen time after time. When the Democratic candidate allows himself to be put on the defensive and starts apologizing for the New Deal and the fair Deal, and says he really doesn’t believe in them, he is sure to lose. The people don’t want a phony Democrat. If it’s a choice between a genuine Republican, and a Republican in Democratic clothing, the people will choose the genuine article, every time; that is, they will take a Republican before they will a phony Democrat, and I don’t want any phony Democratic candidates in this campaign.

But when a Democratic candidate goes out and explains what the New Deal and fair Deal really are–when he stands up like a man and puts the issues before the people–then Democrats can win, even in places where they have never won before. It has been proven time and again.”

Paul Wellstone use to quote parts of these remarks all the time. He was a REAL Democrat.