Get Involved

What is PA for Democracy? We are a loose confederation of local grassroots political groups committed to honoring the legacy of Howard Dean's 2004 presidential campaign by supporting fiscally responsible, socially progressive candidates at all levels of government, from dog-catcher to President of the United States. We firmly believe that no political contest can be ignored by the voters. We continue to work closely with Democracy for America (DFA), which since Governor Dean's ascension to the chairmanship of the Democratic National Committee, is now chaired by his brother, Jim Dean, and is based in Burlington, Vermont. DFA continues to offer financial and logistical support to candidates nationwide including several candidates right here in Pennsylvania.

What does PA for Democracy do? Well, to be honest, we talk a lot. We try to support each other through a continuing dialog about candidates, effective campaigning, and local, regional and national issues. We also try to share information about activities of like-minded groups in the state. But, in the end, we are a grassroots organization so what we do is largely determined by the people participating at the local level although we do occasionally organize statewide activities and participate in national initiatives. You'll find local groups that are focusing on the state legislature, passing single-payer health care, reforming campaign finance and voting systems, etc., all the while recruiting and providing support for local candidates for township commissions, school boards, party committees and county row offices. Your ideas of how to affect the political process to create positive change will be welcomed by your local group.

OK, so how do I find a local group and get invloved? The first thing to do is click here to find a local DFA group. Then, join the group and attend a meeting or contact the organizers if the group is not having regular meetings.

What do I do if there is no nearby group? Lucky you! You get to start your own! If you are so inclined, and are interested in a leadership role to get a group started in your area, click here to drop us a line. This isn't scary or hard and we are happy to help. It's mostly talking to the people you see everyday and helping them help themselves to a better country. Remember, ours is government of, by, and for the people, but it takes people to make it work. Most of what ails our political system today can be attributed to lack of citizen participation. We are here to help you change that by helping your neighbors become smart, informed voters. And, maybe, candidates or issue campaigners.

As a last resort contact your local or county party committee. This is not really a last resort but a step you will need to take at some time, anyway. (If you've read this far and don't know who they are, they need your help badly.) You may need to try to contact them more than once or just show up at their next meeting or your regular polling place at the next election and ask for the party representative. Don't get discouraged, keep nagging them or going up the organisational food-chain. Again, if you need help getting them to respond, let us know and we'll help.