FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Former BuyBlue.org founder Raven Brooks tapped as organization’s new leader
OCTOBER 26, 2008--Netroots Nation announced today the hiring of Raven Brooks as executive director. Brooks previously served as director of finance and operations for the four-year-old organization and has served as interim executive director since July 2008.
As executive director, one of Brooks’ primary responsibilities will be to develop and lead the organization’s long-term strategy of expanding from a once-a-year conference to a year-round organization dedicated to enhancing the ties between progressive politics and the online world, says Board of Directors Chairman Adam Bonin. The organization, which began in 2005 as an all-volunteer effort, has already launched one new initiativea year-round salon program to be held in key regions throughout the country.
“Raven proved during this year’s conference that he is a gifted leader who brings considerable talents to the table,” said Bonin. “I’m thrilled that our board has decided unanimously to remove the ‘interim’ label from his title and empower him to lead our organization during this exciting year and into our next convention in Pittsburgh. As board chair, I look forward to working with him on all his efforts.”
Brooks says he is honored to have the opportunity to continue building a critical piece of infrastructure in the progressive movement.
“Netroots organizing is entering an exciting new era, so we’re working hard to expand our programming and make our convention in Pittsburgh the best one yet,” said Brooks. “We’ve had a successful kick off for our regional salon series, and we’ll soon launch two other programsa new sustainability initiative and a program that makes our video content widely available via a searchable archive. I’m honored to continue the great work started by our former executive director and founder, Gina Cooper.”
Brooks got his start in politics by co-founding and leading BuyBlue.org, a revolutionary website that encouraged consumers to “vote with their wallets” by gaining crucial information about the internal ethics and political giving practices of popular companies. He currently serves on the advisory board of The Blue Fund and has a background in software development and design, management, business consulting, and project management.
“Raven has both the vision and the management skills needed to lead Netroots Nation at this critical time” said board member Jonathan Shiffman. “The board is thrilled with his initiatives and performance during his time as interim director, and we are confident that he and his talented staff will give the Netroots community its best convention ever in Pittsburgh next summer.”
The fourth annual gathering of the Netroots community (formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention) will be held August 13–16, 2009, at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, PA. Netroots Nation 2009 will include panels led by national and international experts; a progressive film screening series; practical training sessions and workshops; and the largest gathering of progressive bloggers to date.
Through its annual convention and new salon series, the organization seeks to amplify progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. In addition, the organization just completed its largest community fundraiser ever--an online auction that raised almost $25,000.
Cooper, stepped down from that role this summer to pursue other opportunities in bringing the policy and online spheres together. She remains on the Netroots Nation Board of Directors.
For more information about Netroots Nation, visit netrootsnation.org.
##
