1. What do you look forward to the most for the coming year?

I look forward to collaborating with Steering and National Committee members, along with state party leaders, to get a full assessment of the needs of GPUS. We know fundraising, ballot access, and related topics are an ongoing conversation; however, to better understand how to develop the necessary plans means to carry out a community assessment, if it were, or a participatory budget program to understand the kind of finances we need.

2. What is an area you see that GPUS makes a great impact?

We are undoubtedly the only political organization that has spoken out on the issues throughout the decades. However, we are also not as exposed as we ought to be on a national level. Yes, we have individuals affiliated with the Green Party at various meetings, but where has our name ever been mentioned? To get our name out more means working with state parties on how to build movements on issues, plus collaborating with organizations and critical Greens that will give us a seat at the table on national efforts, which requires an organizing plan to accomplish short-, mid-, and long-term goals.

3. What's a committee collaboration that you would like to see?

I like to see synergy among the committees, and I observed that individual entities within the national level carried out among themselves when I came onto the national level, which led to an imbalance regarding operations and finances. Currently, I see some cooperation among committees, though improvements can still be made to cultivate open communication, strive toward conflict resolution, and develop better policies to work in concert with one another.

4. What's an area that you would like GPUS to make a greater impact? What tools or resources would you like to see GPUS to use in order to do so?

I would refer to my response to the second question that was asked and say further that we as an organization need to step up our communications. How so? By submitting op-eds strategically in national news outlets, finding ways to help state parties to get on political talk shows, and how to create compelling messages on social media platforms. Another way is to build the party at the state level. Working with our party parties to build up their locals, develop infrastructure, and provide education and training are ways to create party building. And right next to that is having an organizing plan. An organizing plan is given to state parties and organizers when taking on issues. As an organization, we must understand that organizing and winning issues will begin to grow relationships with people and other organizations.

5. What do you think is a good fundraiser?

Conventional fundraising strategies (phone banking, direct mailings, text banking, and events) show the outcomes when goals are met for each campaign. However, traditional fundraising has proven to be overused with low returns. One fundraising approach that has proven successful is known as the Benevon model. Benevon is a mission-driven approach that focuses on building relationships. I was fortunate through my work where I went to a weekend training to learn about this model and how other organizations are utilizing it. This model showed me that an organization like ours could be done. Different fundraising strategies would be more targeted, like Twitch. A Twitch influencer helped a tenant union, and my IWW branch, by raising funds for our union hall and fundraising, respectively. Some influencers match our political outlook and need a meeting on how they could help us meet our fundraising goals.

6. What are your thoughts on building sustaining relationships?

Sustainable relationships are vital, which means having ongoing conversations with individuals and organizations as a way to understand one another. Being involved in organizations that did not follow through with this led them to be limited in their work. Those that did create sustainable relationships expanded their work and grew their capacities. To sustain relationships within our organization also means we need to learn about our fellow Greens. Over the years, I have gotten to know many Greens, which has allowed me to understand their outlook and help others understand where they are coming from. This also will expand our work and extend our capacity from within.

Having two decades of experience working with many organizations, along with my involvement in the Green Party on many levels, gives me the background to work with other Steering Committee members to construct effective plans to make our organization what it needs to be in a political landscape that is being controlled by people who assume they have power. I would be most appreciative if you rank me #1 on your ballot.

AJ Reed
ILGP
Pronouns: They/Them/Ellos