Summary Lefty Groups Making It Possible for Families to Do Politics | The Nation www.thenation.com
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Various left-leaning groups, including the Working Families Party, Climate Families NYC, and Red Sprouts, establish child-friendly spaces, with support from men as well.
Slides
Slide Presentation (9 slides)
Key Points
- Progressive organizations are finding ways to support families in political activism.
- The right has historically claimed to speak for families, while the left has been seen as the province of the young and unencumbered.
- Millennial activists who have started families are seeking new modes of organizing that allow them to remain politically active.
- Historical examples of family-based organizing include the Communist Party of the United States of America and labor unions.
- Conservative activists have long seen families as key to their organizing and branding.
- Long work hours and a childcare crisis have made political participation difficult for parents, especially mothers.
- Left-leaning organizations like Working Families Party and DSA are making efforts to include and support parents and families in their activities.
- Family-based organizing models can lighten parents' burdens and strengthen community ties for kids and parents alike.
Summaries
22 word summary
Lefty groups create child-friendly spaces, such as the Working Families Party, Climate Families NYC, and Red Sprouts. Men also support family-friendly groups.
58 word summary
Left-wing groups are accommodating families by creating child-friendly spaces and activities. The Working Families Party is welcoming families to meetings and events, but broader social supports are needed. Climate Families NYC and Red Sprouts are also providing opportunities for parents to engage in political work while caring for their children. Men are also helping to build family-friendly groups.
164 word summary
Progressive left-wing groups are finding ways to accommodate families and allow them to remain politically active. The millennial generation, instrumental in the growth of left-wing organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is now starting families and seeking ways to balance their political commitments with parental responsibilities. Barriers such as work schedules, lack of transportation, and childcare costs prevent parents from participating in politics. The Working Families Party (WFP) is trying to address these issues by welcoming families to meetings and events, but broader social supports are needed. Groups like Climate Families NYC and Red Sprouts are creating child-friendly spaces and activities that allow parents to engage in political work while caring for their children. Progressive organizations need to recognize the unique power that parents and children have to influence decision-makers. Men are also seeking out and helping to build family-friendly groups. Overall, progressive left-wing groups are working to make political activism accessible and inclusive for families by creating child-friendly spaces and activities.
367 word summary
Progressive left-wing groups are finding ways to accommodate families and allow them to remain politically active. The millennial generation, instrumental in the growth of left-wing organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is now starting families and seeking ways to balance their political commitments with parental responsibilities. Historical examples, such as the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) and labor unions, show the connection between politics and family life. However, long work hours and a childcare crisis make it difficult for parents, particularly mothers, to participate in politics. Barriers like work schedules, lack of transportation, and childcare costs prevent parents from attending meetings and events. The Working Families Party (WFP) is trying to address these issues by welcoming families to meetings and events, but broader social supports are needed.
Groups like Climate Families NYC and Red Sprouts, initiated by the New York City branch of DSA, are creating child-friendly spaces and activities that allow parents to engage in political work while caring for their children. Similar efforts are being made by Families for Climate in Portland, Oregon. These initiatives aim to make political activism accessible and inclusive for busy working parents. By establishing spaces and activities that bring kids and adults together, progressive organizations foster meaningful political engagement within families.
Progressive organizations need to recognize the unique power that parents and children have to influence decision-makers. Involving children in activities that can make a difference empowers them to participate in politics and address the challenges of the climate crisis. This requires creating communities that support parents, value and care for children, and foster meaningful political engagement. Churches have served as a model, but there is a difference between accommodating families and truly including them.
Men are also seeking out and helping to build family-friendly groups, recognizing the importance of caretaking responsibilities. Overall, progressive left-wing groups are working to make political activism accessible and inclusive for families. By creating child-friendly spaces and activities, these organizations aim to engage parents and children in meaningful political work while addressing the challenges faced by working families. Recognizing the unique power of parents and children to influence decision-makers is crucial for building a more equitable and inclusive society.
596 word summary
Progressive left-wing groups are finding ways to accommodate families and allow them to remain politically active. While the right has traditionally claimed to speak for families, the millennial generation, which has been instrumental in the growth of left-wing organizations like the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), is now starting families of their own and seeking ways to balance their political commitments with their parental responsibilities. Historical examples, such as the Communist Party of the United States of America (CPUSA) and labor unions, demonstrate the marriage of politics and family life. Churches have also played a significant role in providing support and community for families during the civil rights movement. The conservative right has long recognized the importance of families in their organizing efforts, although their vision of family is often narrow and rooted in conservative Christianity.
However, long work hours and a childcare crisis have made it difficult for parents, particularly mothers, to participate in politics. Many parents face barriers such as work schedules, lack of transportation, and childcare costs that prevent them from attending meetings and events. The absence of social supports for working families makes it challenging to keep parents involved in political organizing. Progressive organizations such as the Working Families Party (WFP) are trying to address these issues by welcoming families to meetings and events, but broader social supports are needed to ensure meaningful participation.
Groups like Climate Families NYC and Red Sprouts, initiated by the New York City branch of DSA, are creating child-friendly spaces and activities that allow parents to engage in political work while also caring for their children. These initiatives aim to make political activism accessible and inclusive for busy working parents. Similar efforts are being made by Families for Climate in Portland, Oregon. Family-based organizing models can lighten parents' burdens and strengthen community ties for both children and adults. Progressive organizations are attempting to establish spaces and activities that bring kids and adults together to learn about and engage in political work, fostering meaningful political engagement within families.
It is important for progressive organizations to recognize the unique power that parents and children have to influence decision-makers. By making political activities enjoyable and involving children in activities that can make a difference, parents can empower their children to participate in politics and address the challenges of the climate crisis. In a perfect world, progressive organizing would involve creating communities that support parents, value and care for children, and foster meaningful political engagement. This requires recognizing and harnessing the power of parents and children, as well as creating spaces that are actively welcoming to parents and children.
While there is a long tradition on the left of questioning the organization of society around the family unit, the focus now is on creating spaces and activities that bring families together and deepen social bonds and ideological commitments. Churches have served as a model in integrating families and kids into their activities, but there is a difference between accommodating families and truly including them. Progressive organizations need to actively welcome parents and children, making their spaces and activities enjoyable for all. Men are also seeking out and helping to build family-friendly groups, recognizing the importance of caretaking responsibilities.
Overall, progressive left-wing groups are working to make political activism accessible and inclusive for families. By creating child-friendly spaces and activities, these organizations aim to engage parents and children in meaningful political work while also addressing the challenges faced by working families. Recognizing the unique power of parents and children to influence decision-makers is crucial for building a more equitable and inclusive society.