Welcome to our Summer State Download!Ā
Last month 24 of our LPPA members joined our National Convening in Chicago. This yearās convening theme was āOrganize Together, Govern for Allā. Panel discussions focused on our membersā experiences using collaborative governance with movement partners to push back against racial and economic injustice while protecting communities and enacting bold, progressive policies. Read the full recap in our blog here!
Several of our members spoke on panels that inspired LP members from across the country! Sara Innamorato was a plenary speaker this year in Governing for All: Fearless Solidarity for a Just Future alongside Austin Mayor Pro Tem Vanessa Fuentes and CTU President Stacy Davis Gates. Philadelphia city councilmember and LP Board member Kendra Brooks energized us through a closing plenary session where members created chants to help them bring the powerful vibes back to their communities.Ā
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Here in PA, weāre carrying the inspiration into the fall season with some regional meetups, recurring school board events and issue programming decided by you, our LPPA members!
This newsletter includes some highlights but so much more is happening and possible. Schedule a meeting with me orĀ email me. Iām looking forward to hearing from you, including your feedback in our statewide plans and supporting your individual work!
School Board Networking Event
On July 30 from 12-1:30 PM, 10 LPPA School Board members and 6 prospective members met via zoom to discuss key issues facing them in their role in the coming year. This event was shaped and supported by the leadership of LPPA members Devon Taliaferro (Pittsburgh), Xaras Collins (Norristown), Daniel Wiser (Phoenixville), andĀ Amanda Barber (Wilkinsburg).
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School Board members in PA rarely have the opportunity to hear from their peers across the state. This meeting was a chance for them to share their local concerns and dig into the statewide factors that underpin them. Funding was the primary concern for attendees. Members shared their experiences of regressive property tax structures in PA, concern about federal education cuts and many pointed to the ongoing need for the state to address their part of funding inequity, which was ruled on by the State Supreme Court. School Board Program Manager, Kathleen Pointer shared an overview of LPs School Board work and answered specific questions ranging from governance to growth.Ā
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Based on the unanimous interest of the participants, this event will become an ongoing space for LPPA school board members to network and build a translocal campaign to address inadequate and inequitable public school funding across the state.Ā
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Federal Reconciliation Bill Rapid Response
Local Progress supported members in targeted House Districts to sign on to letters urging their Congressperson to vote no on the Reconciliation Bill. LPPA members in Lehigh County collected 14 signatures from local electeds. The letter used language from our partner at AFSCME and was edited to include 7th house district data on cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and the implementation of school vouchers In Luzerne County, we supported a member who recruited her colleagues to call the Congressperson and urge them to vote no on the bill.Ā
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Organizing Committee update
Did you know that our LPPA work is member led? Our organizing committee consists of 6 current members who set the strategy for the state, support recruitment and work in collaboration with state partners. Your organizing committee members are Devon Taliaferro (Pittsburgh), Autumn Vogel (Meadville), Dr. Tyler Titus (Erie), Xaras Collins (Norristown), Jon Irons (Lehigh County) and Nicolas OāRourke (Philadelphia). They also hear from our movement partners about campaigns around the state and identify which campaigns would best fit our members interests and the needs of Pennsylvania. In the near future weāll be looking to expand our organizing committee to include representatives from regions of PA who arenāt yet represented in our organizing committee. If youāre interested in joining our organizing committee, email Kelly at Kmorton@localprogress.org.Ā
š§āš§āš§ Two LPPA meetups coming this fall!
Meetups are a great way to stay connected with your peers across the state and learn more about ongoing campaigns and how you can get more involved! Each meetup will include a short program that includes an introduction to a local issue campaign led by one of our movement partners.Ā
You can register now for ourĀ Western Pennsylvania meetup on September 19 at 5:30 PMĀ and stay tuned for more details for our and Lehigh County meetup in October.
āļø What issue events would you like to see in the next year?
As your organizing committee and I hear from movement partners about the issue campaigns theyāre building across the state, we want to hear from you and your staff!Ā
What issues would you like to know more about – via peer networking, meetings, webinars, policy support and toolkits?Ā
šĀ Fill out this survey!
We want to hear from you to help shape our program and events calendar for the next year.Ā Please fill out this survey by August 31.
š Member Survey
Our Member Survey is now live! At the National Convening, over 150 members shared their thoughts about Local Progress, and we want yours too! The results will help inform our future work and priorities. As a thank you for taking the time to complete the survey we’re offering a $25 virtual Visa gift card or donation to the charity of your choice.Ā Ā
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š§° Tools to Interrupt Criminalization
As local elected leaders continue to stand with and fight for the protection of their immigrant communities, we want to ensure that you have the resources you need. Use LPās updated guidesāProtecting Immigrant Rights Under a Hostile Federal Administration and Letās Talk Real Safetyāto align around a strong, consistent narrative. New content includes Best Practices for messaging on immigration and guidance on Responding to a Raid in your Community; and Addressing Public Suffering and Ending Harm and Surveillance, emphasizing the urgent need to move away from carceral solutions and toward real investments that address the root causes of harm.
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š£ What the Billionaire Tax Scam Means For Our Communities
The Trump Administration and its Congressional allies just took away life-saving healthcare and food assistance from millions of Americans. All to give themselves – and their billionaire donors – massive tax cuts. In this dire moment, local leaders will be the first line of defense to support our communities against a hostile federal government. Learn more about this billionaire tax scam, its impacts, and check out our messaging toolkit to find out how you can fight back.
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šHow Local Leaders Can Protect Communities from AI and the Tech Oligarchy
This past May, OpenAI and Microsoft lobbyists called for a shutdown on AI regulation. And recently, Congress passed a tax bill with a provision that would restrict states from regulating AI for 10 years (though it faces a steep challenge in the Senate). Our recently released report details how local elected officials and local communities should approach governance as the tech oligarchyās influence grows in the era of AI. You can also rewatch the webinar we held this past May with AI Now Institute, New York City Councilmember Jennifer GutiĆ©rrez, and report author, former San Francisco Supervisor Hillary Ronen where we discussed this topic and more.
Meet Norristown School Board Director Chris Jaramillo!Ā
Chris Jaramillo is Co-Chair of Local Progressā Nuestro Caucus, which is open to both current and former LP members who identify as part of the Latine community. At this yearās national convening, he was a facilitator on the panel discussion āUsing the Power of Your Office to Fight Deportationsā.Ā
He has served on the Norristown School Board since 2021. Being the first Latino on the Board brought many challenges which Chris focused on overcoming diligently. In September of 2024, he and the Norristown School Board passed a āWelcoming School Ordinanceā, protecting students from ICE activity within school property.Ā
Chris has also worked on state policy with a focus on affordable housing, education, workforce development, and state budget with the Maryland General Assembly, having served in the Office of the Maryland State Senate President. His most notable work was supporting the state in overcoming a $3 billion dollar budget deficit during the 2025 Legislative Session by implementing provisions in support of the “Fair Share Tax”.
He was an active member of the Norristown Branch of the N.A.A.C.P., joining in April of 2017 and growing the organization’s membership over 110% during his time as an Executive Committee Member. His passion for the education and empowerment of individuals paired with his love for uplifting the diverse community in which he currently lives led him to seek out the organization for righteous causes.Ā
Chris was also a board member of the Hispanic Heritage Association, which seeks to bring community awareness of Latine Culture. He worked on developing organizational policies and a Latine curriculum which can be utilized by educators.
š” Stay Connected to our Caucuses!Ā
Join us for the November All Caucus Meeting – Wednesday, November 12th! We will bring together the general membership of each caucus to build community and share space across identities. This gathering will be an opportunity to learn from one another, deepen cross-caucus relationships, and strengthen our individual caucuses through the sharing of our collective brilliance. šĀ Register Here.
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āāš©āš» Steering CommitteeĀ
The LP School Board work is shaped by a Steering Committee made up of school board members from across the country. This group meets on zoom for about an hour every month (typically Friday afternoons) and helps set the agenda for our school board work across the network. We have a strong group but need help from more school board members across the network to add capacity to this important body! Are you interested in learning more? Fill out the form here.
