We’re closing out 2025 strong, and New York members have been busy building and wielding power, deepening relationships, and leading boldly. From strengthening our organizing infrastructure to helping local officials navigate national uncertainty, this fall has been full of collaboration, growth, and impact. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve accomplished together and what’s ahead as we step into 2026.
🍎 NYC Progressive Governance Lab: Launch and Strengthening NYC’s Local Response
Since its 2021 launch, the NYC Progressive Governance Lab (PGL) has strengthened local leadership and collaborative governance. In September, ten NYC Council Members participated in a Progressive Governance Academy focused on leadership, collaboration, and navigating internal Council dynamics, with trainers Marci Nicholson and Pious Ali and insights from returning members Tiffany Cabán, Sandy Nurse, and Jennifer Gutiérrez.
The October session addressed timely challenges, including potential federal deployments and national political shifts. Ten local officials, staff, and partners—including Make the Road NY and the Center for Working Families—explored strategies to protect communities, coordinate neighborhood networks, and provide multilingual Know Your Rights outreach. Participants committed to supporting the Hands Off NYC campaign, engaging in November 15 community actions, and reconvening in December to align legislative and budget priorities for the new term.
❤️ LPNY Organizing Committee Retreat
On September 5-7, the LPNY Organizing Committee convened in Syracuse, officially welcoming Reed Cleland from Cortland County and our newest OC member. Members Michele Hirsch, Alex Marion, Reed Cleland , Jennifer Mecozzi, Sam Fein, Veronica Pilar aligned on priorities for 2026. We strategized around budget challenges, and reaffirmed commitments to centering community voices. A communications training led by Michael Whitesides strengthened messaging and narrative skills. The committee ended the retreat with clear next steps and renewed energy for the year ahead.
🤝 SOMOS Puerto Rico Site Visit + NY Member Reception
From November 6-9, Local Progress New York members from across the state attended the annual SOMOS Conference. During the conference in Puerto Rico, Local Progress co-hosted a site visit in Río Piedras focused on equitable economic development, housing justice, and community-led revitalization. LP board member Tiffany Cabán anchored the visit, helping members engage directly with local leaders working to preserve affordability and strengthen cultural resilience. We also hosted a NY delegation reception celebrating Dorcey Applyrs as the first Black woman mayor in Albany, honoring her leadership and inspiring the network. Members discussed state-level priorities, shared challenges, and identified opportunities for cross-jurisdiction collaboration.
For Local Progress New York, SOMOS is a space for members and partners across the state to come together, strengthen community, and support each other in this moment and for the future of our state continuing the fight against authoritarianism.
📚 NYC PGL 2026 Sessions
The NYC Progressive Governance Lab will continue convening this December through March 2026, providing focused sessions for NYC Council members. Topics will include Housing, Public Safety and Community, and Staff Training to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and progressive governance across the Council. These sessions will build on last year’s momentum, offering practical tools, peer learning, and strategies for citywide impact.
🏛️ 2026 Toolkit & State Priorities: Stay Tuned!
Our Local Progress New York members and partners have outlined key policies to champion during the 2026 legislative session. With your support and advocacy, we can turn these collective goals into legislative reality.
The 2026 Toolkit is on its way, and it will include:
- Details on priority legislation
- Resources to dive deeper into each policy
- Digital action items to help you engage your networks and communities
Keep an eye out! We’ll be sharing it soon, and we’ll need your help to make a real impact.
💡 Join the LPNY Organizing Committee
Sign up for the LPNY Organizing Committee to help shape priorities, plan events, and advance policy campaigns. Explore resources, connect with peers across the network, and invite colleagues to join to strengthen Local Progress New York.
➡️ From Campaigns to Governance: A Partner’s Guide to Building Our Base Together
Since January, Local Progress has welcomed more than 400 new members, and with elections over, we need your support to ensure new and returning officials know there is a place for them! You can help by identifying local elected officials to join the Local Progress network — leaders who are centering racial and economic justice in their local work, building with and collaborating with movement and labor partners, and ready to govern with vision and integrity in the face of opposition. Check out our partner’s guide.
⚖️ Help Map Preemption Threats: Nationwide Survey for Local Attorneys
State preemption attacks are increasing and disproportionately harming cities and counties. Our partners at the Local Solutions Support Center are conducting a national survey of city and county attorneys to better understand these challenges and to develop strategies for coordinated pushback. Please share this survey with your city or county attorney.
☕ Take Action Today, stand with Starbucks Workers United!
Starbucks workers have been organizing for years, with the Starbucks Workers United movement kicking off in 2021 in Buffalo, NY, where they won their first successful unionization campaign. Across the country, Starbucks baristas are fighting for a fair first contract that increases take-home pay, improves hours and scheduling, and resolves labor violations. We are standing strong with these workers who are bravely striking and calling on Starbucks to stop their union-busting activities and come back to the table. Here’s how you can help:
- Sign our Solidarity Letter calling for Starbucks to end union busting and settle a fair union contract.
- Share the “No Contract, No Coffee” pledge to not buy Starbucks while baristas are on ULP strike.
- Stand with baristas on the picket line! Local actions will be continually added to this map.
- Repost us across your social media platforms today to tell your audience, don’t cross the picket line! Use the hashtag #NoContractNoCoffee and repost from the Starbucks Workers United feed.
💰 Join Working Families Power’s Affordability Briefing
Everyone is talking about “affordability” now, but what are the real populist solutions that will make life affordable for working-class people? What are the biggest economic concerns of working families, and who do they think is responsible for their struggles?
This briefing, put on by our friends at Working Families Power, is geared towards elected officials and candidates for office. It will cover the results of our recent working-class polling, which focused on current events, populist economic policy solutions, and narrative frameworks for describing the current economic situation in the United States. They’ll share effective messages for reaching working-class voters in language they relate to and about issues they care about. The briefing is on December 14 at 4:00 PM ET.
Reed Cleland, a member of the Local Progress NY Organizing Committee and a Cortland County Legislator, is a lifelong Upstater with roots in the Village of Homer since 2005. His introduction to public service began in high school when the Homer American Legion Post 465 nominated him as a delegate to New York Boys’ State in 2017. As a senior, he gained early hands-on experience in local government through an internship with Clerk of the Legislature Eric Mulvihill and by working in the office of Mayor of Cortland Brian Tobin. After graduating from Homer Central Schools in 2018, Reed earned his Bachelor of Arts from Colgate University, graduating summa cum laude with Honors Distinction.
He currently serves as Co-Chair of the Cortland County Youth Board, works as an academic tutor for CNY Tutoring, and volunteers with the Cortland County Democratic Committee and the Cortland County League of Women Voters. In his spare time, Reed enjoys performing with the Center Players and taking long walks around the village with Gia and Phoebe.
We are excited to share that our 2026 National Convening will be in Baltimore, MD on July 9-11! Local Progress’s annual National Convening is a space to exchange ideas, seek inspiration, and strategize together. It’s the place to feel seen in our struggles and affirmed in our resolve and resilience, and, most importantly, to find support and share joy – especially in the darkest moments. More details and registration information will be coming in the new year, but for now we are excited to share the dates so you can plan ahead.