Blog

Last week Kelly Ward, Director of America Forward, highlighted common ground between the McCain and Obama campaigns on the Public Innovators’ blog.

With less than 50 days until Election Day, the presidential candidates are working hard to point out their differences. By the tenor of this election, you’d never know there are issues on which the candidates actually agree! But there are, and policies that support the work of social entrepreneurs are among them.

There is definitely something brewing in this country when Al Sharpton gets a standing ovation at the Republican convention. But it happened – we saw it! And it gets better – this very special event was sponsored by Newt Gingrich’s organization American Solutions for Winning the Future. Yep, you read that right—Al Sharpton got a standing ovation at an event sponsored by Newt Gingrich. And what’s more? It was an Education event, with people from both parties agreeing on the same principles for education reform. Incredible!

As the Republicans get ready to kick off their convention, the uncertainty about Hurricane Gustav is like a cloud looming over the Twin Cities. People are expressing concern for the safety of the folks in the Gulf Coast, and they’re wondering out loud whether the day’s events should go on. While it has a much different feel than the celebratory atmosphere of the Democratic convention’s kick off, the profound feeling of commitment to service and concern for our fellow citizens is clear. America Forward and some of our coalition organizations, including Be The Change Inc. and Points of Light Institute, have been working with the RNC on the service events they have planned throughout the convention week. There’s a chance those service events may be ramped up to help with rapid response to the hurricane, if necessary. Although we hope that doesn’t have to happen, I have no doubt that all of the people in Minneapolis/St Paul—residents and delegates alike—would rally to Senator McCain’s call to service.

Amid all the pageantry, excitement and confetti of the Democratic National Convention, it’s easy to overlook the fact that, in addition to nominating the party’s candidates for President and Vice President, the purpose of the Convention is also to adopt the party’s platform. But as the pomp and circumstance has subsided in Denver, Democrats emerge with a complete party platform – and America Forward is proud to report that the platform highlights the work of social entrepreneurs and pledges support for their innovative, results-driven ideas!

Volunteers at the DNC Delegate Service Day

Michelle Obama meets with America Forward Organizations

The themes of America Forward are present throughout this convention! Starting on day one, many of the events and speakers have amplified the America Forward message—from innovative mayors Booker and Fenty discussing working with education entrepreneurs in their cities, to panel moderator Jonathan Alter talking about investing in the best solutions and scaling what works. Leading social entrepreneur Jon Schnur (CEO and Co-Founder of New Leaders for New Schools) served on a convention panel about the need for new solutions to persistent problems. America Forward member organization City Year and social entrepreneur Alan Khazei were in the video tribute to Senator Ted Kennedy, which highlighted the Senator's commitment to service. And Michelle Obama's inspirational video tribute and speech highlighted the impact America Forward organization Public Allies had on her personal life. It's so exciting to see the traction around our messages and ideas!

Senator Obama has once again included the America Forward policy ideas in one of his national speeches! Yesterday he gave a speech in Colorado Springs about citizen service and included the America Forward policy ideas of a Social Investment Fund Network and Social Entrepreneurship Agency in the speech. Click here to read a Washington Post article on the speech. Our ideas are also on his website, under the "Service" Issue tab and categorized as "Investing in the Nonprofit Sector."