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Campaign Academy
The DFA Campaign Academy mission is to focus, network, and train grassroots activists in the skills and strategies to take back our country, manage successful campaigns or run for office themselves. With our 2 day weekend trainings, we’re building a grassroots infrastructure of skilled progressive activists in all 50 states.
Night School
DFA Night School is our on-line training program that allows anyone to learn the skills to win from their own home. Each session is an interactive conference call and web presentation where trainees participate and ask questions. Featuring expert trainers, topics range from Volunteer Recruitment to Framing a Message to Fundraising to Online Media.
Featured Trainers
Michael Cook is a veteran of more than 25 political campaigns at the local, state and federal level. During his tenure as Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Arkansas he helped revitalize and re-organize the state party. His work there earned him recognition by the National Journal's "Hotline" as one of Arkansas' Rising Stars in 2003, and the Arkansas Times proclaimed him the "Wizard of Voter Turnout" during the hotly contested 2004 campaign season.
Formerly a Senior Consultant to the Jon Tester for Senate and Montana Democratic Party, she was also the Director of Field Operations at Alliance for Justice from 2001 through 2006. She's trained thousands of activists and campaign employees while working on campaigns of all sizes, ranging from City Council to Presidential.
Carrie Giddins served as the communications director for the Iowa Democratic Party for the 2008 Iowa Caucuses, helping run the most successful and widely attended caucuses in history. A native of New York City, Giddins has worked in politics for over a decade. In February 2008, she was named the political operative to watch by Politico.
Campaign Academy Schedule
* Seattle, WA Feburary 23-24
* East Bay, CA March 1-2
* Tuscaloosa, AL March 8-9
* Dallas, TX March 15-16
* Norman, OK March 29-30
* San Diego, CA April 5-6
* Charleston, SC April 12-13
* West Long Branch, NJ April 26-27
* Rochester, NY May 3-4
* Cincinnati, OH May 10-11
* Orlando, FL May 17-18
* Pittsburgh, PA May 31-June 1
* Lansing, MI June 7-8
* Kansas City, MO June 14-15
* Albuquerque, NM June 21-22
* Miami, FL July 12-13
* Austin, TX July 17-20
* Milwaukee, WI July 26-27
* Burlington, VT- September 14
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