NDN Blog

Please remember to join us TODAY at Noon ET for the next in our series of exciting new spreecasts: a presentation about the Millennial Generation featuring new work from critically acclaimed authors and NDN Fellows Mike Hais and Morley Winograd.

This Spreecast is drawn from the arguments in their new and compelling book, Millennial Momentum, which takes an in-depth look at this consequential generation, the largest in our history, and where it is headed.

Topics will include Millennials' support of President Obama, Millennials' turnout in Iowa and New Hampshire, and how registration rates should shape both parties' organization efforts.  Be sure to check out Mike and Morley's latest column on the Republican primary and this great piece about Millennials and Obama.

If you wish to participate in the event please do so by going to the NDN/NPI Channel at Noon ET TODAY the webcasting platform Spreecast. On the Spreecast platform you can watch the conversation in real time over the web, chat about the discussion, ask written questions or even join the moderated conversation via video if you have a webcam.

All you have to do is click on our our Spreecast channel participate in the conversation. While it is not necessary to RSVP, we welcome you doing so on our spreecast page.

Yesterday Simon appeared on Fox to discuss the super committee.  Take a look!

A new Univision News - Latino Decisions Election poll of Hispanic registered voters and the general electorate finds Obama out-polling former Governor Romney, Governor Perry and Herman Cain by 2-to-1 margins.

This could be in large part because the Republican hopefuls are largely unknown. Nearly half of all Hispanic voters felt they were not sufficiently familiar to offer an opinion of Romney, 37 percent could offer no view on Perry and 53 percent for Cain.

The poll offered few surprises. The economy, immigration and education are top issues facing the Latino community. Sixty-five percent of respondents cited the economy as the most important issue in determining who to vote for in an election, compared to 23 percent who said immigration, and 16 percent who said education.

Obama and the Democratic Party will have trouble reviving voter enthusiasm levels to where they were in 2008; 53 percent of Hispanic registered voters indicated that they are less enthusiastic about President Obama now than they were in 2008. Republican hopefuls, in addition to being unknown, will potentially be downgraded for their anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Read more details of the poll here.  

Our development team is expanding!  We are looking for someone to come on board from now until February who can help us as we grow our membership pool.  Please pass this on to anyone who might be interested!

NDN/NPI Development Assistant (Temporary)

The Development Assistant will report to the Vice President of Membership & Development and work as part of the development and membership team  to conduct research and maintain data input systems.   The successful applicant will have a strong attention to detail and an ability to expedite projects.  

Specific duties/responsibilities will include: maintaining database and developing systems for recording and tracking new and existing member cultivation;riting, editing, and producing membership requests, solicitation letters and acknowledgements; conducting prospect research to expand support for the organization; Other tasks and responsibilities as assigned. Candidates will also be required to start work on Monday, November 14th.

Requirements include:fluency in the NGP database; superior organizational skills and attention to detail college degree preferred; high level of professionalism.

This is a three-month, temporary position, running from Nov 14th to mid February.  Please address resume, references and a writing sample, as well as any questions, to Seth Beer at sbeer@ndn.org. Please use subject line: Development Assistant. The deadline to apply is Monday, November 7th, 2011.

Our Fellows, and co-authors of the new book, Millennial Momentum, have a new op-ed out in The Christian Science Monitor that examines how OWS mirros the Millennial generation.  Take a look:

In our newest book, "Millennial Momentum: How a New Generation is Remaking America," we describe why the leadership of all the nation's institutions will be challenged during this decade by the emerging Millennial Generation, born 1982-2003. These young people believe in individuals taking action as a group at the local level to bring about a more "accessible, equitable, community-driven" world. That closely describes the "Occupy" protests.

Shortly after our book was published, these protests sprung up seemingly spontaneously in more than 1,400 cities across the country, leading one commentator to suggest we should be given "the Nobel Prize for Predictions."

We'll leave that for others to chew on, especially because we are not yet certain that these protests are Millennial enough. If they were, Occupy would have a greater chance of success as a movement. But Millennials clearly sympathize with the fundamental message of Occupy. Beset by more than $1 trillion in college loan debt and high unemployment, they believe the system isn't working for them.

Read the full piece here.

This week NDN was proud to host the Honorable Samuel Lewis Navarro, Former First Vice President and Foreign Prime Minister of Panama.  Mr. Lewis spoke extensively about the relationship between the United States and Panama, and praised the recently passed Panama Free Trade Agreement.  On behalf of the NDN Team and the Latin America Policy Initiative, we thank Mr. Lewis for his time and his insights.

After a year and a half at NDN, I've taken on many Simon-isms.  When I'm not "raising my game," I'm talking about the "intermestic relationship between the US and Mexico ." But the Simon-ism I find most persuasive is the idea of a "progressive ecosystem" where we each have an important role to play.  As members of congress work to address our short-term crises, NDN is offering up ideas that help congress do their job right now, while also imagining and advocating ideas for the future.  That's our role in the ecosystem.  

At a time when conservative power has made making progress on the nation's very real challenges so difficult, NDN's work is more important than ever.  Your support makes our work possible.  As we close out 2011 and gear up for 2012, please consider committing to NDN today.

As a think tank, we're able to think about the next big thing on the horizon, the ideas and policies that will shape a 21st Century America.   We face tremendous challenges, but with those challenges come incredible opportunity: the possibility of re-imagining everything from our place in an increasingly global and competitive market, to the way we consume and distribute electricity. Our staff and team of fellows are working non-stop to produce ideas worthy of our nation and connect those policies with the people who can make them a reality.  

At a time when Americans are desperate for leadership, we are proud to be part of the solution. And we're proud to call you a member of our team. Please pledge today.

With your support, we'll make sure that when our leaders head into 2012, 2013 and beyond they are armed with bold solutions and forward- looking ideas. That's what your support allows us to do.