{{Short description|American youth activism organization}} {{Infobox organization | name = Generation Progress | native_name = | image = Generation_Progress_logo.gif | image_size = | map_alt = | map_caption = | map2 = | map2_size = | map2_alt = | map2_caption = | abbreviation = | predecessor = | merged_into = | formation = 2005 | founder = | dissolved = 2022 | merger = | type = Non-profit, youth activism | tax_id = | registration_id = | status = | purpose = | headquarters = Washington, D.C. | location = | coordinates = | region_served = | services = | products = | methods = | fields = | membership = | num_members_year = | language = | owner = | secretary_general = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | leader_title3 = | leader_name3 = | leader_title4 = | leader_name4 = | board_of_directors = | key_people = | main_organ = | parent_organization = Center for American Progress | subsidiaries = | secessions = | affiliations = | budget = | budget_year = | revenue = | revenue_year = | disbursements = | expenses = | expenses_year = | endowment = | num_staff = | num_staff_year = | num_volunteers = | num_volunteers_year = | website = {{URL|http://genprogress.org}} | remarks = | former_name = Campus Progress | footnotes = }} '''Generation Progress''' was a youth-centered research and advocacy group that promotes progressive political and social policy through support for young people, students, and young activists in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://genprogress.org/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130814162838/http://genprogress.org/about/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 14, 2013|title = Our Mission}}</ref> Generation Progress was the youth engagement arm of the Center for American Progress.
Launched in 2005 as '''Campus Progress''', in 2013 the organization was renamed Generation Progress to reflect the group's work to reach beyond college campuses and involve older, working-class, and non-college-bound young people in progressive activism.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2013/07/center-for-american-progress-generation-progress-094225#ixzz2cc1ARDW6|title=CAP to unveil 'Generation Progress'|website=Politico }}</ref> Their main issue areas cover gun violence prevention, criminal justice reform, progressive economics, student debt, immigration, and climate change.
Generation Progress had a sister organization, Generation Progress Action, that engaged in political and electoral advocacy activities in elections.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://pushback.org/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080815045142/http://www.pushback.org/about/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 15, 2008|title=About Us - Pushback|work=Pushback|access-date=2018-03-01|language=en-US}}</ref>
==History== From the organization's founding in 2005 until 2012, Generation Progress was led by David Halperin,<ref>{{cite web|title=David Halperin|url=http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/node/125|website=Berkman Center for Internet & Society|publisher=Harvard University|accessdate=17 November 2014}}</ref> former White House speechwriter to President Bill Clinton. Halperin was succeeded by Anne Johnson, and then by Maggie Thompson, who formerly led the Higher Ed, Not Debt campaign.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genprogress.org/staffs_list/maggie-thompson/|title=Generation Progress Staff Bio - Maggie Thompson|last=|first=|date=|website=|access-date=|archive-date=2019-10-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191009023844/https://genprogress.org/staffs_list/maggie-thompson/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current executive director of Generation Progress is Brent J. Cohen.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://genprogress.org/staffs_list/brent-j-cohen/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704062846/https://genprogress.org/staffs_list/brent-j-cohen/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2019|title = Brent J. Cohen}}</ref> As of 2021, Edwith Theogene was the director of advocacy at Generation Progress.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Edwith Theogene|url=https://americanprogress.org/people/theogene-edwith/|access-date=2021-12-01|website=Center for American Progress|language=en}}</ref>{{failed verification|date=August 2024}}
== Activities ==
Generation Progress had programs and multiple networks across issue areas. The organization lobbied Congress and state governments, produced media content, and conducted trainings. Generation Progress worked with Senator Elizabeth Warren in an attempt to curb rising student debt through a proposal which would lower interest rates and increase taxes.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Stratford|first1=Michael|title=Progressive Push on Debt|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/03/07/progressive-groups-launch-new-campaign-tackle-student-debt-college-affordability|accessdate=17 November 2014|publisher=Inside Higher Ed|date=March 7, 2014}}</ref>
The organization held it first yearly national conference in Washington D.C. in July 2005. The event featured President Bill Clinton and Rep. John Lewis.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Faler|first1=Brian|title=Clinton and Other Democratic Leaders Urge Young Liberals to Get Involved|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/13/AR2005071302118.html|accessdate=17 November 2014|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 14, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Graham-Felsen|first1=Sam|title=Generation Next|url=http://www.thenation.com/article/generation-next|accessdate=17 November 2014|publisher=The Nation|date=July 19, 2005}}</ref> Subsequent national conferences featured Barack Obama, Tammy Baldwin, Samantha Power, Majora Carter, James A. Forbes, Nancy Pelosi, Russ Feingold, Keith Ellison, Tom Daschle, Ralph Nader, Seymour Hersh, and Fat Joe.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Powers|first1=Elia|title=Organizing the Campus Left|url=https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2006/07/13/activism|accessdate=17 November 2014|publisher=Inside Higher Ed|date=July 13, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Matthews|first1=Ashley|title=Pelosi Draws Cheers at Conference of Liberal College Students|url=http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/23825/|accessdate=17 November 2014|publisher=Kansas City Infozine|date=June 29, 2007}}</ref> The organization's events have been co-sponsored by Rock the Vote and the League of Women Voters.<ref name=tam>{{cite news|last1=Tam|first1=Ruth|title=Civic groups reach out to blue-collar millennials|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/civic-groups-reach-out-to-blue-collar-millennials/2013/07/17/3871a660-ee45-11e2-9008-61e94a7ea20d_story.html|accessdate=3 December 2015|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 17, 2013}}</ref>
==See also== *Generation Opportunity
== References == {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://genprogress.org Generation Progress] * [http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?strID=C00454900 Generation Progress on OpenSecrets.org]
Category:Political and economic think tanks in the United States Category:American political blogs Category:Center for American Progress Category:Progressive organizations in the United States Category:Student political organizations in the United States Category:American organizations established in 2005