January 2022
GREETING THE NEW YEAR WITH PURPOSE AND RESOLVE
“And so we lift our gaze, not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”
– Amanda Gorman, 2021 Inaugural Poem, The Hill We Climb
Think back to a year ago. No, not the insurrection, but the day before. On January 5th, both Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their Georgia run-offs, turning the U.S. Senate the palest – but still lovely! – shade of blue. Honestly, to most of us, the likelihood of not just one but both of these men prevailing seemed preposterous. But we opened our checkbooks, rolled up our sleeves, and got to work anyway. Their victories felt miraculous.
But of course it wasn’t a miracle at all. It was the determination, hard work, and generosity of everyone – doubtful and hopeful alike – who stepped up. Led by primarily black grassroots organizers whose persistent movement building had just put the state in Biden’s column, legions of activists and volunteers knocked on doors, registered new voters, phone banked, wrote letters and postcards, texted, and donated hundreds of millions of dollars. Airlift donors alone contributed $174,000 to a special “Airlift to Georgia” run-off fund on top of the $1.3 million raised to support all our partner groups in 2020.
As a result, Democratic turnout, especially in counties with a large share of Black voters, smashed records. As Nse Ufot, head of the New Georgia Project said at the time, “The margins are so small that every action, including your vote, matters and will make a difference. Black voters got that message. Black voters recognized that we need to complete the task.”
Now we turn to the task of securing a better and more progressive future in 2022, “striving,” as Amanda Gorman reminds us, “to form our union with purpose.“
The hill we must climb in 2022 is indeed steep. Yet we’ve done it before and we’ll do it again. In the spirit of January 5, 2021, and of the poet, we greet the New Year with purpose and resolve.
AND GENEROSITY!
There’s a saying in my circle: If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Staying ready for us means having the people on the ground to keep voters engaged year round and our agenda moving forward. With donations down, our ability to stay ready is significantly impaired.
—Nse Ufot, New Georgia Project
Resolve to Help All Our Partner Groups Stay Ready!
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We are grateful for your generosity
JOIN US! "WINNING STRATEGIES FOR 2022"
Live from the Frontlines
“Winning Strategies for 2022”
Dan Pfeiffer headlines with grassroots organizing leaders Pablo Rodriguez of California & Eliza Booth of Pennsylvania sharing their perspectives on the challenges ahead in 2022.
January 18, Tuesday
5 pm PT/ 8 pm ET
WE ASKED THE AIRLIFT TEAM: "WHAT ARE YOUR HOPES AND/OR RESOLUTIONS FOR 2022?"
”Here's hoping for a Blue November free of any signs of a Covid pandemic.”
“I resolve to do something at least once a week to protect our democracy!”
“I hope that citizens continue to demand fair election districts. It works–Go Michigan!”
“I resolve to not become cynical or discouraged.”
“I’m looking forward to beaming with pride as our grassroots teams claim their place in the sun in 2022.”
“My resolution: To NEVER have Kevin McCarthy as Speaker of the House!”
“. . . Or Mitch McConnell as Senate Majority Leader ever again!”
Field Notes
All the partner groups Airlift funds excel at turning non-voters into voters through person-to-person engagement. But what exactly does this mean? Take a look as these organizers share some stories from 2020. With your help, they’ll be doing a lot more of it throughout 2022!