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Dare to reimagine is a framework for BUILDING A JUST AND EQUITABLE FUTURE

 

Localities are the epicenter of progressive change in this country. 

 

Dare to Reimagine: A Vision for Transformative Change is a framework for building a just and equitable future from the ground up—created collectively by more than 300 local elected officials across the Local Progress network, movement allies, and community partners. Recognizing that our cities and municipalities are the epicenter of progressive evolution, this framework outlines the transformative change we aspire to and showcases the work of Local Progress members to move us towards this north star.

Why this matters. The Dare to Reimagine framework provides shared unity around our work as a network, now and in the future, and a shared vision for our communities and country that departs from the past, differs from the present, and centers the importance of co-governance and inclusion in achieving this north star vision. It also provides an opportunity for local elected officials to point to both concrete and aspirational goals that represent our shared values and why and how we do this work. Read more about the significance of the Dare to Reimagine agenda at this moment → 

The framework is organized by five key pillars that reflect an integrated approach that is both big and national in scope while creating access for localities. The pillars focus on how we can:

Local elected officials across the country have embraced the agenda, committing to the collective effort in moving this work forward in partnership with community leaders, allied partners, and at all levels of government. In doing this work, we will create infrastructure for collaborative governance that builds power in our communities. See all the local elected officials who have committed to the Dare to Reimagine agenda → 

The agenda is not a static framework. It will continue to grow as the work does. Over the coming months, we will continue to add inspiring policy wins and examples of powerful organizing. 

THE PROCESS

In the summer of 2020, at our Dare to Reimagine: Virtual Convening, we kicked-off the process to build our agenda by highlighting compelling case studies where members and labor, policy, and community partners are pushing for a bolder, more equitable, and just future. 

Over the subsequent months, we continued collecting case studies on policy wins and organizing examples from LP members and partners that demonstrate progress towards this aspirational vision.

 

This work was anchored by the Reimagine advisory group -- 15 LP member leaders who co-chaired five working groups, one for each of the framework's pillars. The advisory group is representative of the diversity of the Local Progress network and each co-chair is a local elected official with demonstrated commitment to equity, access, and justice. Their expertise and guidance were crucial in grounding and shaping the Reimagine framework. 

The Reimagine advisory group reviewed case studies and helped identify areas for growth. In the early stages of the process, the co-chairs flagged that it was critical that each case study include more information regarding the timeline, the political environment, and stakeholders in order to ensure that they would be as helpful as possible for other elected officials and organizing efforts across the country. After another round of feedback with members and with our labor, policy, and community partners, members across the Local Progress network reviewed and affirmed the framework.  

Today, more than 200 local elected officials have committed to this vision for our future. See more about what that commitment means →

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THINGS

In creating this agenda, we asked ourselves key questions about equity and justice. For each of the five pillars, our framework seeks to answer and pushes us to continue asking them.

 

OUR GUIDING Questions

  • What would it look like for our budgets to truly reflect the people's will?

  • What if our notion of safety prioritized what we need to thrive instead of punitive measures and surveillance?

  • What would our neighborhoods look like if they started from a place of racial equity and safe, affordable housing for all?

  • How would our local economies change if we put people over profits?

  • What if the rules of our democracy empowered the communities too long excluded from power, instead of the connected and the wealthy?

“When incremental wins happen in dozen and hundreds of cities, counties, and districts at the same time. the impact is greater than it is in any one place alone.”