Your experience this fall could change the direction of your life - and your country.

PROGRAM SYNOPSIS

Swing Semester 2008 is the nation’s first political immersion program. We provide a bridge from interest to action for college students, recent graduates, and other young people who care about their country and want to be a part of American history. This fall, our participants will venture out to cities in “swing” states for up to 10 weeks of intensive progressive work. They will live with host families, work in field campaigns with various progressive organizations, and engage in critical thinking to better understand their country and themselves.

Swing Semester 2008 is an investment in the most important asset of the progressive movement – its people. In the short run, our participants will knock on hundreds of thousands of doors in swing states. Our greatest impact, however, will come from guiding young citizens and committed families through an experience that will challenge, deepen, and energize us all for a lifetime of civic engagement.

PROGRAM CITIES

Swing Semester 2008 is currently operating in the cities of Cincinnati, OH and Denver, CO.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

1) JOBS. Participants are young people, ages 18-26, who are working at least 30hrs/week at a progressive group or campaign. Participants may already have a position lined up or be in the field before the program starts. For those job-seeking, we provide individual counseling from a list of 15 or so employer options in each city along with Swing Board, our online job board with a searchable list of progressive organizations and campaigns.

As needed, staff will help participants prepare resumes and get turn-around quickly from and navigate other steps such as taking time off from school, requesting academic credit, and finding affordable health insurance. Our Survival Guide includes a political primer, canvasser advice column, and other tools to help participants prepare themselves for spending the fall working for progress.

2) HOSTS. We match participants with progressive swing city residents who provide housing for them through November 9th. They inform participants of local issues and connect us to community members and resources that forward our work this fall.

3) COMMUNITY. We create community among program participants and hosts through Swing Semester 2008 events as well as a city-specific calendar that lists concerts, trainings, and other happenings around town.

4) EDUCATION. We provide a number of ways for hosts, participants, and other community members to engage with new political and progressive ideas.

5) PROJECTS. We provide guidance and mini-grants (up to $300) for participants (and hosts) to create educational projects for swing state voters in their community. Projects may be anything from hosting a film screening to getting a busload of people to register voters at a rock concert.

6) REFLECTION. The Reflection Initiative (or RI) is a chronicle of the thoughts and experiences of participants and hosts. Throughout the program, City Captains will collect submissions (quotes, photos, poetry, emails) which will be compiled into a book and delivered to participants and hosts in December.

TIMELINE

PARTICIPANTS

Swing Semester participants are 18-26 years old, from various backgrounds and levels of organizing experience. Some will be taking off a semester from college to participate this fall. Participants are accepted after an application and interview process. Read about participant requirements HERE.

Swing Semester 2008 programs have a program fee, which participants either agree to pay themselves or raise from their own networks. We work hard to make the program available to everyone! We offer scholarships and the option of a payment plan.

HOSTS

Host families are residents of program cities who offer a room in their home to house a Swing Semester participant for the length of the program. Hosts are accepted after a brief application and home visit. Read about host requirements HERE.

CITY CAPTAINS