The Roosevelt Institution
The Roosevelt Institution at Yale College seeks to engage in the national dialogue on the future of the progressive movement by articulating the principles of progressive politics, finding progressive solutions to the problems facing our nation today, and presenting these in a compelling way to the American public.
College students are the future leaders of America, and even at the moment hold a vast untapped reservoir of knowledge and creative ideas. We are ready to enter the national political landscape as a powerful force, for we realize the gravity of the situation we face today. Our future is in the hands of a frighteningly right-wing segment of society. Unless we stand up now and begin to demand the kind of America we want, it may slip too far. It is our generation's task to form a cohesive vision of a more progressive America, and to commit ourselves to turning that vision into a reality.
Here at Yale, the Roosevelt Institution is taking on this task in three parts. The first is self education. As students, we recognize the value of a good education, and a well-educated population of activists is one of the most valuable resources the progressive movement can create. By starting to think now about the values that connect the issues we care about, we are laying the intellectual foundation for a generation of informed, articulate progressive advocates. By speaking and writing on these issues, we are honing our persuasive power.
Similar to education, our second goal is relevant and unique research. In order to effectively propose solutions for the problems America faces today, we must fully understand their nature. The university gives us access to a vast array of resources to assist in this effort. Students, both undergraduate and graduate, are doing original research here every day. The Institute seeks to collect these resources, pooling the efforts of interested students. With our vision in mind and the facts in hand, we can come up with unique proposals for a more progressive America.
It is these proposals that are the ultimate goal, for they will shape the America we want. Therefor our third goal is to give our fellows the tools they need to understand and take part in the political process. The Institution serves to plug students into the national political framework, giving them a voice to call for reform. We will help our fellows enter the public debate and gain access to policy makers on behalf of the causes that are vital to ensuring that our future will be a progressive one.