FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, 12 November 2014
CONTACT:
Brett Abrams : 516-841-1105 : brett@fitzgibbonmedia.com
Eddie Kurtz Named Courage Campaign’s New Executive Director
CALIFORNIA — Courage Campaign, California’s largest online progressive organization made up of more than 900,000 members, announced today that Eddie Kurtz, currently leading the group’s online operations as Political Director, will be taking over as Executive Director of the organization.
“I could not be more excited and humbled to have the opportunity to lead our more than 900,000 members in the fight for a more progressive California and country,” said Eddie Kurtz, new Executive Director of the California-based Courage Campaign. “Now more than ever — with unprecedented gridlock in Washington — Californians have a unique opportunity to model progressive solutions for the country. As Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis once said, the states can be laboratories of democracy, and California’s laboratory is proving that progressive solutions should guide the nation forward.
“From progressive tax policy to smart gun legislation, higher minimum wages, paid sick leave, drivers licenses for aspiring citizens, and statewide carbon reductions, California is a role model for other states. If we can achieve these successes in the largest, most diverse state in the nation, others states can too.
“But there is much work to be done. Despite the tremendous economic growth California has experienced, the benefits are being felt by too few. Our poverty ranking is highest in the nation, and our leaders need to prioritize an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. Courage Campaign looks forward to holding our leaders accountable to that vision.”
“Eddie Kurtz is an experienced progressive activist, with a strong record of success and leadership in California and Washington, DC. He embodies the important political and moral convictions that have made Courage Campaign the backbone of California’s progressive movement, and I look forward to collaborating with him in the years ahead,” said Dr. Paul Song, Executive Chairman, of Courage Campaign.
Kurtz has been involved in progressive politics in both California and nationally for years. In 2012, Kurtz managed Courage Campaign’s effort to pass the California Homeowner Bill of Rights, and in 2013, he led Courage’s fight for the Lifesaving Intelligent Firearms Enforcement (LIFE) Act. Kurtz also directed online operations for the Millionaires Tax of 2012 ballot initiative, the precursor to the historic Proposition 30.
Prior to his time at Courage, Eddie served as Communications Associate at Brave New Films and worked to elect Congressman Jerry McNerney and President Obama. Originally from Kansas City, Eddie is a proud graduate of the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, as well as Washington University in St. Louis and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
The announcement comes as Sarah Callahan, Courage Campaign’s Chief Operating Officer, joins the California Federation of Teachers. Callahan will be joining Courage Campaign’s Board of Directors and will remain closely involved with the organization.
For more on the Courage Campaign, please visit: http://www.couragecampaign.org/
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CourageCampaign.org fights for a more progressive California and country. We are an online community powered by more than 900,000 members.