From Hiatus to Hope

The challenge isn't that we're alone – it's that we are disconnected. It's time we "connect the dots."

Reconnecting

Last night, the Progressive Idaho hangout channel came roaring back to life after two years of hiatus. We already had a meeting planned for tomorrow (and that's still happening!), but a couple of us made a last-minute plan to host an informal distraction from the President's address to Congress. We threw out an event announcement with only a few hours notice and knew many people would be watching the address—honestly, my expectations weren't high.

But as we knocked the dust off the hangout channel, it filled with several friendly voices, some I knew, some I didn't. All seemed happy to be there as we shared frustrations and ideas and, most importantly, reminded each other that we can be a force in this state—regardless of what the election maps suggest.

What struck me most was how everyone seemed hungry for exactly what we're trying to create—opportunities for left-leaning Idahoans to connect, support each other, and remember we're not as isolated as the political majority wants us to feel. There's power in these connections, in knowing we're not alone in our values or our struggles.

Those two hours flew by, and I left humbled, energized, and hopeful. Humbled to hear about some of the positive impacts Progressive Idaho has already had on people's lives. Energized by the connections made and the new friendships that were formed. Hopeful, because I see a glimpse of what Progressive Idaho can be, something special – meeting a real need that exists throughout our state. More than anything, listening to everyone share their stories, thoughts, and concerns solidified our mission. I believe we can "connect the dots" across our state and transform our isolated blue dots into a powerful network.

If this mission speaks to you, we'd love to have your help: Connect with us and don't forget to tell a friend about Progressive Idaho.

Virtual Meetups

Our next virtual meetup is tomorrow night, drop by if you can. If you're new to Discord, we suggest our getting started guide.

We plan to schedule these hangouts every week or two, with variations on dates and times to accommodate different schedules. Some will have a set agenda for focused discussions, while others will be casual where we can talk about whatever's on our minds. Check the Discord announcements channel or our signal group for information on those hangouts.

Behind the scenes, our mod team is discussing more structured live events including:

• Guest speaker sessions
• Panel discussions and Q&A sessions
• Community-focused conversations to share resources and strategies

I have solid ideas for at least two of these structured events and hope to make them happen soon. For these more formal gatherings, we'll schedule them further out and promote them across our online presence (including this newsletter) to ensure everyone has a chance to participate.

Connection Opportunities

Want to know all the ways you can connect with or follow Progressive Idaho? Want an easy link to send to friends to help them find all of our online spaces? There's a new page intended for that, the URL is: progressiveidaho.com/connect/ There you'll find a signup button for this newsletter, links to our social media, and invite links to our discord and signal groups.

Promote your group events

If you're part of a group that is organizing protests, support groups, marches, mutual aid, or other events and political action in support of left-leaning Idaho, we'd love to hear about your group and its events. Further, we'd love to raise awareness through the Idaho Resistance Alert Group, our social media, and online spaces. We believe not just in connecting the dots, but in connecting and promoting other grassroots organizations across the state. Please contact us and tell us about your group.