Our vision:

1. We envision our nation's political leadership reflecting the full diversity of everyone living in the United States - We believe that in order to advance equality and social justice, our nation's elected officials, political professionals, advocates, policy leaders, and appointees must be representative of the full diversity found in our communities.


2. We envision progressive leaders and progressive values as the driving forces for our nation's politics - We believe that progressive power comes from groups of leaders working collaboratively with each other and their constituents. We believe that networks of values-driven, inspiring and effective progressive leaders are the future of our movement's ability to advance progressive policies and achieve progressive change.


3. We envision lasting policy change that advances equality and social justice - We believe that a crucial measure of progressives' success will be our ability to translate our values into specific policies that promote a free and democratic society where all individuals share in our nation's prosperity and participate equally at all levels of government.

Our Values

The Center for Progressive Leadership is dedicated to building a stronger and more representative democracy by giving a diverse community of individuals the resources and training necessary to become political leaders. We seek out and support leaders who are willing to take risks, stand by their convictions, speak truth to power, and work consistently and effectively for social justice.

At CPL, we believe that government should reflect the full diversity of our country, advance equal opportunity, and ensure fair and equitable treatment for all. This belief leads to several core values for our organization:

Freedom and Equality: All people living in the United States must have the opportunity to fully participate in our nation's economic, social, and political life. Our government must uphold individual rights to privacy so that individuals have the freedom to make choices regarding their quality of life. Civil liberties and a fair and open judicial system are essential to a strong democracy.

Investment in the Future: For the benefit of future generations, we must plan and invest for the long term. All people living in the United States must have access to high-quality education and health care. The United States must find innovative ways to conserve our natural environment. Responsible fiscal policies implemented today ensure that future generations will not be overburdened.

A Moral Economy: All people living in the United States must have the opportunity to participate in our nation's economic prosperity. People who contribute to our economy should be able to support their families. Ethical business and labor practices promote an equality of opportunity and increase economic stability.

Peace and Security: In order to protect the security of all people living in the United States, we must join with other nations and international organizations to promote peace. The government must invest in protecting our national infrastructure. People living in the United States should be able to live free from violence in their communities and free from environmental hazards at home and at work.

Global Cooperation: Internationally, the United States must support security, peace, and development through trade, aid, negotiation, and political engagement. The United States must act as a good global citizen and should promote on a global scale the same values it aspires to domestically.

CPL encourages vigorous debate among our leaders and supporters about the future direction of progressive leadership. We believe progressive leadership is ultimately about remaining true to one's core values while seeking innovative ways to address sociall problems.

**The CPL values statement draws heavily from the thought-provoking work of George Lakoff at the Rockridge Institute.