Pushback Network is a national collaboration of indigenous, grassroots organizations and networks committed to building bottom-up, state-based alliances that change both the composition and levels of participation of the electorate.
We emphasize strategies to empower underrepresented constituencies: people of color, poor and working class communities, and young people.
Pushback Network envisions an authentic participatory democracy through which true social justice can be achieved. We seek a democracy that creates opportunities for ordinary people to make real contributions to the political decisions that affect their lives.
“I have the right to fight for my rights and I won’t let anyone stop me.” ~Sondra Montez
While in New Mexico for The Project, Pushback Network’s week-long, two-state, multi-media electoral project, PBN Communications Coordinator Brigid Flaherty worked in the field helping SWOP Field Organizer Sondra Martinez get out the vote.
While together, Brigid had a chance to talk to Sondra about what prompted her to get involved with the election and her community. Sondra’s husband, Salvador, is a new citizen who was able to cast his first vote this year.
How did you become involved with SWOP?
I moved to this community in 1997. I started working with SWOP because there were no basic services: no hot water, no roads. I saw a meeting going on where SWOP was giving a presentation. I approached SWOP at the meeting and asked if they could help us get basic services. Read More »
While in New Mexico for The Project, Pushback Network’s week-long, two-state, multi-media electoral project, PBN Communications Coordinator Brigid Flaherty interviewed SWOP Field Organizer Joaquin Lujan, on what prompted him to get involved with the election and community.
Why are you involved with the GOTV program at SWOP?
Being a community organizer for most of my life, I never thought we could get the intense feedback from the community like we are now. We’ve gotta push these elections in Albuquerque and around the state because we’re getting somewhere. When I was with the Chicano Movement in the late 60’s and 70’s the racism was really intense. We were dealing with issues where people of color were having nothing done for them. We had no programs set up for Chicanos, Native Americans, African Americans. A lot of the organizing we did was on the basic needs. Well here I am now at 56. And where does the energy of a person my age go? I have found that energy through the youth at SWOP. Because of them I said OK, let me try to be apart of these changes. Read More »
“We really owned what happened on November 4th. It was all about us, the big us. This election wasn’t about Barack Obama or John McCain. It was the American people and their hunger for change.” ~Robby Rodriguez, Executive Director, South West Organizing Project.
It’s now Friday, November 7th. I returned from New Mexico two days ago and am still reflecting upon the implications of the historical election results. How do I summarize what I felt, tasted, and experienced during my stay in Albuquerque? What words can adequately capture the great Get Out the Vote work accomplished by the teams of SAGE Council and Southwest Organizing Project (SWOP)? Perhaps the best way to begin is to let the results speak for themselves. Read More »
While in New Mexico for 
