The Center for Popular Democracy(CPD) is an American
advocacy group that promotes
progressive politics.[3][4][5] CPD is a federation of groups that includes some of the old chapters of
ACORN.[6] The group's stated goal is to "envision and win an innovative pro-worker, pro-immigrant, racial and economic justice agenda."[7] The organization is allied with teachers' unions and has published studies criticizing
charter schools.[8][9]
CPD has run a years-long campaign against
private prisons, and prison companies have warned investors that activist groups are a threat to their future profitability.[13] This notice to investors came after lenders like
JP Morgan Chase bowed to pressure from CPD and other groups and agreed to stop doing business with prison companies.[14]
Local Progress
Local Progress is a project of CPD, and works to organize grassroots groups on the outside and progressive politicians on the inside to advance an inside/outside strategy for change. It was founded in 2012 to connect progressive leaders in different cities so they can learn from each other's experiences, share policy ideas and model legislation.[15] It also regularly brings local officials together so they can learn from each other in person and share ideas.[16][17] Local Progress board members include
Brad Lander,
Helen Gym,
Gregorio Casar,
Phillipe Cunningham,
Tefere Gebre,
Lorena González, and other local officials and national progressive leaders.[18]