The Political Triangle: Activists, Organizers, and Politicans

In January of this year, I had the opportunity to collaborate with Rob from Subterra Insights on a seminar about critical paradigm shifts we must embrace concerning school board elections and the increasing attacks on local government in Colorado. His recent blog post, "The Political Triangle: Activists, Organizers, and Politicians", does an excellent job of explaining these dynamics. Rob breaks down the essential roles that activists, organizers, and politicians play in shaping our political landscape. He highlights how these groups must work together to protect public education, promote accountability, and counter efforts to destabilize local governance.Here’s a quote:

“A successful campaign isn’t just about ads and fundraising—it’s about understanding the political ecosystem. Candidates and their teams must recognize the tensions between activists, organizers, and politicians, anticipate public perception challenges, and craft a seamless narrative that bridges these roles.”

One of my contributions to the day was introducing the Moral Foundations Framework by Jonathan Haidt and his associates. MFT helps increase self-awareness and understanding of others, an important part of effective messaging. Learn more about MFT by reading the Pro-Colorado Network's post on March 8 called "De-Escalate Culture War Conversations Using Moral Foundations Theory."

If you're interested in understanding how coordinated attacks are influencing Colorado politics—and what strategies can effectively push back—I highly recommend giving Rob's post a read. It's a valuable resource for anyone committed to defending strong, ethical leadership in our communities.