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Veteran Political Strategist Michael J. Wilson to Revitalize ADAFor Information Contact: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Washington, DC -- Americans for Democratic Action (ADA) announced today that veteran political strategist and labor organizer Michael J. Wilson, will replace Amy Isaacs as National Director of the celebrated liberal advocacy organization on August 1, 2009. “Michael has the leadership experience and political savvy needed to drive a strong, progressive policy agenda in Washington,” said Richard Parker, President of ADA’s board. “His unwavering commitment to the values of equality, democracy, and freedom made Michael the obvious choice to lead the ADA into the next chapter of its sixty year history. Michael brings bold and active leadership on key progressive issues and will help ADA blend old-fashioned, shoe-leather organizing with modern political strategies.” “We have an historic opportunity to use the momentum that elected President Obama and a progressive majority to Congress to expand the circle of opportunity for all,” said Michael J. Wilson. “The ADA must continue to be a leader in the fight to ensure that no person is denied the freedom and opportunity to pursue the American dream. The need for liberals to shine a light on economy-crippling unemployment and discrimination based on sexual orientation has never been more urgent.” Wilson currently serves as an International Vice President and Director of Legislative and Political Action for the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. He previously served in several senior positions in the United States Department of Labor, as a congressional staffer on Capitol Hill, and as an organizer and canvasser in Chicago. Since 1999, Wilson has served on ADA’s board and chaired the Labor Advisory Committee. Wilson, the first African-American to lead ADA, succeeds Amy Isaacs, who departed in June after twenty years at the ADA’s helm. Founded in 1947 by Eleanor Roosevelt, John Kenneth Galbraith, Arthur Schlesinger, Walter Reuther, Reinhold Niebuhr, and other leading liberals of the day, ADA has pressed to keep the legacy of the New Deal alive and to adapt it to the challenges of an ever-changing world. In the 1940s and early 1950s, it opposed both communism and anti-communist extremism that threatened Americans’ most cherished freedoms. Today, ADA works aggressively to influence a wide range of issues from poverty and civil rights to health care reform and workers’ rights. With a nationwide network of chapters and supporters, as well as close working relations with the Congress and White House, ADA is the country’s preeminent liberal, multi-issue organization working to ensure that the election of 2008 marks a turning point in American politics. Through its Working Families Win division, ADA is spearheading a multi-million dollar citizen education and voter education effort in more than two dozens states, a follow-up to successful efforts in 2008 that helped usher in dozens of new liberal Senators and House members around the country. Past presidents of the ADA include leading liberal members of Congress such as Barney Frank, John Lewis and Charles Rangel. Get Connected to ADA: Twitter - http://twitter.com/ADAction Email Updates - go to ADA’s website www.adaction.org and submit your email address on the upper right side of the page. ADA is America's most experienced independent liberal lobbying organization. In the spirit of the New Deal and ADA founders Eleanor Roosevelt, renowned economist John Kenneth Galbraith, and former Senator and Vice President Hubert Humphrey we lobby through coalition partnerships, through direct advocacy, and through the media. Back to Press Releases |