The Bus Project is a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization that engages young people in progressive politics and catalyzes action around progressive issues within the U.S. state of Oregon. The Oregon Bus Project’s mission is to drive Oregon to be a progressive model for the nation. Founded in 2001, the Bus Project has mobilized thousands of volunteers and activists around the state of Oregon.
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History and influence
The Bus Project was founded in 2001 by Harvard Law School graduate Jefferson Smith. In the 2004 election, Bus volunteers canvassed numerous voters around the state, which may have contributed to the Oregon State Senate switching from Republican to Democratic control. In the 2006 Oregon elections the Oregon House of Representatives flipped to Democratic control following extensive canvassing by the Bus Project.
The Six E's
The Bus Project strives to advocate a public interest agenda, one that includes volunteerism and service to community.
The Bus defines progressive issues to include "the 6 E's":
- Education
- Equal Rights
- Economic Strength and Fairness
- Election Reform
- Environment
- Health Care
Building Votes
Building Votes is the non-profit, non-partisan voter registration arm of the Bus Project. It aims to assist citizens under 30 years old to register and vote, and to educate themselves about issues and politics. In the 2006 election cycle, Building Votes registered 20,000 new voters in Oregon, increasing the size of the overall under-30 electorate in Oregon by 6%.
Trick-Or-Vote
Trick or Vote, the Halloween canvass, turned out over 800 people to volunteer for half a day in 2004, and over 500 for the mid-term election in 2006. A mass costume canvass to get out the vote is followed by an evening of entertainment and music, the Trick-or-Vote canvass has been replicated by other organizations from Montana to Florida.
PolitiCorps
During the summer of 2005, the Bus Project fellowship program, PolitiCorps was launched, providing unique opportunities for 13 college students and recent graduates, and featuring a curriculum of over 50 speakers from across the political spectrum. The following summer, the program was expanded to 22 students and in 2007 it was expanded to its current size of 24 fellows.
PolitiCorps is a political immersion program that provides future leaders with skills training, policy courses and intensive fieldwork. These courses include campaign management training, public speaking and debate, political messaging and media courses, and more. Fellows spend a significant amount of their time conducting field work with partner programs, directly impacting state and local races by working to increase urban youth voter registration and participating and organizing Bus trips to swing districts to canvass for progressive candidates. The program seeks to educate fellows on the intricacies of state politics, using Oregon as a model. In addition, it is designed to take these lessons and connect them to the national arena.
"Vote, F*cker"
The infamous "Vote, F*cker" t-shirts have received national media attention in numerous newspapers and magazines. The shirts were first created in response to an Urban Outfitter shirt with the slogan "Voting is for Old People".
Debates
The Candidates Gone Wild local debates in Portland, Oregon drew over 2000 people, the largest local debates in the state. Co-hosted with the Willamette Week newspaper, the event pushes local and statewide candidates outside the box for a lively and irreverent night of film, music, animation, performance, and debate. The BrewHaHa is the regular public forum on local issues co-hosted with the Portland Mercury in Portland and with Eugene Weekly in Lane County.
BusPAC
The BusPAC has canvassed swing legislative districts on behalf of select progressive candidates running for state legislative races. Nine out of the ten State Senate candidates they have supported have won. One won by forty votes; each volunteer knocked on more doors than that in a single day.
Bus Project Slogans
Legal status
The Bus comprises three organizations, each of which operates under a different section of U.S. and state tax and election laws:
- The Bus Project, a 501(c)(4) organization, primarily focuses on education and advocacy on important statewide issues. Under U.S. tax laws, a 501(c)(4) organization can engage in lobbying for legislative change but is not allowed to intervene in political campaigns in support of or opposition to any candidate for public office.
- BusPAC, an Oregon state PAC, primarily helps members elect candidates who reflect the organization's progressive values. Unlike 501(c)(4) organizations, PACs are allowed to directly support individual candidates.
- The Oregon Progress Forum, a 501(c)(3) organization, registers young voters.