Betsy Campisi

Name:	Betsy Campisi
Location:	Baldwin, NY
Where I blog:	www.prettybirdwomanhouse.blogspot.com www.nativeamericannetroots.net

My Experience in progressive politics:

I started getting more politically active during the 2004 Kerry campaign, when I was determined to help unseat Bush. I joined a local MeetUp group, which turned into Long Island Media watch. We wrote hundreds of letters to the editor to get progressive views into the local media, and went to Pennsylvania to campaign for Kerry. We stayed together as a group after the election, and continue to write letters to the editor, although on a more limited basis.

After that, I also started working with the local day laborer population and with some local activists and academics on immigration issues as they relate to Long Island.

In April of last year I began to get involved in Native American social justice issues after hearing about the Amnesty International report that found that 1 out of every 3 Native American women will be the victims of sexual violence in her lifetime, and the perpetrators are hardly every prosecuted. Since that time, I've focused a lot of my activist energies on that, while trying to finally finish up my PhD.

My personal volunteering highlight:

Inspired by a fellow Kossack's efforts, I organized a campaign last fall to get the Pretty Bird Woman House, a women's shelter on the Standing Rock Reservaiton, a new house after the space they had been using was destroyed by vandals. Andy Ternay soon became my partner in crime, and together we raised $87,000, which allowed the shelter to buy a new house. I also began a blog so people could track the status of the new house and the shelter's activities: www.prettybirdwomanhouse.blogspot.com, as well as a Yahoo Group, which is linked on the blog.

Steps I've taken to combine on-line and off-line action:

By raising funds on-line for the operation of the Pretty Bird Woman House, I facilitate real-life actions the women on the Standing Rock Reservation are taking to help local women affected by domestic and sexual violence, and to educate the members of the tribe about those issues.

Why I want to attend Netroots Nation:

Andy Ternay and I proposed a panel on Native American rights, which has just gotten approved as a discussion. We also are getting a booth toi fundraise for the Pretty Bird Woman House, which is a pet project of many members of the Daily Kos. I'd like to be able to attend that discussion as well as man the booth.

What I want to get out of Netroots Nation:

Being able to attend the discussion that I helped organize, meet and network with people interested in Native Amerian social justice issues, especially those who helped with our fundraiser for the Pretty Bird Woman House.

What is a progressive activist:

A progressive activist is someone who envisions the world as a more fair, equitable and peaceful place, and joins together with others who share that vision to create social change.

How I think blogs fit into the progressive movement:

Blogs are the taproots of the progressive movement. They allow our ideas to penetrate more deeply into the society, and especially into the corporate media, than heretofore has been possible.

How I think Democracy For America fits into the progressive movement:

Since Democracy for America provides assistance to help progressive candidates get elected, it is vital in putting the movement's ideas into action.

In 10 words or less, create a bumper-sticker slogan against John McCain:

McCain: NOT