By Lindsay Peyton 

The West Seattle Democratic Women welcomed Andrew Villeneuve, founder and executive director of the Northwest Progressive Institute (NPI), to the neighborhood during its recent meeting. 

He explained his group’s mission and goals at the West Seattle YMCA on Thursday evening, Jan. 25. He urged his audience to get involved in legislative issues that could make a real difference on a local level. 

“NPI is a strategy center,” he said. “It’s a tool. Our work is multifaceted. There’s a strategic component, advocacy component, research component and media component.” 

The organization’s creed is to look at the big picture, keep an open mind and embrace new ideas. “No matter how depressing and hopeless circumstances may seem, I will keep putting one foot forward every day, working cheerfully for a more peaceful future for the Pacific Northwest, the United States, and this diverse planet we call Earth,” the statement continues.  

“The cheerful part is hard right now, but the cheerful part is important,” Villeneuve said. 

“When we become sour, when we become cynical, we lose.”

He explained that progressives are suffering from a “massive infrastructure deficit,” not having as many think tanks, media outlets or leadership organizations as conservatives, making it more challenging to develop and communicate ideas. 

Villeneuve wants to work to reduce this gap with his grassroots group.  Their goals include building revenue for progressive projects and providing ballot issue leadership. 

Villeneuve said there are a number of ways area residents can participate in his regional group’s efforts. He asked the members of the West Seattle Democratic Women to become involved in legislative issues – and join his group’s legislative action committee. 

“You’d be surprised what a few people can do,” he said. 

Rachel Glass, chair of the West Seattle Democratic Women, said that the group offers a number of similar programs throughout the year.

“A big part of our mission is education,” she said. “We like to bring in guest speakers working in all facets of our community. It’s not necessarily partisan or political; it’s issues that are of our interest to our community.”

Glass said the goal is to make sure residents are informed about all the issues and that they know how to get involved. 

For more information, visit westseattledemocraticwomen.org.