Joan Blades: A Woman Making History
March 15, 2010
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Joan Blades: A Woman Making History
by Michaela Monahan
Joan Blades is a woman making history – and leading the movement to change our future. A self-proclaimed “accidental activist,” Blades stepped back from her successful career as a software entrepreneur in 1998 to co-found MoveOn.org, a progressive web-based political action and fundraising organization. Twelve years later, MoveOn.org offers its 5 million members the opportunity to form a powerful collective voice in national politics. “We aim to express the passion of our members in something actionable that we can all, in fact, do,” Blades said. Serving as a grassroots rallying platform for these members, MoveOn.org helps concerned citizens directly influence the outcome of congressional elections and decisions, thereby restoring some of Washington’s power to the people.
But Blades’ advocacy efforts haven’t stopped there. In 2006 Blades also co-founded MomsRising.org, an organization that uses online advocacy on behalf of American mothers and families, with Progressive Women's Voices alumna Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner. She is also a regular contributor to the Huffington Post blog, where she writes on family issues and motherhood.
Blades’ evolution from a software tycoon to a progressive activist truly inspires me. Her objective for MoveOn.org demonstrates to me that you don’t have to be a politician or pundit to play a significant role in shaping our nation’s future. We are all citizens and should be as engaged as possible. Blades and MoveOn.org afford us the opportunity for that engagement by offering us a voice in our democracy and a platform to change our world.
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