Arena, Priorities USA Announce Digital Staff Training Partnership for 2024 Election Cycle
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Arena today announced a new partnership with Priorities USA that will seek to train more than 100 progressive political professionals in digital tactics and strategy ahead of the 2024 election. The partnership, whose goal is to further develop digital talent that can be deployed on campaigns up and down the ballot next year, comes as the need for additional skilled digital operatives has increased exponentially in the face of advancements in artificial intelligence and the right’s continued dominance on social media platforms.
During the two-and-a-half day training that will take place later this cycle, experts will train attendees on advanced digital campaign topics, including media planning, analytics, data and testing, and the changing landscape of paid and social media. Trainees will also be equipped with the foundational knowledge they need to lead digital teams and programs. Upon the completion of the training, graduates of the joint Arena-Priorities USA program will have access to bespoke career support from Arena’s Career Development team, including priority referrals to employers seeking to hire. The partnership is the first of its kind in progressive politics.
“Winning candidates are those who understand how to effectively communicate with the electorate and mobilize voters, including, and especially, online,” said Lauren Baer, Arena’s Managing Partner. “Democratic campaigns up and down the ballot must be staffed with operatives who know how to reach voters on the right platforms, with the right messages, at the right times. Heading into this election year, it is more important than ever to invest in training a new generation of digital strategists.”
“Priorities USA is one of the most innovative and effective digital-focused organizations on the left, and Arena is proud to be joining forces with them to fill the digital staffing gap and ensure that Democrats are prepared to compete on the digital battlefield in 2024,” added Baer.
“This exciting collaboration is a continuation of Priorities USA’s commitment to training the next generation of digital campaign operatives,” said Nick Ahamed, Priorities USA Deputy Executive Director. “Since 2018, we’ve built an in-house training initiative that has availed the lessons we’ve learned from previous cycles to our participants. This partnership will expand those opportunities for new and upcoming operatives while integrating Arena’s invaluable training assets. We are excited to be a part of this partnership which will lead to a more equitable and diverse generation of digital operatives.”
Arena builds the teams that power victories on the left. Founded in response to the 2016 elections, the organization has trained more than 7,000 campaign staff, including nearly 300 digital strategists. These individuals now hold some of the most important digital leadership roles on the left; the Vice President of Digital at Emily’s List, the Director of Digital Organizing and Strategy at When We All Vote, and the Senior Digital and Communications Manager at Fair Fight are all graduates of Arena training programs. In addition to training, Arena also deploys campaign operatives to critical races around the country, including through an innovative Staff Fellowship Program that was credited with delivering a Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania State House for the first time in 12 years and has been hailed as a “moneyball” approach to investing down ballot.
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