The GAINiverse: What I do
bringing my worlds together and more about "What I do"
My new bestie, the amazing Nse Ufot, recently dubbed my life the GAINiverse. So many amazing people and organizations are part of the #GAINiverse. This term was coined to describe the combination of GAIN Power, Amplify Power, Global GAIN, Women GAIN, AP Campaigns, Democratic GAIN, Jobs That Are Left Google group, Jobs That Are Left Substack, my political clients past and present in the US - and all over the world. I’m not naming a new organization the GAINiverse today, but stay tuned - at least one more GAIN org may be coming. But I thought GAINiverse was an excellent name connecting everything I do and care to share. This new newsletter will do just that.
This past week, a problem I have became glaring. In typical DC fashion, I found myself at multiple events. People here define you by where you work and what you do. So many folks I thought knew me kept asking me, "What are you doing now?" or struggled when they introduced me to others, saying…. “Amy does.......” then stammered. In fairness, I sometimes struggle to explain "what I do," given my unconventional life. I've had unique opportunities to follow my passions in the US and worldwide, and I have seized them. I learned the term Ikigai a few years ago, and I have been obsessed with it ever since - not just for myself but helping others find it. "What I do" is constantly working to find Ikigai. But really - this is what I do. My Ikigai is helping people GAIN and build POWER. Some people call it being a changemaker - which I strive to be every day. I believe in the power of politics to change lives. Politics, to me, is democracy, elections, advocacy, and government.
I spend much time with GAIN Power and our team, an organization I created to help network, market, and promote the people powering progressive updates. Since we launched during the pandemic in 2020, more than 3,000 organizations have used our platform to find talent. Between our career center, primary site, awards platform, and Jobs That Are Left Substack and Google group - GAIN Power has over 100,000 people on our platforms. This doesn’t include our social pages, which reach tens of thousands more. If you are not one of them - I invite you to join GAIN Power as part of the biggest platform for progressive professions and political practitioners.
Last year, we launched the Powerful IDEA Awards, the first progressive industry awards. We recognized the people and organizations powering our politics and government, democracy, elections, and advocacy - and This year, we did them again - and I'm proud to say we have over.
Some people know a few years ago, I launched a nonprofit NGO called Global GAIN to promote international democracy leaders and gender advocates and to help turn some of my domestic network (GAIN Power and Beyond) into global citizens.
In 2022, I started Amplify Power, a political consulting firm focused on strategic voter contact and communications, focusing on mail and digital. Amplify Power will be my primary focus in 2024. After 20+ years working for some of the top mail firms in Democratic politics, I'm thrilled to be a founding partner in this company that is majority women and majority-minority owned and reflects the diversity, equity, and progressive values that keep me doing this work every day.
Some know I've worked in 26 countries for NDI and others INGOS doing democracy & governance work.
Some know I live part-time in Kigali - specifically on the Kiyovu Compound. This year, I've spent six months there - doing a mix of work in Rwanda and my US work from there. I've been helping a group of young women launch a local NGO called Women GAIN. This summer, we participated in the Women Deliver - the largest gathering of gender activists in the world. It was amazing being among so many strong women champions. I need to write more about it and will.
This still doesn’t explain “what I do,” but it explains more about what I’ve been up to this year. I have a lot more up my sleeves that I’m planning to share here and across the GAINiverse, so stay tuned! As you’re reading here, I hope you're thinking about how we collaborate to save our democracy and make our world more just and equitable.
If you’re in DC this Friday, September 29th, join me and my partners at the brig for a casual happy hour. If you’re not here or just busy - let’s find time to reconnect and reintroduce ourselves!
