Press Release

WASHINGTON — Today, Working America announced that Matt Morrison has been appointed executive director of the organization. Morrison joined Working America as the political director in 2008. He assumed the deputy director position in 2015 and became co-executive director last year.

“We started Working America 15 years ago to give working-class moderates who didn’t have the benefit of a union a way to join together to take action on the issues that mattered to them. With more and more Americans disaffected and despairing about what can be done to improve their lives, we need Working America now more than ever,” said Karen Nussbaum, who is the retiring co-executive director and founder of the organization. “That’s why I’m thrilled we have just the right leader, in Matt Morrison. to marry the movement building and the math to win elections.” Nussbaum is retiring after nearly 50 years of organizing.

“We’re excited for Matt to take the helm at Working America because he has the skills and political chops needed to navigate the tumultuous moment we’re in,” said AFSCME President and Working America Board President Lee Saunders. “Matt has years of experience in the labor movement, on the Hill and in campaigns. He’s been with Working America for 10 years designing our political strategy and is a master of the analytic tools that make our work so effective and accountable.”

Morrison has headed the electoral strategy and operations since joining Working America. He has focused on helping refine the organization’s field and member communications programs through the use of clinical testing and advanced analytics. Under his direction, Working America combines innovative integration of traditional field organizing with analytics to increase targeting accuracy and turn out the vote for candidates who support an economic justice agenda.

“With Matt’s strong leadership, Working America is poised to have a big impact on the midterm elections,” said AFL-CIO President Richard L. Trumka. “Matt has political acumen and the ability to bridge divides that will lead to victories in this year’s elections and beyond.”

Working America’s doorstep engagement breaks through the Fox News bubble and gives frustrated voters the opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue about policies that are important to them. Canvassers have front-porch conversations and build relationships with voters. Rather than telling voters how to vote, Working America organizers listen and then share information on issues that are important to voters.

“Our organizers in the field and researchers in our offices are working together to ensure that voters have the information — and motivation — they need to elect candidates who will deliver on the bread-and-butter issues they care about, like good jobs and a fair economy,” said Morrison.

Working America’s recent front-porch conversations show that clear fissures are emerging among important blocs of voters that progressives can exploit and drive even wider. Canvassers report how fed up people are with politics. Yet they say voters are eager to talk and hungry for strategies to address issues like obstacles to health care and economic security.

“Overcoming disaffection requires more than just ads on TV and social media. It necessitates an in-person conversation that starts with listening and building a relationship,” said Morrison. “Working America has proven we can persuade working-class voters to turn against the right-wing tide by linking them with a common economic agenda regardless of their background. We energize voters through our high-quality canvass and then connect them to an ongoing source of information they trust.”

Prior to joining Working America, Morrison served on John Edwards’ 2008 presidential campaign, in the government affairs department of the American Federation of Teachers and on Capitol Hill in the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.). He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Washington University in St. Louis.

Contact:
Krissi Jimroglou
202-246-2670

Since 2003, Working America has mobilized working people who don’t have the benefit of a union at work to fight for good jobs and a fair economy. As the three-million member community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, we unite working people in urban and suburban communities around a shared economic agenda. For more information, visit www.workingamerica.org.