Faced with the fear and confusion of his students after the 2016 election, Ravi Gupta needed a way to bring young progressives together to mourn and organize. The first Arena Summit took place just one month later and brought together more than 450 energized people from 32 states, more than 150 of whom pledged to run for office.
Three years in, Arena is building an enduring progressive talent pipeline in three ways:
- Arena Summit: Thousands of up-and-coming progressive candidates and activists have come together at these summits to align on vision, create community, and build lasting relationships
- Arena Academy: Through their Academies, Arena is training the next generation of political talent by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and tools they need to build winning campaigns and movements
- Arena Candidates: Arena has provided coaching, best practices, and resources to help campaign teams grow and succeed via their recruitment and mentorship programs.