Our Vision:
A kind and thriving nation.
Our Mission:
To provide tools that encourage engagement to strengthen American democracy and social justice.
Our SCORE Values:
- Solidarity through centering our shared humanity and accepting that we need each other for survival.
- Courage to learn and reflect honestly, to have necessary and uncomfortable conversations, and to model our values in the face of dissent.
- Openness to different perspectives and lived experiences, warmly centering curiosity and compassion in the face of the unknown.
- Respect for ourselves and toward all human beings in our collaborations, communication, and advocacy.
- Engagement in the work of creating change through personal involvement and meaningful community.
What we believe in at Americans of Conscience Checklist:
Thriving Democracy
A thriving democracy honors every person and their voice. The U.S.’s current two-party system that elects those with the most money is not a democracy. A system in which corporations pull the strings of government without contributing their fair share of responsibility taints both sides of the aisle, from local to federal.
We support policies that strengthen collaboration and small-d democracy for the good of the people. We support rolling back the discriminatory laws that suppress Black, Brown, Indigenous, disabled, returning, and young voters. We support automatic voter registration, hand-marked paper ballots, ranked-choice voting, and publicly funded elections.
Thriving People
People thrive when they have leisure, shelter, nutrition, community, and freedom from fear, they can thrive. At present, our nation systemically devalues people of color, disabled people, non-Christians, LGBTQ+ people, and women. Progress toward justice and equity is slow but vital.
We support the priorities of marginalized people in our actions, advocating alongside them and amplifying their calls to action.
Thriving Planet
This beautiful blue marble is sacred and irreplaceable. Humanity continues to treat it as disposable. We acknowledge the injustice that some communities bear a greater burden of climate crisis and hazardous industries.
We support efforts to cool and green our planet, especially those led by Indigenous people. We support delicious water, nutritious foods, and efforts to eliminate pollution for generations to come. We believe that science can show a way forward, but a thriving planet depends on every person living lightly and simply upon it.
With Kindness
Social change is a journey, not a battle. When activists are motivated by resentment, cynicism, or hatred, they burn out and ultimately disengage. We suggest a more sustainable way.
At Americans of Conscience, we make a conscious choice to let our actions come from kindness rather than hatred. We advocate with conviction, but criticize only actions, not people. We express gratitude—especially to those who take great personal risks to improve our planet, justice, and democracy. This is how we persevere over years of slow social change:
The practice of CORK
Collaboration: We remember that, despite our different strategies, we all want a world that is welcoming, kind, and just. One person can take a small action toward that future, but we need each other to get there. Choose collaboration.
hOnesty: Choosing to express your truth is a sign of self-respect, courage, and healthy vulnerability. We advocate with conviction, but criticize only actions, not people. We seek to understand others’ truths, even when we disagree. Choose honesty.
Respect: Throughout history, effective change makers have chosen to “go high”. Even if you detest a person’s words or actions, we believe every person has inherent value. While escalation does have a place in creating social change, treating others with respect can assist in deescalating conflict and in finding the will to work toward mutual goals. Choose respect.
Kindness: Practice expressing thanks, even for something small. Offer others mercy in failure, for none of us is perfect. Be a place of compassion for yourself and others. Speak up not with fear but with love. Choose kindness.
Who we are
Our founder, Jennifer Hofmann, started the Americans of Conscience Checklist in the wake of the 2016 presidential election. Before that, she was a mild-mannered writer and professor of social media strategy. When the Checklist went viral after the Women’s March the following year, she soon realized she couldn’t do the work alone.
Our team: Today, AoCC’s team of about 30 people contribute from all over the country (including several expats) and who run the gamut of political views and priorities. Despite our differences, we are fiercely pro-equity and pro-democracy. Each person brings diverse skills, experiences, and expertise that make our collective effort stronger.
Our process: We follow over 100 social justice advocacy groups and non-partisan, pro-democracy organizations. Twice a month, we compile their priorities in a virtual checklist that publishes on the 1st and 3rd Fridays. Our team does everything from research, writing, and editing to social media strategy and graphic design. Jen and a small admin team also support the tech and operations behind the scenes. Producing the Checklist together is an exercise in joyful democracy.
If you’d like to join our team, please reach out.