Help Me Get to Netroots Nation

Hi friends,

Today, June 8th, is my birthday. Instead of a celebration, I want to share something more personal: a request for support as I try to get to Netroots Nation this summer.

Netroots Nation is the largest annual progressive organizing conference in the country. This year, the conference will take place in New Orleans from August 7-9. I bought my ticket last December, when things in my life felt a bit more stable – but the last few months have been hard. Between job transitions, personal upheaval, and the long road of recovery that comes with facing and not avoiding burnout and grief, I’ve found myself in a tight spot. I’m rebuilding, and have a meaningful part-time role – but with that ending soon, I know I can’t afford the travel and lodging on my own.

So I’m reaching out to ask for your help. Not because attending would be a "nice-to-have", but because it’d be a lifeline. Netroots Nation isn’t just a conference. It’s a space of connection, affirmation, and re-ignition. For organizers like me – who’ve spent years in the trenches of campaigns, community work, and advocacy – this is where we sharpen our skills, renew our courage, remember why we’re still in the fight, and come back stronger.

I’ve built national programs, trained thousands, and shown up at odd hours in critical moments because I believe in the work we do, in the people we do it for, and in the power we have – especially when we move together. I still believe.

That’s where this fundraiser comes in.

I’m asking for $1,250 to cover:

Every dollar has been budgeted, and every dollar will go directly to making this trip possible.

Why It Matters

This past year has tested me, but it’s also clarified that I want to stay in this fight and what I want to fight for. I’m not asking for a reset button. I’m asking for a bridge. A chance to step into the next chapter with more clarity, more fuel, and deeper community.

A Note on Asking

It’s not easy to put this out there. While I’ve always been ready to show up for others – it’s taken me a lifetime to learn how to ask for help for myself. I’m still learning. But I believe that organizing, like healing, is a collective act – and asking for help now is where both meet for me personally. I wouldn’t be making this ask if doing so wasn’t important to me, and I know that attending Netroots – being in community, learning from peers, reconnecting with mentors – is the most direct way to heal, keep the spark alive, and return stronger.

I’ve shown up for you. If you believe in me, and believe in what I can become with just a little bit of help, I ask you to help me get there.

If you’re able to contribute, thank you. If you can share this post, thank you. If you’re just here to witness the ask, thank you too.

With love and resolve,

Sal