Progressives need to support each other.  We’re all in the same canoe, and we all want the same thing– a better, sustainable world for us and those who come after us.  We may disagree on the finer points of how to get there, but if we can work together, we can achieve so much more than working in our own little silos.

The Amish know this when they build a barn.  The conservative movement has been doing this for the past 40 years.  That’s largely why it’s been so successful, even if the underlying ideology is wrong.  That’s why progressives are under assault from seemingly every corner of the establishment.  And why we must not let the conservative movement continue to destroy this country and its future.

It’s way past time for us, as progressives, to look beyond our disagreements, and band together.   Time to take the driver seat from our ego and pride and singe issues for a minute and look at the big picture.  As far as I’ve seen, no single group in the progressive movement has exclusive rights to the truth, and to say that it’s your way or the highway, your issue or no issue, puts you in the same bucket as fundamentalists and the Bush administration. 

We all have something to learn from each other, and something to offer each other.  How can we keep our minds open, and our values firm? How can we work together for a better world?

I’d like to announce RT’s first answer to that question. Now that RT’s been going strong for a few months, with frequent, daily content, our blog team got together to brainstorm what’s next.  We wanted to increase the visual appeal, but I don’t have the time/eye/camera skills to do the job.  But wouldn’t it be great if we could have a local, progressive artist help us out a little, in return for some publicity? 

After asking around, I finally found the perfect artist to kick off our Progressive Partner Program: Joseph Sorrentino.

Joseph is a very talented local photographer, who started by humanizing the homeless in West Philly, through taking their pictures and writing their stories.
He graciously took some photos of Rochester’s skyline and landmarks, and they look great.  I was a little embarrassed about asking him for those, since the subject matter is a little lame compared to the great work he’s done, currently on display as an exhibition at the Genesee Center for the Arts. We’ll be featuring the great shots he took for us in the masthead for our site, and include a blurb on him at the top of the right column, linking to his exhibition.

(c) Joseph Sorrentino

We’re really excited to work with Joseph, and I encourage everyone to go check out his exhibition, his personal gallery (the great shots from Mexico are my fave), and consider him if you need a portrait or event photography (like for a wedding).

I’m happy to have a chance to promote the great work of a local progressive. It may seem like a small step, but working together in a lot of small ways can build a barn. Or a movement.

PS: the pics in this post are both from Joeseph’s gallery, and they link there.  Check it out.