Board of Directors

Judith Freeman

Judith is the co-founder and Executive Director of the New Organizing Institute, a training, research and development organization for technology-enabled organizers, activists, staff, and leaders. In 2008 Judith was on a short leave from NOI for a five month position on the Obama new media team, coordinating their field and new media efforts. Previously, she was the senior political strategist at the AFL-CIO, where she also co-founded the Analyst Institute. During the 2004 presidential election, she worked on the Kerry campaign's internet operations. She advises political campaigns, unions and non-profit organizations on organizing, targeting, strategy and technology infrastructure. She worked for 5 years in technology at the University of Chicago where she also organized with social justice organizations.

Zack Exley

Zack is a strategic consultant with ThoughtWorks, Inc., where he advises organizations on communications, organizing and technology. He is also a co-founder of the New Organizing Institute. In 2005, he directed the online campaign for the British Labor Party's re-election, and was Director of Online Organizing and Communications for John Kerry's presidential campaign. Before that, he served as Organizing Director at MoveOn.org, and was an adviser to the early Dean campaign. Zack spent the 90's working as a union organizer. He entered Internet politics via his political parody website GWBush.com, which earned him the nickname "Garbage Man" from President Bush, as well as other early experiments in online organizing. He blogs at the Huffington Post about politics, and writes the blog RevolutionInJesusland.com about the rise of progressive evangelical Christians in America.

James Rucker

James Rucker currently serves as the co-founder of ColorofChange.org, an organization formed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina to use the organizing power of the Internet to give Black Americans and our allies a renewed and strengthened political voice. Previously, James served as the Director of Grassroots Mobilization for MoveOn.org Political Action and Moveon.org Civic Action from the fall of 2003 through the summer of 2005, and was instrumental in developing and executing on fundraising, technology, and campaign strategies. Prior to joining MoveOn, James worked in various roles in the software industry in Silicon Valley and co-founded Imana, Inc., an enterprise software company in San Francisco, California.

Robert "Biko" Baker

Robert "Biko" Baker currently serves as the Executive Director of the League of Young Voters. Before joining the LYV, Robert served as the deputy publicity coordinator and young voter organizer for the Brown and Black Presidential Forum. He was also the lead organizer for Slam Bush, a nationwide voter mobilization project using rap and poetry. In 2006, Robert developed the League of Young Voters training program, which prepares the next generation of activists to make long-term commitments to local organizing. He is also a frequent contributor to The Source and serves on the WireTap's editorial Board.

Becky Bond

Becky Bond is the political director at CREDO Mobile and Working Assets, a company that has raised $60 million for progressive change through donation linked products. Working with the student PIRGs, CREDO launched the seminal 2006 study of the effect of text messaging on "get out the vote," demonstrating a 4 percentage point lift in voter turnout from SMS.

Eli Pariser

Eli Pariser is the former Executive Director of MoveOn.org, and the current President of their Board of Directors. Eli's also known for his co-creation of the Bush in 30 Seconds advertising contest, and helped MoveOn.org generate over $30 million for their PAC to support progressive candidates in the 2004 election cycle. MoveOn.org now has over 5 million members. Pariser, a Maine resident, began his work as an internet activist after September 11th, 2001, to protest President George W. Bush's demand for vengeance (9-11Peace.org). Overwhelming traffic on this site brought him in touch with MoveOn.org's founders, eventually merging their websites and maintaining a lasting relationship. Pariser also cofounded Avaaz.org, a global activism community. He now lives in Brooklyn, NY.