Dear Partners:
Thank you again for joining us for such a meaningful conference last week. We all loved the chance to be together in person and are feeling energized by the passion and momentum of our community.
Most of all, I am grateful that we had a chance to honor our founder, friend, teacher, and inspiration: Rob Stein. I personally am so grateful to have had a chance to meet Rob during my first months in this role, where he welcomed me warmly, and allowed me to benefit from his support and wise counsel.
As we mourn Rob’s passing, we also celebrate his remarkable life. We find renewed purpose in his lifelong commitment to a democracy that works for everyone. We remember his unshakeable belief in the power of this community.
Through each of us and the countless others he influenced, his work continues, and his vision and values live on. Together with Rob’s family, we will think about all of the ways that we can honor his legacy, and plan to share much more in the days ahead.
Just a few weeks ago, in a poignant ode to Ukraine, Rob wrote:
“I know it is difficult to be optimistic in desperate times, but the burdens of healing the world are ours and ours alone – there is no one but us.”
Rob Stein
This was quintessential Rob. At once clear-eyed and hopeful, shrewd and idealistic, he was that rare combination of observer and doer. He helped a generation of progressives finally see the big picture: shining a light on the conservative movement’s infrastructure, decades-long strategy, and relentless pursuit of power. That clarity alone would be a legacy. But Rob’s is so much more. It is also us—The Democracy Alliance—a community born from that light, committed to action, and marshaling resources to power progressive work for decades to come.
This week, amid reports of the Supreme Court’s move to strike down Roe v. Wade, the devastating legacy of the Right’s grand project continues to reveal itself. And we understand once more just how prescient Rob’s warning was. We see how vital his call to action remains. And we commit to take this work forward with all our hearts in the years ahead.
There is no one but us. Because of Rob— our “us” is more connected, more inspired, and more focused than ever before. We are fired up for the work ahead. We will continue the march. For the cause of democracy, we will never give up.
Thank you, Rob Stein.
Pamela Shifman
DA President