Institute of Politics

Anna Galland

Former Executive Director of MoveOn

Anna is a nationally recognized progressive organizer, nonprofit leader and campaign strategist with two decades of experience advancing democracy and economic and social justice in the United States. She serves as Senior Democracy Fellow with Propel, a New York-based investment and philanthropic venture, and regularly serves as a strategic advisor to political and civic organizations.

She is the national board chair of MoveOn Civic Action, following seven years as Executive Director (2012-2019). She led a top-to-bottom overhaul of MoveOn in a time of tremendous growth, increased visibility, and impact - mobilizing millions of people in campaigns to extend & defend access to health care, protect democracy against accelerating assaults and fight for the dignity and safety of immigrants.

In close partnership with MoveOn PAC's Executive Director, she quadrupled MoveOn's budget and base of sustaining donors, tripled the size of the staff team and dramatically grew its membership and reach. She also raised millions of dollars for other organizations and for humanitarian relief.

Her work in national media has included numerous appearances on MSNBC, CNN, and CSPAN, and interviews with print publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Glamour Magazine, Huffington Post, and a range of other outlets. Her writing has appeared in outlets including The Nation and The Boston Globe.

She serves as a member of the boards of Public Citizen and the National Domestic Workers Alliance, and as an advisor to a number of other activist efforts and civic start-ups, including the Leadership Center for Social Change at the City University of New York and the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. She lives with her husband and three children in the Chicago area.

Seminars

"Renewing Our Democracy: Movement-Building Perspectives on the Path Forward"

Our democracy is ailing. The mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January 2021 was just the latest vivid display of a multi-front crisis. Severe and racialized polarization divides our two major political coalitions; gridlock, corruption, and dysfunction have increased the public’s appetite for more authoritarian leadership; disinformation is rampant. Americans can’t agree on basic truths like whether Joe Biden was legitimately elected in 2020 - even as attacks on nonpartisan election administration and the right to vote are underway. Americans today have historically low levels of trust in one another, in our government, and in our democratic system. Addressing these challenges, renewing our democracy, and building a healthier political culture will require a range of efforts. Social movements and grassroots activists have an essential role to play - in concert with high-integrity politicians and public officials, journalists, technologists, business and philanthropic leaders, and many others. Over 8 weeks, we’ll dig into the challenge of renewing democracy with a movement-building lens, drawing inspiration from conversations with a range of leaders from different sectors and perspectives.

Contact Form

Have Questions?

Newsletter Form

Stay Informed

Our emails are the best way to keep up-to-date on all of our events and programming.

Subscribe