NewDEAL Announces Judges for Annual New Ideas Challenge

WASHINGTON — NewDEAL on Thursday unveiled the esteemed panel of judge for this year’s New Ideas Challenge.

This year’s judges come to the challenge with a wealth of policy experience and expertise, bringing perspectives from leading research and policy organizations, leadership roles in the Obama White House, and strong private sector experience.

They are:

• Andrei Cherny, CEO of Aspiration, described on the NewDEAL website as “an online financial platform with a conscience”;

• Micaela Fernandez Allen, former Special Assistant to the President in the Office of Legislative Affairs during the Obama Administration;

• Alastair Fitzpayne, executive director of the Aspen Institute Future of Work Initiative;

• Christy Goldfuss, senior vice president for Energy and environmental policy at the Center for American Progress;

• Dan’l Lewin, president and CEO of the Computer History Museum;

• Amy Liu, vice president and director of the Metropolitan policy program at the Brookings Institution; and

• Steven Olikara, founder and president of the Millennial Action Project.

Those wanting to submit their innovative, good government policy ideas for consideration can do so here.

New Ideas Challenge finalists will be announced in October, with winners being recognized during the organization’s 9th Annual Leaders Conference in Washington DC, which is being held November 20-22.

For those who may not be familiar with the group, the NewDEAL — “DEAL” being an acronym for “Developing Exceptional American Leaders” — is a national network of pro-growth state and local Democratic officials who are not only taking innovative steps to nurture their local economies, but are doing so in ways intended to expand opportunity for all and make government work better.

“The policies and governing philosophies that have led to their success do not fit neatly into the traditional left, center, and right divisions of American politics,” the NewDEAL says in an extensive policy statement on its website, The Way Forward: Making the 21st Century Economy Work for Everyone and Rebuilding the Democratic Party.

“Instead they are united by the belief that progress today requires embracing the keys to prosperity in the 21st century, as opposed to trying to turn back the clock to the way America used to be,” the 12-page document continues.

The premise of the New Ideas Challenge is that its leaders from outside Washington are providing a blueprint for a more secure and vibrant future.

Innovations in public policy, whether in healthcare or college savings accounts or emission reductions are almost always tested, adopted and spread at the state and local levels first, and that is happening now in diverse communities, the organization says.

Registration for the conference will open later this month.