Sam Adams Alliance

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The Sam Adams Alliance is a non-profit organization based in Chicago, Illinois that connects and supports citizen leaders across the United States. Its mission statement says that the organization supports groups and individuals "who are working to defend liberty, hold the government accountable, and make real political change at the local level." The Sam Adams Alliance and its educational counterpart, the Sam Adams Foundation, were founded in Chicago on October 20, 2006.

The organizations take their names from the American patriot Sam Adams, who is considered the "father of the American Revolution" for his role in connecting colonists in the 18th century American colonies. Adams allowed them to share information and experience with each other in the hope of instigating a popular effort against the British. Both the Alliance and Foundation have adopted this strategy of action at the local level in the hopes of increasing government accountability and transparency nationwide.

1 Programs
2 Policy Positions
3 Funding
4 Personnel
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Programs

Besides assisting the efforts of individuals nationwide, the Sam Adams Alliance runs a community-oriented website that acts as a gateway for information on individuals' successes in advancing accountable and transparent government. Its website has sections such as MySAM, State Resource Guides, and the Sam Adams Action Toolkit, which provides tips for beginning and growing locally-grown citizen efforts. It also runs a free-market minded blogging community called Blogivists.

One of its main website initiatives is profiling what it calls "Modern-Day Sam Adamses," people it finds who demonstrate citizen leadership in accordance with its mission.^[1] Additionally, the Sam Adams Alliance produces a radio show called Common Sense with Paul Jacob, which is broadcast on over 150 radio stations nationwide. The program appears on the group's website in both audio and text forms. ^[2]

[edit] Policy Positions

The Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation work on behalf of individuals and groups who advocate for greater government accountability and transparency at the local and state level. As such, the organizations do not take overt policy positions, and evaluate the causes it supports on a case-by-case basis, judging them by the amount to which they advance accountability and transparency in government.

[edit] Funding

The Sam Adams Alliance and Foundation are not endowed and do not accept government funding. Both organizations are funded by private donors. ^[3]

[edit] Personnel

Eric O'Keefe is the Chairman and CEO of the Sam Adams Alliance and the Sam Adams Foundation. John Tsarpalas is President of the Alliance; and Bob Costello is President of the Foundation. Additionally, political commentator Paul Jacob serves as a Senior Adviser to the groups.^[4]