What is Leftist in Progress?
Leftist in Progress is a digital newsletter written by myself, Valielza Huynh-O’Keefe, and occasionally other contributors. I write essays about US politics, international politics, media, and culture. I really enjoy analyzing subjects with a political and sociological lens. Obviously, my politics lean rather left: much more radical than a liberal (or Democrat), I would most likely label myself a socialist. But I find plenty of inspiration from communist and anarchist ideologies as well.
This newsletter is intended for the layperson who is just developing their political ideology as well as the seasoned activist. I hope to provide a unique viewpoint that encourages readers to take action to achieve leftist goals like guaranteed affordable housing, universal healthcare, free college, and more.
One thing I find frustrating in some leftist circles is that the emphasis on jargon and theory can make dialogue rather inaccessible to many people. I want to make these conversations open to everyone by keeping my writing clear and easy to understand. I believe everyone has a valuable contribution to political dialogues, regardless of your educational background or experience. I encourage you to comment, ask questions, and share posts with your friends and family to start discussions.
Why Leftist “in Progress?”
Like I mentioned above, I use the term “leftist” to refer to multiple political ideologies on this side of the spectrum. I think all leftists can come together to deliver on a common policy agenda because our core beliefs do not differ significantly.
The phrase “Leftist in Progress” is a derivative of Jameela al-Jamil’s “Feminist-in-progress” moniker that she uses in her Instagram bio, and it really stuck with me. As individuals, we are always learning, growing, and changing. As I gain more experience, inevitably my politics will change, too. I will always be attempting to minimize my blind spots by learning as much as I can, and there is no true endpoint to that journey.
About the Author
My name is Valielza (it’s phonetic: Va-li-el-za. Not hard, I promise!). I use she/her pronouns. I have experience working on political campaigns, grassroots organizing, and political party organizing. My formal educational background is in materials science, but I’ve always had a passion for politics.
I am an active member of the San Francisco Green Party. I am also on the County Council, which means I help set meeting agendas, manage finances, and coordinate volunteers. I also run some of the SFGP social media channels—follow us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and UpScrolled (@sfgreenparty) for more content from me. Another member of the SFGP County Council, John-Marc Chandonia, runs our Twitter/X account and I recommend following that as well. However, the analysis there will obviously be more focused and representative of the Green Party perspective.
I am proud to be a founding member of the Solidarity Now Collective, and serve as a Convening Body member and a member of the Editorial Board. We are a collective of leftists that aim to unite the working class with a blend of electoralism (getting the right people elected into government), direct action (for example, building powerful unions that will strike and engage in militant organizing to extract concessions from the ruling class) and mutual aid (taking care of each other). We are all about incorporating members from many different political organizations and backgrounds. No one organization can do it all, but if we come together to form a united front, we can do it together!
Contact Me
If you’d like to reach me directly, feel free to e-mail me at leftistinprogress@proton.me
Leftist in Progress is also on other social media platforms:
📷 Instagram (@leftistinprogress)
🎵 TikTok (@leftist.in.progre)
📹 YouTube (long-form video essays coming soon!)
⬆ UpScrolled (@leftistinprogress)
I don’t do Twitter/X. I think a character-limited micro-blogging platform is anathema to everything I stand for, and I refuse to support the elongated musk rat.
Stay up-to-date with Leftist in Progress by becoming a free subscriber. If you really like what I have to say and want to see me write and produce more content, please consider becoming a paid subscriber at $5/month. I am working class, and any financial support for my work helps tremendously!
Thank you for reading! <3
