Core Team Members

Jonathan H. Martin is a Professor of Sociology at Framingham State University. He is the editor of and a contributor to the book Empowering Progressive Third Parties in the United States (Routledge); author of various articles on left politics, and a longtime progressive third party activist. He lives in Somerville, Massachusetts.

“Uniquely among national political groups, Progressive Party Builders focuses sharply on how to build a successful progressive third party."

Lynette McClain is a retired educator from Longmont, Colorado. She has been a long-term progressive activist for local and national political causes and issues. She co-founded the Colorado for Bernie  movement in mid-2015 and served as the Northeast Colorado Field Organizer for the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016.

“We need a progressive party for the majority of the US citizens who want to save our world from climate change, provide basic human rights for all, and seek truth and justice in government.”

Peter Leighton is a retired Chiropractor, Chef, and Tech Support Service Person. He is currently an Author & Novelist living  in Los Angeles. He worked on texting for Bernie's campaigns since 2015. 

"I see Progressive Politics as part of my spiritual practices and service. It is a way to manifest the greatest good for the greatest number of people, and PPB has that as its intention." 

Sarah Miller is a Navy veteran pursuing undergraduate studies. She formerly volunteered with Democrat campaigns, has been a community organizer, volunteered with organizations centered around cancer survivors and remembrances, veteran and military affiliated, and Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA).

"There have been missed opportunities for a third party to enter the political forum. Progressive Party Builders is fostering a way for third party and Independent candidates to create an embracive party that will lead us forward."  

Nowell Bjerkaas is a bartender, ex-rockabilly, and Transcendentalist.  He has experience in community organizing, municipal historic preservation policy, and neighborhood group activism. 

 "Local and state politics are more important than ever, and offer the best hope for progressive successes in this moment.  The systemic analysis, compassion and vision the Left uniquely offers can, and must, provide material solutions that invigorate a disempowered populace."   

Sabrina Peña Young is an award-winning technologist, TED Talk speaker, & internationally respected leader in film, media, & music, Sabrina provides global clients with world-class digital marketing as Creative Director of Bandwidth Media & Film. For 20 years Young worked with various organizations including Justice Democrats, ArtREACH, Tampa Urban Project, Ten Demands, as Director of Candidate Recruitment at Brand New Congress, and now Progressive Party Builders, to bring diversity, equity, & inclusion to the forefront of Leftist politics & fight for abolition, education, housing for all, and racial justice. As a Latina mom of a diabetic child, she fights for disability rights and brings diabetic awareness to conversations regarding healthcare and Medicare for All.