Marathon for Peace 2023 – Stop White Christian Nationalism

At the finish line and just before on June 24:

Grandpa and Granddaughter Cross the Finish Line – June 24, 2023

Family and Friends,

With my three-year-old granddaughter Sonia powering me the last 50 yards, I crossed the Goleta Beach Half Marathon finish line Saturday in 2:29:37. It was a warm sunny day with no cloud cover or cool sea breeze. But I still ran my fastest half marathon since back issues forced me to stop running full marathons when I was 71. The days I could consistently do half marathons under 1:40 (my best was 1:33, 7/10 per mile) are 20 years gone. But I didn’t have Sonia to run with me then, so I’m way ahead of the game!

The report on Convergence fundraising is positive too. We are more than 92% of the way to our $25,000 goal with a week left in our 2023 effort. Please consider pushing the drive over its finish line with a sustainer pledge or a one-time donation.

Thanks to all for the generous support for my run and for Convergence, a project, aimed at stopping the rise to power of white Christian Nationalism and starting a new progressive cycle in U.S. politics.

Peace and hope,

Max

June 7, 2023

Friends and Family,

I will be running my 18th Annual (Half) Marathon for Peace on June 24 to benefit Convergence Magazine and I am writing to ask for your support.

I am running and fundraising with a greater sense of urgency than ever this year.

At age 75, having pounded out more than 43,000 miles and 40 full marathons in the last 28 years, it is a challenge to cover 13.1 miles before race organizers shut down the finish line. But I am both (1) plenty worried about the MAGA drive to impose white Christian Nationalist rule; and (2) quite hopeful about Convergence potential contribution to defeating MAGA and building the independent political clout of the left along the way.

Convergence now has two full-time staff, Publisher Cayden Mak and Podcast Producer Josh Elstro. The project is embedded in and increasingly important to the array of grassroots organizations that integrate electoral work into a long-term power building strategy. Many of those groups are featured in the Convergence-sponsored book Power Concedes Nothing: How Grassroots Organizing Wins Elections, which I co-edited with Linda Burnham and Maria Poblet.

This year Convergence Fundraising goal is $25,000. Thanks to a few generous donors, there is a $10,000 Matching Fund toward reaching that target. A priority for 2023 is to expand the number of regular monthly donors. For the first time, Convergence is offering premiums for those who sign up: t-shirts, hats, tote bags, mugs, and/or a copy of Power Concedes Nothing. For all details and to sign up, please go to:  

https://www.patreon.com/convergencemag/membership

If you would rather make a one-time contribution, you can do that by going to:

https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/convergence-2023-fund-drive

I will be pushing my body to the finish line on June 24 and also giving what financial support I can to Convergence. The times are perilous. But if we can galvanize the anti-MAGA majority and forge a radical political trend strong enough to drive it forward, we can change the direction of the country. Please consider lending Convergence your support.

Thanks, Peace, and Hope,

Max

PS. Contributions are tax-deductible, and if you prefer to write a check, send it to Convergence, 490 Lake Park Ave. #10062, Oakland, CA 94610