Make the Road Action (MRA) is a left-of-center activist group that recruits activists from immigrant, ethnic minority, and LGBT communities to advance left-of-center policy objectives. ¹ In particular, the group focuses on increasing the political influence of Hispanic communities. ²

MRA is affiliated with Make the Road New York and its sister organizations in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Nevada. The state chapters engage in issue advocacy while MRA endorses candidates and is involved in political campaigns. The group is also affiliated with the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund, the sister organization of the Center for Popular Democracy, which promotes a wide range of left-of-center policies. ³

Policy Positions

Make the Road Action engages in left-of-center activism in several areas, especially immigration, education, criminal justice, and labor policy.

MRA opposes the enforcement of United States immigration laws both at the border and within the United States. The group also supports granting citizenship to all illegal immigrants currently living in the United States and eliminating Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ⁴ MRA also supports reducing or ending the incarceration illegal immigrants and criminals from ethnic minority backgrounds. ⁵

MRA supports raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and building more taxpayer-funded low-income housing. The group also promotes increasing the influence of labor unions. ⁶ MRA has also called for increases in taxpayer funding for public schools, accompanied by a reduction in the use of disciplinary measures in schools. ⁷

State Initiatives

In New York, MRA claims to be a “leading voice” for immigrants and minority voters. The group runs initiatives that promote left-of-center policies to voters, especially in New York City. MRA also touts its “long track record” of supporting far-left Democratic candidates in the state as opposed to more moderate, center-left officials. ⁸

In Connecticut, MRA claims that elected officials do not sufficiently align with the left, even though it acknowledges that Connecticut is a “blue state.” MRA attempts to stop the enforcement of immigration law by interfering with ICE raids and bringing attention to deportations, pressuring local governments into not cooperating with immigration authorities. ⁹

In Nevada, MRA has been specifically targeting Hispanic voters to increase their turnout in support of Democratic candidates. Noting that elections in Nevada are often determined by slim margins, the group says it aims to mobilize Hispanic and immigrant voter blocs to “reshape” politics in the state. ¹⁰

In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, MRA has worked to mobilize immigrant and minority voters to win elections for Democratic politicians. ¹¹¹²

Candidate Endorsements

MRA has endorsed candidates for multiple elected positions in New York City. Notably, the group endorsed far-left activist Jumaane Williams (D-Brooklyn) for Public Advocate. ¹³ In August 2020, Williams claimed that New York City police had engaged in a “deliberate slowdown” in enforcing laws and blamed them for “a horrific rise in shootings.” Earlier in the year though, Williams demanded that police funding be cut and threatened to shut down city government functions if his demand was not met. Williams has also demanded that jails be eliminated, repeatedly attributed disparities in arrests to racism, and pushed for replacing police officers with unarmed social workers and “violence interrupters” in responding to 911 calls. ¹⁴

In January 2024, members of Make the Road Action were present at the re-election campaign kick-off rally for Rep. Jamal Bowman (D-NY). A post made by the group’s account on X (previously Twitter) stated, “We are ready to re-elect him!” ¹⁵

Leadership

Daniel Altschuler and Theo Oshiro are co-executive directors of the organization. Altschuler also serves on the board of the Taoist Studies Institute at the Northwest School of Internal Arts in Seattle, as of 2021. ¹⁶ Oshiro was previously a board member for the Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund as of 2022. ¹⁷

Financials

In 2017, MRA generated just under $548,000 in total income, mostly from program service revenue with a small portion from contributions. In 2018, the group’s income exceeded $1.9 million, more than three times that of the previous year. ¹⁸

According to their 2022 990 form, the MRA reported a revenue of $5,964,350, expenses of $5,181,541, and total assets of $5,831,515. ¹⁹

1. Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/
2.        Make the Road Action. “About.” Facebook. Accessed April 18, 2021.https://www.facebook.com/pg/maketheroadaction/about/?ref=page_internal
3. Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/
4.          “Issues.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/issues
5.        “Issues.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/issues
6.             “Issues.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/issues
7.        “Issues.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/issues
8.         “New York.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/new_york
9.        “Connecticut.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/connecticut
10.      “Nevada.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/nevada
11.           “New Jersey.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/new_jersey
12.        “Pennsylvania.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021.https://www.maketheroadaction.org/pennsylvania
13.              “New York City Endorsements.” Make the Road Action. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.maketheroadaction.org/nyc_endorsements
14.   Seth Barron. “Condemn, Then Complain.” City Journal. August 21, 2020. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://www.city-journal.org/jumaane-williams-nyc-police
15. Make the Road Action (@MaketheRoadAct). “Our members are EXCITED to join Rep. @JamaalBowmanNY for his campaign kick-off rally & canvass. As our member Doris said to Rep. Bowman: “I may not be able to vote, but I know many ppl who can vote for you and I’ll make sure they do vote for you.” We are ready to re-elect him!” Twitter, January 24, 2024. https://twitter.com/MaketheRoadAct/status/1750331245005766682
16.  Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Taoist Studies Institute, 2021. Part I.https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/911528828/202243269349300414/IRS990.
17. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Center for Popular Democracy Action Fund. 2022. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/453860271/202343179349307894/IRS990
18. Make The Road Action Fund Inc. Internal Revenue Service. 2018. Accessed April 18, 2021. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/display_990/271408443/02_2020_prefixes_27-30%2F271408443_201812_990O_2020020617120580
19. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Make the Road Action Fund, Inc. Part I. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/271408443/202333189349311913/full