Next Steps Florida is a left-of-center organization dedicated to electing non-centrist Democratic Party candidates within the state of Florida. ¹ Next Steps Florida seeks to incubate activists that align with climate change activism, race-centric politics, and increased government control over health care and the broader economy. ²

Background

Next Step Florida was created in 2019 by Laurie Schecter to incubate non-centrist Democratic Party activists in the state of Florida. ³ Next Steps Florida has derisively called the Florida Republican Party “populist,” claiming that the state level party engages in “hateful [and] nonsensical attacks” against minorities and that it seeks to alienate minorities in the state of Florida. ⁴

Next Steps Florida seeks to increase voter turnout for Democratic Party candidates aligned with its objectives, claiming to follow former Georgia State Rep. Stacey Abrams’s organizing approach by engaging Florida’s hard left-of-center base, persuading the middle, and alienating their opposition. ⁵ Next Steps Florida’s model involves reaching newly registered voters and people who don’t generally vote in elections. ⁶

Funding

In 2019, Next Steps Florida received $300,000 in contributions, ⁷ made $235,120 in expenditures, ⁸ and possessed $64,880 in assets. ⁹

Next Steps Florida routes its viewers to a donation page operated by ActBlue Civics, the political advocacy and lobbying arm of ActBlue, ¹⁰ a political action committee (PAC) that acts as “the online clearinghouse for Democratic [Party] action.” ¹¹

Activism Incubator

Next Steps Florida operates an activism incubator to train young individuals to adopt and advocate for the views that the organization espouses. ¹² Many Democratic Party politicians, including Obama administration Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) secretary Julian Castro, former Representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL), and current Representative Darren Soto (D-FL), reportedly helped train participants. ¹³

In addition, the Next Steps Florida activism incubator has been supported by the left-of-center workshop and organization consulting organization Leading Change Network and Marshall Ganz. Marshall Ganz is a Harvard Kennedy School of Government professor of political organization, who is credited with devising the grassroots organizing model and training used by the 2008 Obama presidential campaign. ¹⁴

Leadership

Next Steps Florida’s founder and executive director is Laurie Schecter. ¹⁵ Laurie Schecter is the daughter of real estate mogul Aaron Schecter, ¹⁶ and a trustee of the Aaron and Martha Schecter Private Foundation, a left-of-center grantmaking organization created by Laurie Schecter’s parents for her and her siblings to operate. ¹⁷ In 2021, Laurie Schecter spent $6,000 to file applications to rename streets in Hollywood, Florida that were named after Civil War generals. ¹⁸

1. “About Us” Next Steps Florida. https://nextstepsfl.com/?fbclid=IwAR0weS-7OUCezpPRNdlUPCpTpgONgCZ3L4-PXJzYOh5iZw9JnzBI9ID-53U
2. “About Us” Next Steps Florida. https://nextstepsfl.com/?fbclid=IwAR0weS-7OUCezpPRNdlUPCpTpgONgCZ3L4-PXJzYOh5iZw9JnzBI9ID-53U
3. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Next Steps Florida. L. 2019.
4. ^[1] “About Us” Next Steps Florida. https://nextstepsfl.com/?fbclid=IwAR0weS-7OUCezpPRNdlUPCpTpgONgCZ3L4-PXJzYOh5iZw9JnzBI9ID-53U
5. “About Us” Next Steps Florida. https://nextstepsfl.com/?fbclid=IwAR0weS-7OUCezpPRNdlUPCpTpgONgCZ3L4-PXJzYOh5iZw9JnzBI9ID-53U
6.  “About Us” Next Steps Florida. https://nextstepsfl.com/?fbclid=IwAR0weS-7OUCezpPRNdlUPCpTpgONgCZ3L4-PXJzYOh5iZw9JnzBI9ID-53U
7. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Next Steps Florida. Part I, line 8. 2019.
8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Next Steps Florida. Part I, line 18. 2019.
9. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Next Steps Florida. Part I, line 22. 2019.
10. “Donate to ActBlue Civics” ActBlue Civics. https://secure.actblue.com/donate/actblue-civics-1
11. “Where’s the Money?” The Harvard Crimson. http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2008/4/30/wheres-the-money-p-alignleftthe-office.
12. “Group aims to train Florida’s next generation of progressive leaders” Florida Politics. May 5, 2020. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/331190-group-aims-to-train-floridas-next-generation-of-progressive-leaders/
13. “Group aims to train Florida’s next generation of progressive leaders” Florida Politics. May 5, 2020. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://floridapolitics.com/archives/331190-group-aims-to-train-floridas-next-generation-of-progressive-leaders/
14. Menn, Slava. “What Obama’s Organizer-In-Chief Can Teach You About Crowdfunding” Inc. Accessed August 4, 2022. https://www.inc.com/slava-menn/what-obama-s-organizer-in-chief-can-teach-you-about-crowdfunding.html
15. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Next Steps Florida. L. 2019.
16. Brecher, Elinor J. “Aaron Schecter, developer of first Century Village, dies” Sun-Sentinel. May 2, 2010. Accessed August 3, 2022. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-2010-05-02-fl-century-village-founder-20100501-story.html
17. “Martha Schecter.” IBerkshires.com. September 16, 2001. Accessed August 3, 2022. http://www.iberkshires.com/community/printerFriendly.php?ob_id=1022.
18.  Susannah, Bryan. “Tired of Confederate street names, she pays $6,000 to prod Hollywood for change” Sun-Sentinel. June 23, 2017. Accessed August 3, 2022.  https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fl-sb-forrest-street-hollywood-profile-20170623-story.html