Founded in 2008, Progress Florida promotes progressive, freedom-centered values through digital organizing, media outreach, creative public education campaigns, and close collaboration with local, state, and national organizations working to build a better Florida.
Progress Florida advocates for people-first policies and holds elected officials accountable by empowering citizens in their communities. We fight for a more affordable state, economic fairness, reproductive freedom, strengthening neighborhood public schools, access to quality health care, a fair and independent judiciary, environmental protection, a clean energy future, and more.
Progress Florida combines online organizing and communication focused strategies with offline action to win meaningful, sustainable solutions for our state and local communities. Our goals are to:
- Build a stronger progressive movement in Florida. Progress Florida uses innovative, internet-based organizing and communication tactics to expand public support for progressive causes, organizations, and leadership in local communities and state-wide.
- Win advances in people-first public policy. Working closely with allied organizations, Progress Florida offers concerned citizens effective, easy, and engaging ways to make their voices heard on critical policy decisions that impact our quality of life.
- Generate hard hitting traditional and new media coverage. Progress Florida works to generate news coverage that shines the public spotlight on impactful solutions to real problems. We work with our extensive network of members and advisers to maintain a 24-7 rapid response media operation that pulls no punches when taking on the extreme right.
- Increase civic participation and educate the public. Progress Florida mobilizes our members to ensure that the progressive voice is heard on issues that matter to Floridians. We closely monitor the actions of Florida’s elected leaders and hold accountable those officials who prioritize corporate special interests over the public good.
Our Team
Mark Ferrulo
Executive Director
Raised in St. Petersburg and a graduate of the University of South Florida, Mark has been working for public interest and progressive causes across the state for over two decades. Starting as a grassroots organizer in Miami, Mark worked his way up through the ranks of Florida PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) to become the director in 1998, and was the first director of Environment Florida when it launched in 2006. Since founding Progress Florida, Mark has focused on building the organization into one of the most respected and effective multi-issue progressive communications and digital strategies organizations in the state. Mark is a board member of Environment Florida and Common Cause Florida and in 2017 he was named as one of the “Top 100 Influential Floridians” by INFLUENCE Magazine. When not fighting the good fight Mark enjoys soccer, fishing, and exploring Florida’s best downtowns – big and small.
Damien Filer
Communications Director
Damien is an award-winning political strategist, ballot initiative expert and campaign veteran with decades of experience crafting message and strategy for successful statewide campaigns in Florida and across the country. Damien is a sought-after media trainer and speaker having trained students, advocates, campaign workers and candidates from around the country. He appears frequently in leading news outlets advocating for progressive policy solutions and government accountability. Damien is a Tallahassee native and enjoys daily walks with his dogs at the Fred George Basin Greenway and other great parks in the community. He spends his free time working on various music and literary projects.
Jon Bleyer
Special Projects Director
Jon has been active in social and political causes throughout his life. He first got involved with progressive politics while attending Tulane University and later honed his grassroots organizing skills by directing the California Public Interest Research Group (CalPIRG) San Diego campaign office. Since then Jon has served as a campaign strategist and earned media consultant for a broad range of successful progressive issue campaigns in Florida and around the country. A native Floridian, Jon is a co-founder of Wildwood Preservation Society, which was instrumental in establishing Leon County’s Fred George Basin Greenway. His many other pursuits include hiking, flying disc sports, researching Tallahassee’s music history, and collecting vintage art.
Sarah Hoffman
Digital Organizer
A University of Florida graduate with a BA Political Science. Originally from South Florida, since high school Sarah has had a passion for grassroots organizing, politics, and wildlife.
She became interested in politics after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school shooting, where she protested outside her school with classmates for strict gun control. After high school, Sarah volunteered for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and Andrew Gillum’s gubernatorial campaign. She also worked as a fundraiser for nonprofits like Amnesty International.
Sarah is a student journalist published in both local and national publications. She also worked for the National Organization for Women in their Florida chapter as their interim communications director. When she’s not glued to her computer or creating political memes, she is studying her Jewish faith, reading, writing, spending time with her two puppies, walking nature trails, and collecting bugs.
Cheyenne Drews
Deputy Communications Director
Born and raised in Florida, Cheyenne (she/her) has a long track-record of leadership on policy, communications, campaigns, and constituent services. A graduate of the University of Central Florida, she was the Operations Supervisor for the Mothers’ Milk Bank of Florida before becoming a Public Policy Consultant for Planned Parenthood. In 2020, she managed Representative Anna V. Eskamani’s re-election campaign for Florida House and served as her Chief of Staff in the legislature. Currently, she serves on the Steering Committee for the Floridians for Reproductive Freedom Coalition.If not in her inbox, you can find Cheyenne at an Orlando vegan restaurant, canvassing, enjoying a concert, or with her rescue dog Cooper.