Boise Democratic Socialists of America

We are the Boise, Idaho chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America. We organize for the rights of the disenfranchised majority in our community, both at home and abroad. We are building a democratic organization and socialist presence in our community, finding common interests with other organizations, independent of capitalist interests and their political parties. Our strategy acknowledges that an upper class with overwhelming economic power in our society is incompatible with democracy.

Our conception of socialism is a profoundly democratic one. It is rooted in the belief that human beings should be free to develop to their fullest potential, that public policies should be determined not by wealth but by popular participation, and that individual liberties should be carefully safeguarded.

Interested in building people power in Boise?

Learn more about Boise DSA and how to get involved from our Orientation Document

Join one of our active committees or working groups and find out more!

Interested? you can fill out our Boise DSA Working Group Signup Form

or, you can email us at mail@boisedsa.org if interested in joining an existing working group

Existing committees and working groups (WG)

Labor Organizing Committee - Helping organize Boise workers, promoting a rank-and-file-led union movement.

Mutual Aid Committee - Meal preparation with fellow comrades for distribution within the community in coordination with other established local mutual aid groups.

Tenant Organizing Committee - TOC is best understood through its relationship to Boise Tenants United, Boise’s first city-wide tenants union. More information about BTU can be found at its website. TOC is committed to building tenant power by organizing tenants’ associations. Tenants’ associations are formal organizations in individual buildings which, like labor unions, act as a democratic, representative body of tenants agreeing to collectively organize in opposition to their landlord. Tenants’ associations differ from tenant unions in that they represent the interests and needs of single buildings, while a tenant union such as BTU organizes and coordinates associations to achieve collective aims, such as city-wide pro-tenant reforms.

Publishing Committee - Creates graphics, posts, and flyers to spread our message.

Electoral WG - Working to support socialists candidates for public office in idaho. Currently supporting the independent gubernatorial campaign of Maxine Durand.

Our General Discussion Group is focused on the general political development of Boise DSA members. Topics of study are selected democratically every month, with meetings held weekly. Developing public educationals and other concrete actions connected to discussion groups is an ongoing process.

Our Organizer Study Group is focused on educating committed organizers of tenants, workers, etc. The organizer study group is somewhat more intensive than the general discussion group, with selected readings including fairly long books relating to the details of organizing. The organizer study group is made up of Boise DSA members with hands-on experience organizing, and discussions include real-life applications of lessons in our community.