America’s Plan is meant to grow issue by issue. Some issues are already on the map; others are still missing because no one has stepped forward yet to help define them from an affected‑party perspective. This page explains how to propose a new issue for the platform.
You do not need to be an expert to do this. You only need to be close enough to the problem that you can describe how you are affected and what is going wrong in real life.
What belongs here
The project can only take on so many issues at once, so proposals are most useful when they:
- Describe a real, ongoing problem that affects people over time, not just a one‑day controversy.
- Involve systems, rules, or power structures (not only individual bad actors).
- Have at least some potential for long‑term work: plans, pressure, and accountability, not just venting.
If you are not sure whether your concern fits, it is still fine to reach out. Part of the job here is helping people translate concern into issues that can be worked on.
Why we can’t add everything
America’s Plan is built to be multi‑issue, but not infinite. Adding an issue without any capacity to work on it is worse than being honest that the project is not ready for it yet.
For each new issue, we look for at least:
- clear, ongoing harm or risk;
- a plausible path for affected people to find each other and work together;
- some capacity to build and maintain a basic hub without abandoning existing issues.
This is not a gate to keep people out. It is a guardrail so that issues added to the map have a real chance of becoming more than placeholders.
What to include in your proposal
When you propose an issue, the most helpful thing you can do is answer a few simple questions. You can do this via a future form or, for now, through the Contact page.
You do not have to copy this exact wording, but these are the kinds of questions that help:
- What is the issue?
In one or two sentences, describe the core problem as clearly as you can. - Who is affected?
Who is living with the consequences? If you are directly affected, say so. - What are some examples?
Share a few concrete situations or patterns that show the issue in real life. - What would “better” look like?
You do not need a detailed plan, but it helps to know what kind of change you are hoping for. - How might people work on this here?
Are you imagining discussion, a hub, research, checklists, local organizing, something else? - How involved could you be?
Can you help as an affected‑party contributor, a potential facilitator, or in a support role?
Short, grounded answers to these questions make it much easier to see whether and how an issue can be added to the map.
How to send a proposal
Until there is a dedicated form, the simplest path is:
- Go to the Contact page.
- Use a subject like “Proposed issue: [your issue name].”
- Paste your answers to the questions above into the message.
If a future “Propose an Issue” form comes online, this page can link directly to it while keeping the questions visible so people know what to expect.
What happens after you propose an issue
When you propose an issue, one of a few things may happen:
- We may suggest ways to connect it to an existing issue or hub if it fits inside something already on the map.
- We may log it as a developing issue if there is clear need but not enough capacity yet to build a full hub.
- We may work with you (and others) to shape it into a new hub candidate if there is enough interest and affected‑party involvement.
If an issue moves forward, it will eventually show up on the All Issues page and Hubs Map, with its current stage clearly marked.
If your issue is very sensitive
Some issues (for example, involving immigration status, workplace retaliation, or safety risks) require extra caution. If that applies to you:
- Say so in your proposal, in whatever level of detail feels safe.
- You can request that your message be treated as confidential and not quoted directly.
- You can propose working under a pseudonym or in a smaller initial circle.
The Safety & Access page has more on how we think about risk and anonymity; this page is mainly about the content of issues, not about operational security.
This article was researched and drafted with AI assistance under human review. See our full AI and editorial practices.