The Rocky Mountain Political Law Institute is a new educational nonprofit aiming to teach legal basics to activists around the country.
We envision a country where widespread public knowledge of the law means political power no longer belongs to only those who can afford lawyers.
As activists ourselves, we aim to deliver the information that other activists need to know about the First Amendment, ballot access, campaign finance, elections and voting, and forming and running organizations.
The RMPLI Mission
Our mission is to promote broad public participation in government decision making and the political process by educating the public about the mechanisms of political power.
The RMPLI Vision
We envision a country where widespread public knowledge of the law means political power no longer belongs to only those who can afford lawyers.
Our Values
Integrity & Stewardship
We serve our community by serving everyone in it.
Inclusivity
Everyone is welcome and has the right to participate, regardless of their economic, social, or educational status.
Collaboration
Good faith collaboration is vital for success.
Civility
We believe that true progress can only be made when we are respectful to one another.
Life-Long Learning
The people can be empowered through education – an educated community is a civically engaged community.
The RMPLI Team
We are a group of activists helping activists navigate the rules of political participation and empowering the public to influence our government.
Mike McCorkle
Chair and Program Director
Mike is a Colorado attorney and political activist who has helped dozens of grassroots organizations coast-to-coast, advises candidates for state, local, and federal office, and represents PACs, superPACs, ballot-issue committees, political parties, and a wide variety of nonprofits. His legal education focused on international commerce and intellectual property, and his work after graduation was in tax and litigation, but his personal connections with fellow activists drew him into the political and nonprofits work that he’s done now for years. He runs a private law practice, Capitol Hill Law, and lives in Denver with his wife, a whole lot of books, and about ten guitars.
Aaron Hexom
Vice Chair
With an interest in politics, Aaron’s life experiences would reveal difficulties in involvement. His journey in marrying passion for change to being that change drove him to see urgency in work Rocky Mountain Political Law Institute does.
Raised in North Dakota, Aaron moved across the country to pursue college and art. It was what preceded this, however, that was one of his most pivotal moments. At nineteen Aaron was involved in a motor vehicle accident, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. This would change his life focus and passion towards politics. He had gone from a caretaker and heavy equipment operator to being told he would never walk again.
Aaron moved from ND to WA. It was a transition from Rush Limbaugh to Dan Savage and a glimpse at how easily misfortune can take away bootstraps needed to pull oneself up. His first job with a disability was a doctor’s assistant in Edmonds, WA. Working half the hours as his previous jobs was a struggle.
Aaron would major in Philosophy at the University of Washington. While at the UW Aaron studied art at Gage Academy. He dipped his toes into selling art from a studio loft in Seattle. After completing his undergraduate he would go on to study painting at the New York Academy of Art.
While in NYC Aaron became passionate about change. This passion was born from struggle keeping up with those surrounding him. From stairs at subway terminals to cabs that refused service, NYC was less than accessible. The need for change was there but the circumstances would not allow Aaron to fight for it. These challenges led Aaron to move back to Seattle.
After working as an artist in Seattle Aaron would move to Great Falls, MT. There he was given advantage of time to become active in politics. He would virtually join volunteers in dissecting the complexity of ballot access. From there he would join others in forming Rocky Mountain Political Law Institute.
Through his life experiences and need for change, Aaron was excited to join the RMPLI team as a Vice Chair. For him, RMPLI is an integral part in helping others marry their passion for change to being that change.
Matt Grimshaw
Records Custodian
After a decade innovating for the military industrial complex, Matt finally stopped to ask himself how his efforts were impacting the world. The difficult answer led to a career change.
Now delighted to be building people power instead of bombs, he brings experience volunteering in a variety of roles for political and social justice campaigns and a joy for teaching complex ideas.
Dana Manning
Board Member
Dana has been working in the legal field as a litigation specialist for 25 years. An English Literature major with a love for books, she is also a Director for the TYT Army Research and Reporting department and the National Coordinator for the state and local chapters of the TYT Army, a volunteer-led media watchdog and research group. She is also an experienced moderator and volunteer organizer, a talented musician and athlete, and has been politically active in Colorado progressive politics for many years. She lives in Denver with her husband, a bunch of plants, and musical instruments.
Steve Mann
Board Member
Steve Mann has been a gardener since he was an infant when he heard his mom shout for joy, “let’s plant peas.” Since then, he has worn many hats, carpenter, construction business owner, construction engineer, computer programmer, business systems analyst and now Agroforester. All along that journey he kept his fingers in the soil and lived in the seasons.
In 2008 Steve took an early retirement from Sprint and pursued a new career as an urban farmer selling at Badseed Farmers Market and through a CSA and coop. Steve worked as Site Developer for Cultivate Kansas City developing 2 ½ Acres of community gardens in Kansa City KS. He learned many lessons in his urban food system immersion. One of the main lessons was that agriculture, even organic, is ecologically unsustainable over the long run. In pursuit of answers, Steve entered the Masters program in Agroforestry at the University of Missouri Columbia graduating in 2015 with a Master of Science in Natural Resources and a Graduate Certificate in Agroforestry. He is also a Certified Permaculture Designer.
Emma Sron
Board Member
Emma has been an activist since before she even knew it was a thing. She has always had an eye and a heart for the people and issues that many people often overlook. In college, she organized to support the local homeless community and co-created an organization to bring attention to experiences of youth in Uganda. Emma has a degree in psychology, having worked with children on the Autism spectrum as a Mental Health Practitioner before becoming a mother and choosing to stay home. As a homeschooling mom, she has started and worked on disaster relief, independent media, and global health empowerment projects using her communication, tech, and creative skills. Emma is excited to contribute her skill to the growth of RMPLI.