Founding
Kirk founds Turning Point just after leaving high school. The organization’s mission is to identify, educate, train, and organize students to promote the principles of fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government.
Meet at convention
Kirk is about to leave the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa when he spots Friess in a stairwell and pitches him on his idea of starting a grass-roots organization to rival liberal groups such as MoveOn.org. Kirk receives funds from Friess three weeks later. Freiss:
He impressed me with his capacity to lead, intelligence, and love for America. I instantly knew I wanted to support him.
We, The People convention speech
Kirk gives a speech at the We, The People convention is Columbus Ohio.
I get to communicate with a lot of young people, I get to meet with a lot of college students and a lot of high school kids, and I can tell you that after voting for this President twice there is a lot of… they are reconsidering their decision in more ways than one. And it’s up to us to paint an alternative and be able to construct a vision for them to plug into.
Bloomberg profile
Kirk and Turning Point are profiled by Bloomberg. The article says that the group’s paid workers are each supposed to make at least 1,500 student contacts per semester. and that about 20,000 people have attended a Turning Point event, posted on social media, or volunteered for the group’s events. The organization claims it registered 10,30 voters in Florida in April 2015, and is looking to recruit at least 1000 activists in key battleground states each month. Kirk says he is following the Moveon.org model to grow the group:
I don’t think I agree with them on a single issue. But I have nothing but respect for how successful they’ve been.