Netroots Nation 2021

The 2021 Netroots Nation Conference.

Agenda

SOS: SAVING DEMOCRACY ONE VOTE AT A TIME Featured Keynote Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 11:30am (Eastern)

Secretaries of State on the frontlines of administering the nation’s election laws discuss the threats to voting rights and what we need to do to save our democracy. This panel features Secretaries’ personal stories of the 2020 election emergency pandemic response, the backlash election administrators continue to face in the aftermath, and what’s at stake in 2022. We’ll hear from Secretaries Jena Griswold of Colorado, Denise Merrill of Connecticut, Shenna Bellows of Maine, and Jocelyn Benson of Michigan directly on reforms needed to protect voting rights and how we fight back against voter suppression and election subversion at every level.

Led by: Carolyn Fiddler

Panelists: Shenna Bellows, Jocelyn Benson, Jena Griswold, Denise Merrill

CONGRESS IS AN UNSTABLE WORKPLACE: EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF JANUARY 6 ON THE HILL Featured Keynote Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 11:30am (Eastern)

It’s been months since the January 6 insurrection, and America still hasn’t reconciled with this attack on our nation’s sovereignty. Congress was unable to pass an Independent Commission; many Republican electeds are attempting to downplay the coup or deny that it happened at all; and a modern lost-cause myth is beginning to emerge. Meanwhile, the Hill remains a workplace for thousands of people from custodians to members of Congress who continue to go to work every day despite their own trauma. This panel will examine how our lack of accountability has turned Congress into a toxic workplace—and the chilling effect that has on American democracy.

Led by: Melissa Ryan

Panelists: Matthew Fuller, Sarah Groh, Sarah Iddrissu, Ted Lieu

MINDFULNESS MOMENT Special Event; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 12:35pm (Eastern)

Need a break to regroup and recenter? Join us for a mid-day mindfulness moment to reset after the morning sessions and stay grounded headed into the afternoon.

Led by: Reggie Hubbard

THE TRAP OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM: HOW NOT TO FIGHT WHITE SUPREMACY Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

As progressives, we know that racial profiling, warrantless surveillance, predictive policing, biased algorithms, and censorship are all ineffective and unjust. DHS’s “Countering Violent Extremism” programs institutionalize all of those practices under the pretext of fighting terrorism. Why then, are so many progressive groups willing to embrace CVE to fight white supremacy? This session will cover how CVE and its twin, Black Identity Extremism, function; the historical roots of surveillance in the US, language tools for shifting away from the War on Terror narrative, organizing strategies for CVE and similar programs (like gang prevention), and opportunity for collaboration with the National StopCVE Coalition.

Led by: Amira Al-Subaey

Panelists: Fatema Ahmad, Myaisha Hayes, Celine Qussiny

CENTER THE CRIMINALIZED: THE IMPORTANCE OF INTERSECTIONAL CASE CAMPAIGNS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

The summer of 2020 brought the country’s focus to the fact that, by design, policing and incarceration criminalize Black people and communities of color. When people are deemed eligible for release from prisons or jails, ICE funnels them directly into its system of detention and deportation, utterly frustrating criminal justice reform efforts. Attorneys, advocates, communicators, and impacted individuals share what immigrant rights advocates need to know about the entanglement of the criminal and immigration systems; the specific challenges encountered when working on a “crim-imm” case campaigns; and the messaging strategies we should employ to ensure that no one is left behind — through language or policies.

Led by: Sirine Shebaya

Panelists: Erika Andiola, Karim Golding, Nana Gyamfi, Arianna Rosales

MANAGER CONFESSIONS: THIS MEETING COULD HAVE BEEN AN EMAIL Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Is “progressive manager” an oxymoron? Many of us have seen people in that role oppress and take advantage of others. And most of the resources out there are written by white, corporate-centric people. How do we challenge these olds patterns and systems? How do we live our values as progressives in management roles? This panel will explore our struggles and shortcomings, our aspirations, and how we can continue to push for the progressive movement to treat management as a hard skill, not an afterthought.

Led by: Lola Elfman

Panelists: Malinda Frevert, Justin Jenkins, Ruby Sarron

A DEMOCRATIC VISION AND POLICY AGENDA FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF STATE LEADERS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

We’re living amid accelerating and intersecting crises – racial injustice and the police state, public health and COVID-19, economic domination and insecurity, and climate change. These crises compel us to examine our society. What policies should progressives fight for in the states to avoid a return to “normal?” What vision should we champion to inspire others to join our movement? Learn about a concrete democratic vision and state policy agenda from the next generation of leaders changing the narrative and pushing the envelope with their ideas: worker-owned cooperatives, restorative justice, tenant unions, and democracy vouchers.

Led by: Pete Davis

Panelists: Gina Clayton-Johnson, Estevan Munoz-Howard, Solana Rice

THE AMAZON CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITIES Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Over the next few years, Amazon is set to massively expand its already sprawling network of warehouses, and ultimately become the nation’s largest employer. The company’s quest for consumer market dominance will soon lead to an Amazon delivery station in just about every neighborhood, and the potential to disrupt other industries like grocery and brick and mortar retail. In the face of increased exposure to the company’s low road employment practices of high turnover, high injury rates, and low wages, workers and their neighbors are already fighting back. The Teamsters union is proud to host this panel with labor, environmental, and social justice partners who are helping build the power that working people will need to end the Amazon crisis in our communities.

This session is sponsored by International Brotherhood of Teamsters.

Led by: Mario Vasquez

Panelists: Donell Jefferson, Arlene Martinez, Ben Reynoso, Andrea Vidaurre

COMMUNICATING DURING COVID Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

The COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing, and the recurring cancellation of in-person events scrambled communications strategies for candidates, advocacy organizations and government agencies. More than one year into the pandemic, how have our digital programs evolved Facebook’s Khalid Pagan will moderate a panel with digital practitioners in government, advocacy and campaigns to discuss the changes they’re made to their digital programs due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hear from the panel on the unexpected skills they’ve had to master and the habits they’ll continue when the pandemic finally ends.

This session is sponsored by Facebook.

Led by: Khalid Pagan

Panelists: Adam Abadir, Cara Bernard, Ryan Bizzarro, Roger Lis, Allison Rhone

DIGITAL DOOR KNOCKING: HOW TO BEGIN A 1:1 THROUGH FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM OR TWITTER Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Starting personal DM conversations—on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram—can be an entry point to more meaningful organizing conversations in person or over the phone. Come learn from labor organizers who have worked on Amazon, child care and with retail workers about the best practices we’ve learned on how to avoid being flagged as spam, ending up in that “other” inbox and getting a good response rate from conversations you start with a private message.

Led by: Bianka Nora, Eric Schlein

CAMPAIGN COMMS FROM A TO TWEET Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Candidates and organizations, especially if they’re just getting started, must craft and master their messages — in plain language and in all media. This can mean the difference between success and failure. We’ll discuss tips for doing this, and also how to keep your digital and communications teams playing well with each other! This session will be a useful referesher for experienced communications pros and a good introduction for people new to the field.

Led by: Aimee Castenell, AJ Springer

POWER MAPPING: HOW TO TARGET WITH INTENTION AND MAKE AN IMPACT Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

What is power mapping? It’s not just about mailing lists and data points. It’s campaign work to build community power and effect real systemic change. We’ll give you practical, useful instructions to target with intention. You must ask the right questions at the right time in your campaign planning. This training will show you how to power map, to effectively reach and influence your targets. This workshop is designed for those newer to organizing.

Led by: Nikki Koutsochilis, Abbey Piazza

CREATING COMPELLING SOCIAL CONTENT FOR YOUR CAMPAIGN OR ORGANIZATION Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

You know how your boss keeps saying you should just make that thing go viral? “Going viral” on today’s internet is a herculean task that requires strategy, timing and tremendous amounts of luck. And even if it doesn’t succeed in going viral, you want your post to be effective in building your online community of supporters and activists. So, what kind of social media content will help you do that? Where do you find great content, how often should you post, and what should you be posting? With all the knowledge and testing we’ve accumulated from working at places like Upworthy, Vice, and Versa News, we’ll walk you through some basic strategy to make sure your message has the best chance possible to be effective and maybe even viral. SPOILER: Good storytelling is the most important ingredient.

Led by: Adam Mordecai, Laura Packard

I CAN'T BELIEVE THEY DID THAT! ANTI HARASSMENT & CONFLICT RESOLUTION STRATEGIES Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Harassment and toxic behavior in a group setting is challenging to anyone’s conflict management skills. In the progressive movement, the challenge is pronounced as the behavior is unexpected, so the management skills are underdeveloped. Progressives are encouraged to “call people in” to deal with differences productively — yet we seldom know how to do that, so we risk leaving conflicts unresolved and seeding a toxic environment. It’s seldom taught, but here’s your chance to learn to manage and resolve conflict. We’ll help you understand your own conflict management approach, the tools available to manage different types of conflict, and how to engage in the difficult conversations required to work through conflict effectively.

Led by: Ana Avendano, Paula Brantner

YOUTUBE BEST PRACTICES FOR CIVICS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Learn how to capitalize on the rapid growth of the digital video using YouTube. Join this session for a dive into emerging trends on the platform, as well as the latest features and best practices that can take your video content to the next level.

This session is sponsored by YouTube.

Led by: Emily Keller, John Ruxton

WOMEN AND OTHER TARGETED GROUPS SAFETY & SECURITY MASTER CLASS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Join us for a safety and security masterclass on the latest tools and resources for a safe and impactful presence on Facebook and Instagram. We will cover an overview of our community standards that are meant to help keep you and your communities safe and discuss safety tips and tools built for government officials and public figures and features to protect women and other targeted groups against online harassment. We’ll also go over our updated comment management tools; how to report abusive behavior toward you, fellow staff, or a principle; and our #SheLeads guide, which aims to equip women leaders with the tools they need to use Facebook effectively and safely. We recognize how important it is for Facebook to be a place where people feel empowered to communicate, and we take our role seriously in keeping abuse off our platforms.

Led by: Jen Nedeau Helm, Tracy Rohrbach

JANUARY 6TH: TRACING THE TRAITORS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Public Wise is building a publicly accessible online database of individuals and organizations involved in the deadly riot and insurrection at our nation’s Capitol on January 6, 2021. The violent attacks on that day not only targeted members of Congress, but were a vile attempt to silence the voices of all American voters. Public Wise will bring together key partner organizations who are investigating involvement in the insurrection of elected and public officials, police and military personnel, and those who receive their salaries from taxpayer dollars to ensure long term accountability for their actions. The findings by these organizations will be publicly available on our database, which will be discussed during the panel.

Led by: Stephanie Miliano

Panelists: Christina Baal-Owens, Marc Elias, Austin Evers, Julie Millican

THE INFLUENCE GAME: HOW BIG BUSINESS AFFECTS BIDEN’S NATIONAL-SECURITY POLICY Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Corporate influence affects foreign policy and national security in all sorts of insidious ways. Most of the people who work closely with President Biden are entangled in the opaque world of strategic consultancies and by extension a network of the world’s biggest businesses. Does the potential for future earnings mean that appointees have incentives to not upset corporations? Does it matter that Secretary of State Tony Blinken advised Facebook, Boeing, and big banks—or that 15-plus members of his consulting firm have gone into the administration?

This panel will bring journalists, a watchdog, and a scholar together to consider the under-explored trends in how Big Tech, weapons contractors, and finance interests affect Biden’s policymaking. Led by: Jonathan Guyer

Panelists: Akbar Shahid Ahmed, Kathleen Clark, Mandy Smithberger

RACIALIZING CONTROL: WHY WE NEED TO END RACIST WORKPLACE SURVEILLANCE Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Amazon uses surveillance to monitor, control, and exploit its low-wage workforce. It also plays a role in rapidly expanding police/ICE surveillance in Black and brown communities. In this panel, we will hear from anti-surveillance organizers and activists in the warehouse who are working to end Amazon’s policing of workers and communities. We’ll also explore the long and racist history that connects these fights.

Led by: April Glaser

Panelists: Mona Abhari, Allegra Brown, Ayele Hunt

WHEN MILLIONS ARE SPENT AND NO INFRASTRUCTURE IS LEFT BEHIND Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Why is the cost of running for public office outpacing development of progressive civic infrastructure? Why do national Democrats routinely spend millions of dollars every four years in some states, but leave little (if any) long-term progressive infrastructure behind? These panelist will share lessons learned from their campaigns and opportunities they see to build in-state infrastructure that is inclusive and representative of the community.

Led by: Joe Sudbay

Panelists: Anna Eskamani, Ricky Hurtado, J.D. Scholten

THE THREAT OF BIG TECH AND DISINFORMATION TO SOCIAL MOVEMENTS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

We all saw the corrosive influence of disinformation in 2020. And it was just as activists had warned: tech platforms are poisoning society and have far too much power to control our communications.They have supported an agenda that is white supremacist, anti-women, anti-immigrant, and anti-environment. We must recognize the threat this poses to all of us and organize to combat their power. Panelists will discuss how platform power and disinformation affected their communities in 2020, and how they plan to fight it in 2021.

Led by: Melissa Ryan

Panelists: Michael Khoo, Erin Shields, Brennan Suen, Bridget Todd

MAKING PROGRESS ON MARIJUANA POLICY REFORM IN CONGRESS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Join Representatives Barbara Lee and Earl Blumenauer, along with key advocates, to discuss pending efforts in Congress to repeal the prohibition and criminalization of cannabis at the federal level. We’ll discuss the MORE Act which passed in December of 2020 and similar legislation.

Led by: Justin Strekal

Panelists: Queen Adesuyi, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, Rep. Barbara Lee, Jason Ortiz

PRESSURE COOKER: RESPONSIVE DIGITAL STRATEGY IN A CHARGED WORLD Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Digital practitioners are on the front lines — responding to the news of the day as well as managing existing projects, all in a complicated and rapidly evolving political environment. Experts from campaigns and organizations will answer tough questions about how to set priorities, manage expectations and maintain authenticity within a crowded digital landscape.

This session is sponsored by Emily's List.

Led by: Danielle Henry

Panelists: Merone Hailemeskel, Mikka Kei Macdonald, Caitlin Mitchell, Tessa Simonds

BEYOND FUNDRAISING: HOW TO BUILD A ROBUST TEXTING PROGRAM Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

With high read rates and relatively low cost, texting is becoming integral to nearly every fundraising program. Good news: texting can do so much more! Join us to learn how you can use your texting platform to benefit other aspects of your organization including direct voter contact, organizing, advocacy, voter protection and more.

This session is sponsored by Prompt.io.

Led by: Brenna Cully

IS THIS A CRISIS? HOW TO DECIDE AND RESPOND Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

We work in a highly-engaged, easily-enraged communications environment. We are surrounded by crisis all the time; poverty, racism, inequity and injustice are all clear and present dangers. Should we react to everything we see? Are there some situations where that might not be helpful? If we are going to do sustainable work we must have sustained and sustainable strategies for responding to crises. We’ll offer a rubric for folks to determine when to react and how.

Led by: Anna Castro, Amanda Cooper

BUILD BROADBAND BETTER Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

The COVID-19 pandemic has made affordable, reliable broadband service more important than ever. It has also exposed the gaps in coverage. Billions in federal, state and local funds have been allocated to address the problem, but decades of telecom deregulation have shown us that without proper oversight, rural and low income communities may continue to be left without next generation communications services. During this panel, frontline telecommunications workers and policy experts will discuss what we can do to strengthen regulation at the state level and ensure that investment in broadband provides service to those most in need and creates good, sustainable jobs in our communities.

This session is sponsored by the Communications Workers of America.

Led by: Linda Hinton

Panelists: Robin Johnson, Chris Lewis, Fernando M. Roman Jr, Matt Wood

YOUR VOICE IS DOING A LOT OF TALKING! HOW YOU SAY THINGS REALLY MATTERS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

What is it about the great speakers like President Obama and Amanda Gorman? It’s not the great speech writing; It’s the WAY that they speak that draws you in. This session goes beyond your words/content to use your voice to best communicate your ideas. Join us for techniques and skill for using your voice, and tips for taking good care of that instrument.

Led by: Arshad Hasan, Vicki Roush

ILLUSIONS OF UBIQUITY: CREATIVE DIGITAL ADVERTISING FOR CAMPAIGNS AND ADVOCACY Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Political and advocacy campaigns use digital advertising in a range of creative ways. We’ll examine how ads can help with testing, fundraising, persuasion, recruiting, mobilization, GOTV and more. We’ll dig into questions including: What is addressable advertising and what are its limits? How can digital ads help a fundraising email perform better? How can they help you build a messaging strategy, or turn out the right voters? What options lie beyond Facebook and Google? How can careful targeting help stretch a thin budget? And, how do you create an “illusion of ubiquity”? We’ll dive into these topics and more, inviting participants to share their own creative digital advertising experiments.

Led by: Colin Delany

THE INTERSECTION OF SOCIAL IMPACT, INCLUSION, AND DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

61M Americans live with a disability. If we want to bring about real, widespread change, we need to include all activists who want to join in the fight, including those with disabilities. We cannot afford even unintentionally to create barriers to participation. Ensuring that your work is fully inclusive across your digital channels is key. Right from the first interaction with your organization, every person should be able to learn, sign up, and get involved with ease. Come to this session to learn more about the fundamentals of digital accessibility and why and how your organization can do what it takes to ensure we bring everyone along in the movement for social change.

Led by: Jen Frazier

WRITING POWERFUL EMAIL BLASTS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

The backbone of online communications is still writing powerful email that your list will want to open, read and take action on. This training will teach best practices in email writing including subject lines and A/B testing (even if your list is “too small to test”). Led by: Reuben Hayslett "Tihi"

ELECTIONS Q&A WITH DAILY KOS ELECTIONS! Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Progressives need to be well-informed about the elections that matter most, so we can deploy our limited resources effectively. If you want to know more about what’s happening in races around the country and what it will mean for Democrats, join the editors of Daily Kos Elections and some of our smartest colleagues in the business for an in-depth Q&A about all things election-related. Will Democrats hold the House next year? Can they keep the Senate? And the big one: What’s going to happen with redistricting? Ask us anything that’s on your mind: We skip all the PowerPoints and presentations and go straight to YOUR questions on any race in the nation you care about.

Led by: Jeff Singer

Panelists: Matthew Booker, Carolyn Fiddler, Gaby Goldstein, Stephen Wolf

IYKYK: THE POWER OF THE NATIVE VOTE Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Leaders from Indian Country will discuss the unique political landscape in Native communities. They’re deeply involved in the fight for climate justice and against the extractive industry’s socio-economic impacts. They will share what they’ve seen since the 2020 election, discuss how Native people are exerting influence at the local, federal, and congressional levels and how voters are preparing for midterm elections.

Led by: Lycia Maddocks

Panelists: Jade Begay, Chrissie Castro, Michael Johnson, Judith LeBlanc

THE CRIMINALIZATION OF ABORTION Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

A Supreme Court loss on abortion rights would be devastating, but how would it affect access? Centering people who have had abortions helps prepare us for the continued erosion of abortion access no matter the outcome of the next SCOTUS case. We’ll discuss the current state of access, including the higher barriers for people who are living on low incomes, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ people, & people with disabilities. We’ll talk about self-managed abortion (SMA); why and how SMA is criminalized; and what we can do to stop the criminalization of pregnancy outcomes. And we’ll hear from an abortion storyteller, an attorney, an abortion provider, and a community organizer on their visions for the future of abortion access.

Led by: Lauren Paulk

Panelists: Tessa Benson, Renee Bracey Sherman, Dr. Jamila Perritt, Alice Wang

DC STATEHOOD IS RACIAL JUSTICE Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Long tied to voting rights and representation, the issue of DC Statehood is rooted in racism. Throughout the history of the District, white politicians have worked to reduce and eliminate black power in the District of Columbia. For activists and allies interested in dismantling systemic racism, Statehood for DC is an achievable solution with immediate impact. Our panel of national and local leaders will lead a conversation on the issues throughout history and present in proposed alternative solutions to Statehood.

Led by: Dr. Ravi Perry

Panelists: Cliff Albright, Barbara Arnwine, Janeese Lewis-George

ELECTIONS REIMAGINED: THE FAIR REPRESENTATION ACT Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Our country must achieve true fairness and equal representation. Yet gerrymandering and our winner-take-all elections bring us politics and a government that is more conservative, more white and significantly less diverse than our country. The Fair Representation Act will fix this by markedly improving our elections. It’s a bold, comprehensive solution that solves our problems with partisan gerrymandering and uncompetitive elections. Progressives can fight to make systemic changes on the local, state and national level to build a government and politics that truly represents all of us — join us to learn how!

Led by: David Daley

Panelists: Anthony Pizzimenti, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Waleed Shahid, Heather Villanueva

SURVIVAL OF THE SQUAD: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN OF COLOR IN POLITICS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Women of color have made significant electoral gains across the United States in the last decade, but what do we know about their experience on the campaign trail — from candidate to office holder? While assault, intimidation and abuse against women candidates has gained attention, do we know how this harassment and marginalization especially affect women of color? We’ll examine these questions, consider why and when women of color decide to run, and various tactics to retain and promote women of color in politics.

Led by: Sameena Mustafa

Panelists: Kim Foxx, Sema Hernandez, Paru Shah, Aisha Wahab

DIGITAL FUNDRAISING 101: BUILDING PEOPLE POWER WITH SMALL-DOLLAR DONORS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Folks all over the country have banded together to fight the impact of the pandemic, combat racism and systems of oppression, and protect our democracy. Small-dollar donors are an important part of this work, forming a powerful base of supporters who are ready to get involved and become agents for progressive change. Digital fundraising experts from ActBlue will show you how to reach these donors by building horizontal relationships, using the theory of change, crafting a strong fundraising ask, and employing cutting-edge digital fundraising tools.

This session is sponsored by ActBlue.

Led by: Ruby Sarron

PASS THE PRO ACT: LIFT UP ALL WORKERS Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Research from Gallup shows that 68% of Americans approve of labor unions, including 77% of young people, the highest mark in 56 years. MIT estimates that 60 million workers would vote to join a union today, but labor laws written nearly a century ago are failing to protect our right to organize. The PRO Act would give workers in today’s economy the right to form a union in every industry and region, free from employer interference. This legislation has passed the House and is waiting for action in the Senate. President Biden has called on Congress to send it to his desk. Hear directly from workers who are speaking out to make change on the job about why the PRO Act is the key to winning a better life.

Led by: Heidi Shierholz

Panelists: Yulisa Elenes, Joelle Hall, David Mertz, Regina Romero

INSIGHTS FROM DEEP CANVASSING: PROVEN SCRIPTS FOR TRANSFORMATIONAL OUTREACH Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Deep canvassing is the only field methodology that has been found, through extensive study, to shift voter attitudes and behavior long-term, in person and on the phones. Join us to learn about new research from the field of deep canvassing and receive training on how to apply this grassroots learning to your own power-building and persuasion work. We’ll share takeaways on how to construct outreach scripts that bridge divides and move people powerfully, with practical examples from advocacy campaigns on the ground.

Led by: Drew Frye, Ash Overton

BALANCING OUR CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM: FROM REFORM PROSECUTORS TO PUBLIC DEFENDER JUDGES Panel; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

The movement to elect reform prosecutors is redefining prosecution and reshaping our criminal justice system, but these efforts will not be fully realized unless we also bring balance to our courtrooms. Our judiciary has a stark over-representation of judges who were former prosecutors and corporate lawyers. At the federal level, Trump made the imbalance even worse, picking ten times as many former prosecutors as former public defenders and criminal defense attorneys. But now, President Biden is committed to bringing greater balance and already has nominated a record number of public defenders to serve as judges. In this panel, you will hear from reform prosecutors, public defenders, criminal justice advocates, and court experts about how our imbalanced courts affect reform, why we need more judges with a public defender perspective, and how we can educate and activate around this issue.

This session is sponsored by Demand Justice.

Led by: Josie Duffy Rice

Panelists: Megan French-Marcelin, Angel Harris, Christopher Kang, Lawrence Krasner, Chiquisha Robinson

DISTRIBUTED ORGANIZING A-Z: HOW TO BUILD STRONG, FLEXIBLE CAMPAIGNS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Distributed organizing — where supporters lead their own efforts, with support from a centralized staff or committee, rather than the other way around — is a critical way to grow power, develop leadership from supporters and leaders across geographies, and build winning campaigns. Join us for the ABCs of running successful distributed organizing campaigns. You’ll learn how to frontload complex policy information, create straightforward toolkits and trainings, build programs that allow for flexibility according to local conditions, and measure and track distributed organizing efforts.

Led by: Geovaira Hernandez, Xaver Kandler, Arielle Swernoff

PUT YOUR OWN OXYGEN MASK ON FIRST: SELF CARE TOOLS FOR ACTIVISTS AND OPERATIVES Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Movements are sustainable only if the people who power them intentionally care for themselves. If you were driving your car and the check engine and fuel gauge lights came on, you’d surely pull over. So why do we ignore the warnings our own bodies are sending us? There are simple techniques and strategies to calm our minds, heal our bodies and bring us to a deeper level of health and presence. Activists and operatives can use these techniques to find peace and balance while working in the intense environment of progressive politics. Everyone is welcome.

Led by: Lacey Connelly, Reggie Hubbard

SECURING YOUR DIGITAL ORGANIZING OPERATIONS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Activists and organizers, especially those in high profile campaigns or marginalized communities, face an ever-increasing threat of external security compromise. While cloud technologies have made digital operations cheaper and more accessible, these tools must be properly secured in order to avoid potentially devastating or catastrophic security breaches. Our training will teach you the top-10 things your campaign team needs to do to secure their digital assets and get you started on the road to digital success.

Led by: Rusty Pickens

GOOGLE BEST PRACTICES FOR CIVICS Training; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Learn how to use Google tools to effectively and securely pivot your efforts online. Join this session for a deep dive into Google’s suite of products and the latest best practices for developing your online presence using Google Search, Analytics, Trends, and much more.

This session is sponsored by Google.

Led by: Javier Hernandez

NETROOTS NATION 2021 OPENING KEYNOTE Plenary; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 05:00pm (Eastern)

Pundits talk about COVID and getting “back to normal,” but we progressives have a message: Normal isn’t good enough. We want bold, progressive solutions on issues like economic policy, climate change, immigration and more. Hear progressive leaders discuss their vision for progressive change on key issues and discuss how we can build momentum for 2022 and beyond.

You’ll hear from DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison; Rep. Joe Neguse with immigration activists Tania Chairez and Marissa Molina; Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg, Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes and Rep. Rashida Tlaib. We’ll end the session with a special conversation with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, and Mustafa Santiago Ali.

Led by: Cheryl Contee

Panelists: Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, Tania Chairez, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, Jaime Harrison, White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy, Marissa Molina, Rep. Joe Neguse, Joe Sanberg, Mustafa Santiago Ali, Rep. Rashida Tlaib

PUB QUIZ 2021: SORRY, MY MUTE BUTTON WAS STILL ON Special Event; Thu, 10/07/2021 - 07:00pm (Eastern)

When you can’t come to Pub Quiz, Pub Quiz comes to you. For the n+1th consecutive year, we’ll abandon our unity and camaraderie for a few festive hours of team trivia competition and libations of your choosing. If you’re new to Pub Quiz and want to be placed on a team, we’re happy to do that–or if you’re coming in with an experienced cabal of Gilded Age history experts, welcome back. As always, Adam will provide the trivia questions, and your teams will convene in breakout rooms to answer them. Come for the intellectual challenge, stay for the gratuitous references to a minor Pub Quiz dispute which is now ten years in the past and seriously, people, you need to get over it already. This year’s Pub Quiz is sponsored by Daily Kos.

EXPANDING THE SUPREME COURT TO PROTECT ABORTION RIGHTS Featured Keynote Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 11:30am (Eastern)

The Supreme Court has failed to block a flagrantly unconstitutional Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, effectively overturning Roe v. Wade in the state. Later this fall, the Court will consider a case from Mississippi that could further erode the constitutional right to abortion, or end it nationwide altogether. The burdens of these decisions will fall most heavily on people of color, low income people, and other vulnerable populations. The Court’s recent actions make clear that this Supreme Court poses an imminent threat to our right to make decisions about our bodies, our lives, and our futures. In order to protect our fundamental rights, and to make progress toward a more equitable future, we must first address the conservative supermajority on the Supreme Court, which was illegitimately installed by Republican politicians through a win-at-all costs campaign. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) will kick off this program. Then, reproductive rights and justice experts will be joined by court reform advocates to discuss the need to add seats to the Supreme Court, with the goal of safeguarding the right to an abortion, restoring the Court’s legitimacy, and bringing balance back to the institution.

This session is sponsored by Demand Justice.

Led by: Tamara Brummer

Panelists: Renee Bracey Sherman, Katie O'Connor, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Kelsey Ryland, Sonja Spoo

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE AND THE POLITICS OF EQUITY Featured Keynote Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 11:30am (Eastern)

The Environmental Justice for All Act has significant support from grassroots environmental justice groups that have traditionally not been part of Beltway political coalitions. Hear from Rep. Raul Grijalva, chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources, about the extensive public input process it took to craft this bill. We’ll discuss the evolving politics of environmental justice, case studies that illustrate why a federal law is necessary, how environmental justice relates to the politics of climate change, and why the approach behind the Environmental Justice for All Act can serve as a model for progressive legislative action going forward.

Led by: Rep. Katie Porter

Panelists: Catherine Flowers, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Marci Harris, Elizabeth Yeampierre

ON OFFENSE: HOW DEM AGS ARE ADVANCING PROGRESSIVE VALUES IN A BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION Featured Keynote Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 11:30am (Eastern)

For four years, Democratic Attorneys General played defense, suing the Trump administration—and winning. Now, they have the opportunity to flex their legal muscles in a different way: on offense. Dem AGs have always been champions of progressive priorities, fighting for affordable health care, protecting DACA, defending abortion access, and advocating for justice reforms. Now, Dem AGs can be allies to the Biden-Harris administration and have a greater platform to advocate for the issues important to the residents of their states. Learn how they plan to keep up the fight for progress, change, and justice for all.

Led by: David Sanchez

Panelists: Keith Ellison, Maura Healey, Dana Nessel, Josh Stein

MINDFULNESS MOMENT Special Event; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 12:35pm (Eastern)

Need a break to regroup and recenter? Join us for a mid-day mindfulness moment to reset after the morning sessions and stay grounded headed into the afternoon.

Led by: Reggie Hubbard

HOW AND WHY YOU SHOULD TREAT YOUR EMAIL COMMUNITY WITH RESPECT Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Many political campaigns and nonprofits have relied on deceptive email fundraising tactics for years. Now, thanks to increased scrutiny from policymakers, regulators, credit card companies, donors and the press, the tide is turning toward ethical email programs that treat supporters with respect. In this session we’ll cover the importance of being honest and accurate in email communications, the potential deliverability consequences of mistreating your email community and the ethics of email program management. This panel will be relevant to anyone who works on email programs for organizations or campaigns and anyone else who has a stake in the success of organizational and campaign digital programs.

Led by: Josh Nelson

Panelists: Amy Chin-Lai, Gabby Greenberg, Murshed Zaheed

TRAINED FOR DECEPTION: HOW ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FUELS ONLINE DISINFORMATION Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Social media platforms rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) to moderate and curate content for maximum engagement – frequently amplifying disinformation, sensationalist and harmful content. The real-world effects can be disastrous, as we saw on Jan. 6. What can we do? Activists, organizers and technologists are holding big tech accountable and there are myriad legislative proposals seeking to address the problem. Come learn how algorithmic content moderation, targeted advertising, and ranking and recommendation systems are spurring the spread of disinformation online and what can be done to stop this.

Led by: Rishi Bharwani

Panelists: Dominique Harrison, Lauren Krpaf, Odanga Madung, Spandana Singh

GUARANTEED INCOME FROM THE GROUND UP: BUILDING POWER AND POLICY IN COMMUNITY Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Guaranteed Income is an idea that has historic roots in the Black Liberation movement and has gained considerable traction in recent years. While much of the focus has been on policymakers, communities are hard at work building solutions that work for them. In this panel we will hear from organizers and community leaders from across the country who are providing a guaranteed income to help remedy a range of problems, from economic insecurity in historically Black neighborhoods to improving health outcomes for new mothers and their infants.

Led by: Solana Rice

Panelists: Michelle Lockhart, Dr. Zea Malawa, Breezy Powell, Hope Wollensack

THE SOUTH'S GOT SOMETHING TO SAY: VOTER ENFRANCHISEMENT IN THE DEEP SOUTH Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Obstacles for organizing in the Deep South predict problems activists will have across the US. So the progressive movement across the country has a stake in addressing the assault on voting rights happening now in the southern states. This is a movement with a history, as well as a modern experience, of Black leadership. Experienced Black leaders in the South are growing the movement, reaching youth to build a new generation of activists to work on civic engagement and rights restoration. Join the discussion about what’s happening on the battleground for democracy.

Led by: R.L. Nave

Panelists: Arekia Bennett, Hannah Burnell Williams, Gicola Lane, John Paul Taylor

ABOLISHING DEPORTATION: MIGRATION AS A HUMAN RIGHT Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Deportations soared under Obama; Trump intensified oppression of immigrant communities. Advocates and organizers look to the Biden Administration to reshape immigration policy, especially the immigration enforcement infrastructure. There are increased calls for the abolition of ICE and elimination of the practice of imprisoning immigrants — significant features of the prison industrial complex. We will examine how abolition of detention would functionally end deportation.

Led by: Adrianna Torres-Garcia

Panelists: Jamila Hammami, Khury Petersen-Smith, Fabio Rojas, Samah Sisay

FIGHTING FOR THE GREEN NEW DEAL ON THE HILL Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Fossil-fueled global warming is accelerating and we are all affected by the costs of our unequal, unjust, and toxic economic system. The US and the world need a Green New Deal to fight climate change and build prosperity and racial justice. Learn from progressive elected officials, activists, and Hill staffers about the fight against corporate interests and polluters to enact policies in line with the grand vision of the Green New Deal.

Led by: Brad Johnson

Panelists: Rep. Ro Khanna, Lauren Maunus, Rajiv Sicora, Hannah Vogel

DEEP CANVASSING TO TRANSFORM AMERICAN POLITICS Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Spiraling polarization and unfettered misinformation threaten the fabric of our democracy. But we can counter these threats by adapting the oldest tools in our movement: deep canvassing and conversation. Learn how grassroots organizations are integrating deep canvassing and movement politics to build a multiracial working class movement and elect progressive champions up and down the ballot. Learn how groups are pioneering ways to help win elections and advance a range of issues — and are scaling up this tactic in 2022.

Led by: Brooke Adams

Panelists: Mehrdad Azemun, Ella Barrett, David Broockman, Ken Whittaker

1. UNIONSFORALL: RESPECT US, PROTECT US, PAY US

Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Workers of all races, led by Black and Brown women, are coming together across industry and geography to write new rules for workers. We’re taking on the outdated, racist labor laws that excluded women and workers of color with a bold demand for Unions for All. We’ll talk about challenging structural racism and sexism in labor law. And we’ll learn from workers and organizers advancing breakthrough racial and economic justice strategies to win for workers so everyone can join together in unions, no matter where they work.

Led by: Nicole Berner

Panelists: Ruben Garcia, Luz Laguna, Bartolome Perez, LaNoral Thomas

DEMYSTIFYING MOBILE MESSAGING: LEARN BEST PRACTICES FROM THE EXPERTS Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

As progressive changemakers, we need multi-channel engagement—through email and mobile messaging—in order to stand out, cut through the noise, and deliver meaningful actions to our supporters. That’s where mass mobile messaging comes in. But between the buzzwords (Multi-channel engagement! Campaign Verify! Deliverability! Throughput!) and the jargon (10DLC! P2P! MMS! TCPA! ), it can be hard to know how to get started. This panel of experts will talk through the best practices you need to know to get started with mobile messaging or to bring your program to the next level.

This session is sponsored by Action Network.

Led by: Marvin Steele

Panelists: Rachel Colyer, Seth Pinckney, Jess Porter, Mari Vangen

HOW TO SURVIVE A FACEBOOK ADS BLACKOUT Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

When Facebook banned political and social issue ads in 2020, organizers and campaigns were faced with an unsettling reality: Digital communicators rely too much on Facebook ads. We’ll explore the many alternative tools and platforms available to digital advertisers. How do I approach an ad exchange? How can our organization make the most of native advertising? We’ll also cover how to test these new platforms and work them into your programs.

Led by: Jenn Colton, John Padua

INTERSECTIONS OF OUR LIVES: SHAPING THE NARRATIVE Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Communities of women of color—Black women, AAPI women and Latinas—share certain interests about reproductive justice. We’ll share data we’ve gathered about their political priorities and engage you in a discussion about how this information can help us develop advocacy strategies and shape effective media narratives that shift power and culture, mobilize communities, and influence policymaking.

Led by: Emily Champlin, Jennifer Wang, Lexi White

WINNING MESSAGING ON ANTISEMITISM: NEW MESSAGE GUIDE AND TOOLS Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

We must be more effective in confronting antisemitism–when the Right embraces it and when Republicans use it as a tool to divide us. Our response to antisemitism is an important part of work toward liberation for us all. Together with Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, in deep collaboration with Jewish organizing partners around the country, we have developed powerful new messaging and a framework for talking about antisemitism. We’ll share what we’ve learned to persuasively tell the story of politicized antisemitism, and to analyze why commonly-used messages fall short. We’ll offer tools participants can use to fight bad faith accusations of antisemitism, including the new Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

Led by: Sharon Goldtzvik, Dove Kent

ENHANCE YOUR FIELD PROGRAM BY IMPLEMENTING A CLEAR STRUCTURE Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Learn how to structure and implement a field team. We’ll guide you in creating a clear implementation and quality controlled field program structure that defines roles, sets goals, field team schedules, reporting plans, timelines, a communication protocol, and healthy feedback loops. You will learn how these elements tie into your program prior to a program’s start date, during the implementation phase, and after completion. You’ll will learn about the basic technology your organization needs to carry out a successful and efficient field program and the processes for setting it up and running it.

Led by: Cassandra Gutierrez, Samantha Valadez

INTRO TO DIGITAL ANALYTICS: WHAT ANALYTICS CAN DO FOR YOU Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

The more you know about the ongoing performance of your campaign, the better you’ll be able to to develop insights, identify patterns and make improvements to your program. For Our Future’s Pennsylvania chapter has tested innovative ways to track and measure digital data and use these analytics to optimize campaign success. They’ll show you how they did it!

Led by: Britt Bischoff

ORGANIZERS ARE WORKERS TOO: LIVE YOUR VALUES, MANAGE HUMANELY AND WIN CAMPAIGNS Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

In the progressive movement, we talk a big game about workers’ rights and healthy, humane work environments. But let’s be honest. We often don’t live up to our own values, especially when we move into management. We’ll discuss ways to center your values and still be an effective manager. We will provide concrete, useful tips on how to lead and train organizers — without bullying them or burning them out. We can win and win the right way!

Led by: Josh Rodriguez, Carli Stevenson

STAY SAFE, GET CREATIVE! PANDEMIC ORGANIZING STRATEGIES WE SHOULD USE ALL THE TIME Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

What do you do when a pandemic shuts down your whole field operation three months before an election? You get creative. Campaigns adapted in innovative ways during COVID, and we should keep using a lot of these strategies even if and when it’s safe to knock doors again. Join this session to hear from organizers from the campaign to elect Janeese Lewis George, a progressive Black woman who now represents Ward 4 on the DC Council, and to share your experiences: bring the ideas and strategies you developed during shutdown that other people can use through reopening and beyond.

Led by: Alex Dodds

Panelists: Makia Green, Janeese Lewis-George, Eileen Pollet, Michelle Whittaker

ORGANIZING THE JEWISH VOTE: BUILDING A LEFT JEWISH ELECTORAL FLANK Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

In recent years, Jewish grassroots organizations (Bend the Arc, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice, Jews United for Justice, Jewish Voice for Peace, IfNotNow) have created c4s and PACs to engage Jews in targeted electoral fights. We’ll explore lessons from using primaries in heavily Jewish districts to elect strong progressives, such as The Jewish Vote’s growth from a base of Jewish seniors active on long-term care to a key partner in Jamaal Bowman’s win over Eliot Engel. We’ll discuss the role this organizing can play in a broad progressive coalition; disrupting conventional assumptions around Jewish priorities and leadership; and how we build alongside campaigns to respond to anti-Semitism, its weaponization, and white nationalism.

Led by: Katie Unger

Panelists: Isi Baehr-Breen, Carlyn Cowan, Jaslin Kaur, Sochie Nnaemeka

WHAT 2020'S DIGITAL FUNDRAISING INNOVATION MEANS FOR THE FUTURE Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

2020 challenged campaigns, community organizers, and donors in many ways. The progressive movement responded by doubling down on the grassroots, and as a result, political giving and issue-based giving intersected like never before. A record number of new small-dollar donors donated to nonprofits confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, groups working for racial justice, Democrats up and down the ballot, and more. In this panel, digital organizing practitioners from campaigns and advocacy organizations will share how they expanded their communities, shared resources, and engaged voters, donors, and volunteers at home, and what this digital innovation means for future organizing.

This session is sponsored by ActBlue.

Led by: Michelle Ngwafon

Panelists: Jamarr Brown, Dany Sigwalt, Shannon Wurthman

DID YOU GET MY MESSAGE? CHANGING TEXTING COMPLIANCE AND DELIVERABILITY IN 2021 Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

The rules for texting change a lot. The carriers (TMobile, AT&T & Verizon) released some major updates in 2020 and 2021 that will affect how campaigns and nonprofit organizations use both broadcast and peer-to-peer texting. If your texting program is not in compliance (with 10DLC, Toll-Free, and Shortcode), your messages won’t get delivered. Is this a risk you’re willing to take? Find out what you need to know to make sure your messages are delivered to your target audiences.

Led by: Sandi Fox

AFGHANISTAN: THE COST OF WAR, THE FUTURE FOR AFGHANS, AND HOW TO END OUR ENDLESS WARS Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Come join some of the leading anti-militarism leaders in the progressive movement to reflect on the end of two decades of U.S. war in Afghanistan, what’s next for people in Afghanistan and Afghan refugees and migrants to the U.S., and what we can all do to truly end our nation’s endless wars. Join a discussion about what just happened in Afghanistan, how we got there, and what it all means for the future of progressive foreign policy.

Led by: Stephen Miles

Panelists: Arash Azizzada, Pam Campos-Palma, Dr. Neta Crawford

PRESENTING FOR IMPACT (ON CAMERA AND IRL!) Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

How do you come across when you communicate—and how could you be more effective? We’ll introduce presentation practices and principles that will help with a range of scenarios: doing media interviews, shooting direct-to-camera video, presenting slide decks, knocking on doors, even working in the ubiquitous zoomscape. We’ll cover body language basics and some choice rhetorical techniques. More importantly, we’ll help you recognize subtle things that sway audience judgements—and help you present yourself authentically. You will never give a boring slide presentation or shoot a mortifying direct-to-camera video again.

Led by: Danielle Moodie, John Neffinger

WOMEN RUN CAMPAIGNS: DIGITAL/COMMS ADVANCED TRAINING Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Campaigns too often see women, trans, and non-binary folks in a role limited to taking assignments. It’s time to start seeing their potential for campaign leadership and setting strategy. If you are a woman/trans/non-binary, please join us for a deep dive into digital and communications strategy, including crisis comms and rapid response moments inspired by real world experience. This is an advanced level training—participants should be familiar with most of the fundamentals of communications and/or digital departments, such as how to write press releases/advisories, pitching, emails, list segmentation and social media strategy.

Led by: Biola Jeje, Ericka Persson

MILLENNIAL FREEDOM FIGHTERS: DIRECT ACTION TRAINING Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Learn how to remain non-violent and powerful if/when arrest comes your way! Work with folks who’ve been through it: the GA state lawmaker who recently made national headlines when she was unlawfully arrested and removed from the Georgia Capitol; and the Black Futurists Group CEO, who was unlawfully detained in 2018 at the same Capitol. Every move and moment counts so attend this training to be READY.

Led by: Devin Barrington Ward, Rep. Park Cannon

1. CARECANTWAIT: A RISING MOVEMENT FOR TRANSFORMATIVE CHANGE

Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Our fragile care infrastructure is as critical to our economy as roads and bridges. And a powerful movement is growing to make the transformative structural changes that workers, families, and businesses need, including: expanding access to paid leave, affordable and quality child care, and caregiving options for people with disabilities and aging adults. These infrastructure improvements will create jobs for workers who have been disproportionately impacted by unemployment (women of color) and support economic recovery. Learn what we’re doing and how you can get involved!

Led by: Ai-jen Poo, Ai-jen Poo

Panelists: Fatima Graves, Dawn Huckelbridge, Nicole Jorwic, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

WORKING TOGETHER: HOW C3S AND C4S CAN BUILD A CAMPAIGN TOGETHER Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

There are ways 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations can engage in advocacy and lobbying and work in coalition to achieve their policy goals, without endangering their tax status. We’ll show you how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying. We’ve also got tips on how affiliated organizations (or those working in coalition) can share digital assets, campaign materials, and people-power when working together on a campaign.

Led by: Jen Powis, Natalie Roetzel

SURVEY SAYS! BETTER STORYTELLING AND DEEPER ENGAGEMENT THROUGH SURVEYS Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 02:15pm (Eastern)

Your members and supporters are powerful storytellers. They’re the ones who know first-hand how the issues you work on affect our communities–and those stories need to be heard. But how do you find them? Parents Together has developed an effective method of identifying and cultivating powerful spokespeople and storytellers through surveying our members, using free or inexpensive tools everyone has access to. Through these surveys, we’ve identified members who have met with members of Congress, been quoted by the New York Times and CNN, and recorded powerful videos. Learn how we do this—as well as how to use surveys to get important member feedback, understand your membership better, and drive earned media narratives.

Led by: PaKou Her, Raz Pollex

AVOID BUILDING WHILE FLYING: DEVELOPING YOUR PERSONAL CIRCLE BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER YOUR CAMPAIGN Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

During this session we will share a variety of approaches on how you can be proactive and empowered when it comes to networking, relationship building, and engaging your personal circle and running for office. We will discuss specific strategies on how to grow and expand beyond your current network, how to nurture and maintain authentic relationships, and how to leverage your personal network when it comes time to run any campaign.

Led by: Kristy Pagan

THE POWER OF PUBLIC BANKS TO ACCELERATE PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENTS Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Strong efforts are underway to establish public banking across the US. Organizers will describe how public banks can challenge Wall Street and serve as a powerful tool for local governments to invest in affordable housing, renewable energy, and to tackle racial inequity. We’ll discuss the successful campaign to pass California’s Public Banking Act and the 2021 proposal to provide free banking services to unbanked and underbanked Californians. We’ll learn about the plan for a public bank in the nation’s second-largest city — and how federal legislation can support cities and states as they establish public banks.

Led by: Mandla Deskins

Panelists: Naveen Agrawal, Jackie Fielder, Julian LaRosa, Trinity Tran

ORGANIZING FOR VICTORY: FIGHTING FOR HEALTHCARE FOR ALL IN NEW YORK Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

New York is closer than any state to passing legislation for universal single-payer healthcare. This is largely due to coordinated, intentional and sustained statewide basebuilding paired with consistent gains for progressives winning elected office. We’ll examine the campaign for universal single-payer healthcare in New York and nationally, discuss what is working and what needs improvement — and propose a path forward for building power to win this core progressive political demand.

Led by: Ben Palmquist

Panelists: Jabari Brisport, YuLing Koh Hsu, Mariana Pineda, Ursula Rozum

1. WEAREHOME: THE THEORY TO WIN IMMIGRANT JUSTICE NOW

Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

The immigrant justice movement hasn’t had a big win in 30 years. But now we have a White House and Congress positioned to make bold immigration policy changes to transform millions of lives. We Are Home is a new collaboration of immigration, civil rights, faith, and labor organizations, representing millions of immigrants, union members and workers, faith leaders, Latino, AAPI, Black, Indigenous, and workers. Activists with We Are Home will discuss what they’ve learned from work in this policy area, where they see opportunities, and the theory to win legalization for the 11 million undocumented immigrants enduring the cruelty of our interior enforcement system.

Led by: Bridgette Gomez

Panelists: Giev Kashkooli, Patrice Lawrence, Silky Shah

UNTIL EVERYONE IS SAFE: AN ACTION SESSION WITH THE PEOPLE'S VACCINE ALLIANCE Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

The COVID pandemic is one of the most important inequality issues of our time. Activists from the People's Vaccine Alliance are calling for world leaders to go beyond empty promises of charity and deliver bold action to increase manufacturing and access to COVID vaccines around the world. While rich countries have administered 80 per cent of global doses, poor countries have had only 0.5 percent, while Pharma companies reap shocking profits. This inequality is a public health, economic, gender justice, and moral disaster. This panel will help participants understand both the current state of play with global vaccine apartheid as well has how to get involved to push the White House and Pharma companies to deliver on a People's Vaccine.

Led by: Ben Levenson

Panelists: Chioma Oruh, Ph.D., Emily Sanderson, Robbie Silverman, Shad Yasin

ENDING FELONY DISENFRANCHISEMENT TO STRENGTHEN OUR DEMOCRACY Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Felony disenfranchisement is a horrible stain on this country — immoral and inherently racist. Although we have seen a positive trend in restoring voting rights to individuals who have finished their terms of incarceration, there are still millions of voters disenfranchised due to a felony conviction. We will discuss the recent trend of rights restoration on the state level and how that can and will lead to ending all felony disenfranchisement. Panelists will draw on their own experiences as justice-impacted individuals and explain why it’s important we all have a say in our democracy — and what you can do to end felony disenfranchisement.

Led by: Reginald Thedford, Jr.

Panelists: Avalon Betts-Gaston, Jen Dean, Nicole Porter, Zach Winston

WINNING THE BIG FIGHTS WHEN EVERYTHING IS ON THE LINE Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

In 2021, the progressive movement faces an extraordinary governing challenge. Overlapping crises — COVID-19, climate change, systemic racism, rampant inequality — cut across individual organizations’ priorities and challenge us to build cross-movement solidarity. This restructuring has supported important wins in the American Rescue Plan and Build Back Better package. We’ll take a look at our successes and the lessons we learned. And we’ll look ahead at how we can work together across issue siloes and across the gulf between DC and the grassroots.

Led by: Alan Barber

Panelists: Melissa Garcia, Maurice Mitchell, Ilene Stein, State Sen. Jessie Ulibarri

THE DATAPOCALYPSE: HOW PROGRESSIVES CAN NAVIGATE THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF DATA Panel; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

The digital data space and user privacy standards are undergoing major changes. “Cookie-pocalypse” will shake up digital ads. There are changes coming to peer-to-peer mobile messaging and 10DLC, shifts in pixel tracking for email open rates. In short, the tools we use are changing rapidly. Some of the top digital campaigners in the country will discuss how to keep pace with and understand the consequences of these changes for digital acquisition. They’ll consider shifts to email targeting strategies and how generally to continue building progressive power in this changing environment.

Led by: Brian Young

Panelists: Amy Chin-Lai, Jose Nunez, Julia Rosen, Patrick Stevenson

POLITICAL GRAPHIC DESIGN FOR NON-DESIGNERS Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Uh oh, you’ve somehow become the designer for your org or campaign. You want to make this work, but you know that your designs show you’re an amateur. Want to learn how to step up your game? We’ll show you how your work can be more eye-catching — like the billboards you stop to look at, not the ones you simply pass by. We’ll discuss how humans pocess visual information and what motivates us to act. This training will cover the basics of photo-based design and help you analyze the many visual communications that surround you. This new understanding will help you to produce more polished work.

Led by: Candice Dayoan

STOP THE PRESS CONFERENCE FACEPALM! Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Organizers, candidates, and org members are the faces and the voices of our movements, and keeping them focused can be a challenge. We’ll look at examples of mistakes I’ve seen (and made) and draw lessons for doing better in the future. You may be doing this communication yourself or coaching your colleagues. Either way, let’s all avoid missteps, so we to keep organizations and campaigns on track — and ready for swift damage control.

Led by: Ashleigh Strange

STRATEGIC ADVOCACY: CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY TO BUILD POWER Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

If you want to engage your Members of Congress, influence policy, and take your advocacy efforts to the next level, you must have the necessary tools and knowledge to do so. Learn to track legislation and policy changes; understand the various advocacy vehicles and strategies (digital organizing, coalition building, and education tools, like Congressional briefings and hearing). This session is an intermediate hands-on Congressional Advocacy training and interactive simulation developed by Poligon Education Fund, a national nonpartisan organization that works towards increasing American Muslim participation on Capitol Hill.

Led by: Nadia Mozaffar, Johanna Mustafa

CREATING COMMUNITY THROUGH LIVESTREAMING Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

COVID-19 taught us how to use our digital platforms to their fullest potential and connected people with their communities. Livestreaming became the new frontier. A portal offered by multiple platforms made it a prime community-building tool. Come develop your understanding with trustworthy organizers that have managed and orchestrated video streaming around housing caravans, childcare actions, and political education.

Led by: Monica Mahecha

WHO, HOW & WHY: REVITALIZING YOUR WEBSITE FOR 2022 Training; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 03:45pm (Eastern)

Revitalize your site and make it work for your mission with expert technologist Jennifer O’Reilly Mott of Do Big Things. She’ll coach you on what’s needed to ensure your site feels modern in this new era. Learn how you can ensure your site constantly evolves to stay ahead of the newest advances in fundraising, advocacy, GOTV, community engagement and more.

Led by: Jennifer O'Reilly Mott

REBALANCING THE SUPREME COURT: WHY PROGRESSIVES MUST TAKE BACK THE [STOLEN] COURT TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY Plenary; Fri, 10/08/2021 - 05:00pm (Eastern)

When Republicans stole two Supreme Court seats in an unprecedented power grab, progressives knew our most basic rights were at risk—and that expanding the Supreme Court was the necessary solution. In less than a year since the GOP seized a supermajority on the high court, our fears have come true: The right-wing court has gutted the Voting Rights Act and allowed Texas to ban abortion and place a bounty on the heads of doctors and others who help women exercise their rights.

The Republican Party has controlled the Supreme Court for more than 50 years, despite losing the popular vote in 7 of the last 8 presidential elections. And it uses the Court to govern via minority rule, rigging elections to help them win despite popular opposition, and legislating from the bench when they lose. It’s no surprise that new polling shows job approval for the Supreme Court at an all-time low, with a majority of Americans disapproving of the Supreme Court.

The need for reform is undeniable — and progressives are meeting the moment. Earlier this year, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerold Nadler, Courts Subcommittee Chairman Hank Johnson, Rep. Mondaire Jones, and Sen. Ed Markey introduced the Judiciary Act of 2021 to rebalance the court by adding four seats. The bill now has dozens of cosponsors and the Senate bill is supported by progressive champion Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, and more than 80 organizations have announced their support for court expansion.

Co-hosted by Take Back The Court Executive Director Sarah Lipton-Lubet and Rep. Mondaire Jones, this keynote panel featuring Sen. Tina Smith will discuss the urgent need to rebalance the stolen Supreme Court in order to protect democracy and preserve the essential rights of all Americans. You’ll also hear from Rep. Barbara Lee, who will speak about this critical intersection between protecting our democracy and passing progressive policy, with a special welcome from Netroots Nation Board Member Arshad Hasan.

Led by: Arshad Hasan

Panelists: Mondaire Jones, Rep. Barbara Lee, Sarah Lipton-Lubet, Sen. Tina Smith

YOGA AND MEDITATION WITH REGGIE HUBBARD Special Event; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 12:00pm (Eastern)

As activists we often get caught up in the perception of progress through busy-ness and neglect the necessity of health, balance, focus and calm. This offering will ground you in peace and clarity as a foundation rather than an afterthought and provide you tools to take with you in your daily life to maintain peace of mind and health in body. The practice includes breathwork, meditation, light stretching and joint mobility enhancements. Led by: Reggie Hubbard

FEMINIST BUZZKILLS LIVE! FROM NETROOTS! Special Event; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 12:00pm (Eastern)

“The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead is back at Netroots for a special sneek peak of her no-holds-barred feminist comedy talk show, Feminist Buzzkills Live! which officially launches Thursday, November 4th. Along with fabulous co-hosts Moji Alawode-El (culture writer, marketing guru at Abortion Access Front) and Marie Khan (director of client operations at Midwest Access Coalition), this weekly YouTube show breaks down the news from patriarchy’s evil trilogy of misogyny, white supremacy and anti-abortion extremism. It’s sorta like “The View,” but with hilarious dragging of retrograde sexist d-bags, fact checking, and no Meghan McCain. In this sneak peak Netroots Nation edition, the Feminist Buzzkills will dive deep into WTF is happening with the Supreme Court and abortion access in Texas and Mississippi, digging in hard with leaders in the repro movement and abortion providers directly involved in these two cases. FBK Live! Is the call to action antedote for anyone feeling sick of being helpless as they watch the erosion of reproductive rights!

Led by: Lizz Winstead

PROGRESSIVE STORYTIME FOR KIDS Special Event; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 12:00pm (Eastern)

Pass the iPad to your kiddos so they can log on for Progressive Storytime. While you get ready for a day full of sessions, your little one(s) can enjoy a reading of beloved books including “No! My First Book of Protest,” “Julian is a Mermaid,” “Little Blue Truck” and “Courageous People Who Changed the World.”

Led by: Alisa Roost, Eric Roost

TRAIN THE TRAINER: MANAGING EFFECTIVE BREAKOUT GROUPS Training; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Improve results and increase engagement with this secret to turning your training from passive to interactive. You’ll learn the what, why, how, and when of breakout groups. We’ll show you how to incorporate community based learning into your training, how to recognize how and when to make breakout groups impactful additions to the training, and how to facilitate an engaging breakout group.

Led by: Anna Carlson-Ziegler

BRIDGING CULTURAL DISCONNECTS AS A PROGRESSIVE CANDIDATE OF COLOR Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Candidates and newly elected officials will discuss challenges they face in advancing a progressive agenda in their respective communities. How do they handle name-calling (like Socialist) and other fear-mongering tactics moderates use to influence public opinion? Panelists will also cover strategies for building multiracial coalitions, educating the public, and organizing moderate colleagues and community stakeholders.

Led by: Brittny Baxter

Panelists: Kristerfer Burnett, Charly Carter, Jaslin Kaur

DISINFORMATION TRENDS, COMMUNITY BY COMMUNITY Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

The right is busy sowing divisions in communities of color. This takes the form of usually by manipulative deep listening and appealing to base fears — often in ways intended to encourage people to buy firearms. We bring together a group of experts tracking how and where this is happening, how we can counter it, and what we can do to reaffirm solidarity with affected communities.

Led by: Marvin Randolph

Panelists: Vanessa Cardenas, Shireen Mitchell, Gloria Pan

LEADING WHILE WHOLE: THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

To sustain our the strong leadership, we must prioritize mental health through the racial and social conflicts ahead. This panel will provide resources and focus on the importance of having reliable mental health resources as we fight for change in areas that can trigger emotional and traumatic responses. Leaders who have been in the trenches of progressive activism will offer insight on the impact of their work on their mental health, and lessons they’ve learned to prioritize their mental and emotional wellbeing from diverse perspectives across race, class, ability, sexuality, and age.

Led by: Tami Sawyer

Panelists: Rebecca Cokley, Juan Escalante, Vahisha Hasan, Allyson Smith

GAME CHANGER: THE POWER OF LGBTQ CIVIC ENGAGEMENT Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Remember when Black LGBTQ youth saved democracy? Organizers in Georgia created one of the largest voter turnout operations in the history of the state—and it started long before the January 2021 runoff election. We’ll look at how savvy, year-round organizing has delivered results, and why LGBTQ and pro-equality voters are a critical, if often-overlooked, part of progressive civic engagement strategies. As we face legislative attacks on transgender youth, voting rights, reproductive justice and more, working together to mobilize our communities is vital. By engaging LGBTQ people and our supporters in voting, advocacy, and organizing, we have the opportunity to shift the balance of power.

Led by: Vivian Topping

Panelists: Fran Hutchins, Eric Paulk, Malika Redmond

THE NEW NORMAL: TAKING LESSONS FROM PANDEMIC ORGANIZING INTO THE NEXT YEAR Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Student organizers from community colleges, private schools, and HBCUs had unique experiences working through the global pandemic. They’ll share what they learned and how they plan to integrate their new digital organizing assets with their ground plans in the upcoming school year. They’ll discuss the focus on returning to a new normal, recognizing that many students are either out of practice in face-to-face organizing or have no experience with it. These four panelists have diverse organizing experiences, bringing new perspectives to building student power.

Led by: Dan Xie

Panelists: Alex Flowers, Efiotu Jagun, Christyna Reagan, Christina B. Williams

FROM STANDING ROCK TO VIEQUES, PUERTO RICO: THE COST OF U.S. COLONIALISM Panel; Sat, 10/09/2021 - 01:00pm (Eastern)

Colonized peoples within the United States are standing up for environmental justice and self-determination. The nation of Puerto Rico, has been occupied by U.S. settlers for 123 years since the Spanish American War — and withstood 60 years of bombing and associated contamination by the US Navy in the island-municipality of Vieques. Native communities at Standing Rock have refused to be disregarded in opposing the Dakota Access Pipeline. This session is a collaborative effort between Power 4 Puerto Rico, Boricuas Unidos en la Diáspora, and Center for Popular Democracy, organizations working in solidarity to promote justice for colonized people.

Led by: Juan Gonzales, Amy Goodman

Panelists: Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto, Jenni Monet, Myrna Pagan

References

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