SESSION I Click here to return to Conference Agenda

Worry-free Advocacy: Understanding the Rules of Non-profit Advocacy and Election-related Activity

10-30-11:30am, Pennsylvania Ballroom

Non-profit organizations have to walk a fine line in how they engage the public, contribute to democratic discussion and participate in policy-making activities. To maximize your organization's impact, it is critical to understand what each type of non-profit can--and cannot--do in fulfilling its mission. Learn about the range of legally permissible activities for common non-profits, including 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), political action committees and 527 organizations. Leaders will discuss issue advocacy, lobbying, advocacy during elections, election activity, and provide additional resources and where to get more information.

PANELISTS: Mary Shull, America Votes Pennsylvania State Director; Karen Balaban, Esq., Law offices of Karen Balaban, Harrisburg, PA

Equality Legislation at the Local, State and Federal Levels

10:30-11:30am, Fir Room

This panel will explore the current state of LGBT legal rights through the passage of equality legislation at the local and state levels in Pennsylvania as well as at the national level. Best practices utilized in other states and strategies to advance a progressive legislative agenda for LGBT inclusion in the Commonwealth will be discussed.

PANELISTS: State Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny); Stephen Glassman, Chairperson, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission; Andy Hoover, Legislative Lobbyist, ACLU; Jake Kaskey, Policy and Programs Director, Equality PA

The "Sacralizing" of Economic and Political Issues by the Religious Right

10:30-11:30am, Birch Room

Religion can provide the motivation for activism in support of justice and equality, or it can be manipulated to justify attacks on progressive activism and legislation. This presentation begins with a very brief introduction to the American Fundamentalist movement of the early 1900s and their battles against the social gospel, labor rights and regulation--and then traces that movement to the Religious Right of today. Most of the presentation is dedicated to showing how the Religious Right “sacralizes” economic and political issues.

PRESENTER: Rachel Tabachnick is an independent researcher who has provided material on the Religious Right to political campaigns from the local school board to national level.

Blogging 101

10:30-11:30am, Chestnut Room

John Morgan of The Pennsylvania Progressive will host a panel on blogging with Chris Bowers of Open Left, Rep. Mark Cohen of DailyKos, Alan Franklin of Progress Now and moderator Beth Becker, who will be live blogging the session, also writes at DailyKos. We'll discuss how to blog, how and where to begin a blog, how to use blogs for campaigns and the general principles for blogging. There will be a question and answer session.

PANELISTS: John Morgan, The Pennsylvania Progressive; Chris Bowers, Open Left; State Rep. Mark Cohen, Daily Kos; Alan Franklin, Progress Now. Moderated by Beth Becker, Campaign Consultant, Progressive PST

Creating a Progressive Income Tax in Pennsylvania

10:30-11:30am, Dogwood Room

Most states have reasonably fair, progressive income taxes, but Pennsylvania is among the “Terrible Ten” states with the most regressive tax systems, where the poor are hardest hit. What can people do in their communities to build support for a progressive income tax in Pennsylvania? Join a panel of advocates and state lawmakers to talk about the path to progressive taxation.

PANELISTS: Sharon Ward, Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center, State Rep. Robert Freeman (D-Northhampton); Majority Policy Chair, State Rep. Mike Sturla (D-Lancaster); State Rep. Kathy Manderino (D-Montgomery and Philadelphia)

The Politics of Education: Issues and Strategies

10:30-11:30am, Elm Room

The presenters will provide an overview of the dynamics of public education in Pennsylvania and why sound educational policies are critical for advancing the progressive agenda and for social and economic justice. The significance of current and proposed public policies in education funding, including the impact of regressive tax policies, will be discussed. In addition, the presenters will explore options for individuals to advocate and organize at the community level, and with local and state policymakers, to continue essential investments in public education so students receive the services they need and taxpayers are treated fairly. Participants will also identify and discuss strategies to build political strength to help ensure that key issues like public education play an important role in elections on all levels.

PANELISTS: Susan Gobreski, Executive Director, EducationVotersPA; Beth Zampogna, Assistant Director of Government Relations, PSEA; Eric Elliott, PhD., Director of Research, PSEA

Petitioning 101: How to Keep Your Candidate on the Ballot

10:30-11:30am, Fir Room

Before raising the first dime or cutting the first television ad, the first step of any campaign is to get the candidate on the ballot. The second step is to keep the candidate on the ballot. This workshop will explain the political and legal processes for getting and keeping a candidate on the ballot, and will include a hands-on activity.

PRESENTER: Laurel McLeaish, Staff Attorney, PSEA

Independent Intervention

10:30-11:30am, Hemlock Room

Independent Intervention is an award-winning documentary film about United States media coverage of the conflict in Iraq. Focusing on the human costs of war, it contrasts corporate-controlled media coverage of the invasion of Iraq with independent media reports of the brutal realities on the ground. Through discussions with media experts including Amy Goodman, Noam Chomsky, Dahr Jamail, Danny Schechter, David Barsamian, Kalle Lasn, Norman Solomon, and James Zogby, the film investigates important issues and systems that govern today's information flow, and shows how these systems of control reveal themselves during times of political turmoil and war.

FACILITATOR: Eileen Connelly, Executive Director, PA State Council, SEIU, and Co-convener, US Labor Against the War

SESSION II Click here to return to Conference Agenda

Lobbying from the Legislator's Point of View

11:45am-12:45pm, Pennsylvania Ballroom

This panel will offer an understanding of a legislator’s perspective on promoting specific issues. Legislators are expected to be knowledgeable on a vast variety of issues and often rely on lobbyists and advocates to provide comprehensive, specialized information and insights that allow them to determine what is best for their districts. Learn what is helpful and detrimental when advocating for or against your cause and uncover the most effective ways to communicate.

PANELISTS: State Senator Daylin Leach (D-Montgomery); State Rep. Tony Payton (D-Philadelphia); State Rep. Babette Josephs (D-Philadelphia). Moderated by Eileen Connelly, Executive Director, PA State Council, SEIU

Growing a Statewide Movement for Commonsense Handgun Reform

11:45am-12:45pm, Ash Room

Gun violence prevention leaders will discuss illegal handgun trafficking and explain how their organizing model--building coalitions of mayors, police chiefs, faith leaders, councilmembers and citizens that stand up to the gun lobby--is helping to move Pennsylvania toward policies to prevent the proliferation of illegal handguns. Learn how to get your community involved in building support for statewide reform, and receive toolkits to initiate action for reasonable handgun policies in Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: State Rep. Cherelle Parker (D-Philadelphia); Reading Mayor Thomas M. McMahon, Chairman, Pennsylvania Mayors Against Illegal Guns; Pittsburgh City Councilman Bruce Kraus; Reading Chief of Police William Heim; Joe Grace, Executive Director, CeaseFirePA; Jana Finder, Western PA Coordinator, CeaseFirePA

Leading from the Members Up: How to Win with Member-run Campaigns

11:45am-12:45pm, Birch Room

This panel discussion will feature health care workers who are political activists in their union and communities. They will discuss their experiences and strategies for engaging grassroots members in electoral and legislative campaigns.

PANELISTS: Lori Reinhart, LPN, Politics and Policy Chair, Pennsylvania Nurse Alliance; Carol Jones, former miner and current home health provider, grassroots activist; Kati Sipp, Political Director, SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania

Getting Free Media Coverage for Your Issues

11:45am-12:45pm, Chestnut Room

The average big-city newspaper gets thousands of news releases daily. Other media outlets, including new media, are likewise bombarded with potential stories. Are there techniques you can use to get your message through to the people who make decisions on what stories to cover? A progressive communications activist, a former newspaper editorial board member and a new media editor will share their ideas on what works and what doesn’t.

PANELISTS: Adam Garber, PennEnvironment; Doug Pike, former Philadelphia Inquirer editorial board member; Dan Hirschhorn, editor and publisher, PA2010.com

Coalition-building for Local Change

11:45am-12:45pm, Dogwood Room

Coalition building is the primary mechanism through which disempowered parties can defend and promote shared interests. This workshop will explore how coalitions can be used to unite and galvanize local communities to achieve progressive change. Presenters will describe proven techniques for getting inner-city communities energetically and cooperatively involved in the pursuit of quality public education and other important issues.

PANELISTS: Lorenzo Canizares, Organizing Specialist, PSEA; Tiye Thompson, Parent-and-School-to-Community Coordinator, Universal Companies

Effective Advocacy for Clean Energy Jobs Legislation

11:45am-12:45pm, Elm Room

The US Senate is considering passage of the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act—the Senate version of Waxman-Markey—which will create millions of jobs, help make us energy independent and solve the climate crisis. Our workshop will describe the work progressive activists can undertake in their social and online networks to get this legislation passed. Included: talking points for blogging about the legislation, resources for organizing meetings among your friends and/or organizations, and instructions on how to reach out to the Congress about this critical legislation.

PANELISTS: Michael J. Fedor, PA State Director Repower America; Laura Vendetta, PA State Field Director, Repower America; Benjamin Freed, PA State Communications Director, Repower America; Alicia Gurdus, Field Organizer, Repower America; Laura Keating, Field Organizer, Repower America

Candidate and PAC Fundraising

11:45am-12:45pm, Fir Room

Fundraising drives a legislative agenda, for causes as well as candidates. This presentation will cover fundraising procedures, protocols, and best practices associated with candidate campaigns and PACs. We’ll cover federal, state, and local requirements/regulations governing these committees, information on how to properly establish and maintain them, and how to keep yourself legally compliant with state regulations and filing deadlines. We'll offer advice on targeting and soliciting potential donors, methods and means for soliciting contributions, and how to develop and cultivate existing donors. We’ll also address common mistakes and misconceptions about fundraising.

PANELISTS: Aubrey Montgomery, Political Financial Consultant; State Rep. Tim Briggs (D-Montgomery), State Rep. Josh Shapiro, (D-Montgomery)

Making a Place for Veterans at the Progressive Table

11:45am-12:45pm, Hemlock Room

Conservatives have long boasted of being more pro-military and pro-veterans than progressives, but their actions paint a different picture. These days--with two ongoing wars, a sputtering economy, mounting national and state-level deficits and fierce partisan debates around critical social policies--America's veterans and active duty service members are often overlooked as stakeholders in the progressive agenda. Learn how to help bring America's veterans and active duty service members into the Progressive community, and understand how the issues shared by America's veterans and active duty service members are in alignment with Progressive values.

PANELISTS: Elisa Basnight, Former U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, Attorney; State Rep. Bryan Lentz (D-Delaware), former U.S. Army Officer, Attorney; Manan Trivedi, U.S. Naval Officer, Physician; Moderated by Gwen Camp, Fellow, Truman National Security Project, and In-state Representative for Senator Bob Casey, Jr.

SESSION III Click here to return to Conference Agenda

Wendell Potter: "Engaging the Enemy: How to Fight the Corporate Ruling Class--and Win"

1:15-2:15pm, Pennsylvania Ballroom

If you want to do battle with corporate America, you have to understand how corporate generals wage war. You have to know your enemies and understand how they develop and deploy their strategic weapons. Wendell Potter, who spent 20 years as a health insurance executive before becoming a vocal critic of the insurance industry and an advocate for comprehensive and meaningful health care reform, will talk about what it takes to win against corporate Goliaths.

PRESENTER: Wendell Potter, Senior Fellow on Health Care, Center for Media and Democracy

Marriage Equality

1:15-2:15pm, Ash Room

This panel, which includes a representative array of progressive activists with experience and insight on marriage equality, will focus on issues about which the general public is often unclear. An attorney will provide expertise on current and proposed legal issues regarding marriage, and State Senator Daylin Leach will discuss the importance of his marriage equality bill (SB935). Gay activists will give you first hand experience of discrimination faced as second class citizens. Pro-equality clergy will emphasize religious views that include same-sex couples in their definition of marriage.

PANELISTS: State Senator Daylin Leach sponsor of S.B. 935 for Marriage Equality; Rev. David Zwifka speaking on behalf of the Episcopal Church and his years of LGBT activism; Ted Martin and Dwayne Heckert, legally married under California law; Rabbi Carl Choper, Executive Director of The Interfaith Alliance of Pa.; and Derek Cordier, an attorney with expertise in LGBT issues to discuss benefits of civil marriage

Growing a Manufacturing Economy for the 21st Century

1:15-2:15pm, Birch Room

The U.S. has given away over four million family-sustaining manufacturing jobs over the past three years. These job losses were a critical underlying factor in the November 2008 financial collapse and are the most important reason we have a jobless economic recovery. This workshop/presentation connects the need for an American industrial policy and manufacturing resurgence to issues of the environment, green jobs, education, healthcare reform and a host of progressive agenda items.

PANELISTS: Ike Gittlen, Mickey Bolt and Mark Musho have been long-time activists in manufacturing issues and have helped build the Alliance for American Manufacturing field operations across the United States

Mobilizing through Social Media

1:15-2:15pm, Chestnut Room

With more than 50% of Americans using social media such as Facebook, Twitter and Meetup, this new medium is the fastest growing and most economical means for advocacy organizations to engage and maintain supporters. This presentation will explore social networking tools and best practices, and demonstrate how social networking tools can be used to organize, advocate, and support the progressive movement. Participants should bring laptops and smart phones for hands-on activities explaining how to execute a successful media campaign that can be managed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

PANELISTS: Rebecca L. Cavanaugh, Vice President for Public Affairs, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania; Tiffany Hickman, Volunteer Coordinator, Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania; Mandy Fleisher, Assistant Director of Communications, PSEA; State Rep. Josh Shapiro, (D-Montgomery)

Redistricting: Making Elections Competitive Again

1:15-2:15pm, Dogwood Room

Legislative districts are re-drawn every decade, based on census counts, to ensure everyone has equal representation. In Pennsylvania, everyone involved in creating your legislative district is an elected representative with a significant stake in the outcome, with the result that most districts are designed to be uncompetitive—either Republican or Democratic. The outcome of the general election within these partisan districts is a foregone conclusion, so candidates are forced to take extreme ideological positions to avoid primary challenges. Should district lines instead be drawn in a non-partisan or bi-partisan fashion, and if so, how?

PANELISTS: State Rep. Mark Cohen (D-Philadelphia); Zachary Hoover, Chief of Staff of State Senator Daylin Leach; Scott Casper, Director of the House Democratic Caucus Office of Demographic Analysis. Moderated by Chris Masicotte, Director of Sales and Marketing, NGP Software

Perspectives on Marcellus Shale Drilling

1:15-2:15pm, Elm Room

With the rapid move to access millions of acres of both public and private lands in Pennsylvania to drill for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale, what does this mean for our local rivers and streams, drinking water supply and wild places? The discussion will not only look at environmental effects like toxic pollution from drilling, but how it affects local communities through increased infrastructure use and other impacts.

PANELISTS: Erika Staaf, Clean Water Advocate, PennEnvironment; Iris Marie Bloom, Protecting our Waters, Philadelphia, and WeeklyPress.com; Darree Sicher, Founder, United Sludge-Free Alliance

Fearless Campaigning: Going Door-to-Door

1:15-2:15pm, Fir Room

Strategic voter contact is the key to winning any campaign, whether you’re trying to elect a candidate or educate voters about important issues. This workshop will engage its participants in the basics of voter contact through door-to-door canvassing. It may sound easy, but understanding the why and how is critically important to getting the information you need to win. Join us and face your fears!

PANELISTS: Diane Topakian, Political Program Coordinator, SEIU PA State Council; Steve Dunkle, Assistant Director for Government Relations, PSEA

Free the River Park

1:15-2:15pm, Hemlock Room

This documentary film, by directors Rob Stuart and Tara Nurin, explores a neighborhood's ultimately victorious efforts to create and preserve at grade access to the Schuylkill River Park despite the adamant objections of the CSX Railroad. The film chronicles the protracted grass-roots fight against CSX and their effort to block the community's access to the Schuylkill river. It serves to inspire and instruct other organizations on how to successfully wage network-centric organizing campaigns to improve and protect their own communities.

PRESENTER: Rob Stuart, executive producer and director, Free the River Park

SESSION IV Click here to return to Conference Agenda

Legislative Reform in PA: A Debate between Senator Daylin Leach and Tim Potts

2:30-3:30pm, Pennsylvania Ballroom

Legislative reform is and will continue to be a hotly debated topic in Harrisburg politics. Campaign finance reform, constitutional conventions, reducing the size of the legislature, open records, and referendums are just a few of the hot-button reform issues currently being debated in the State Capitol. Come hear two sides of the debate, offered by State Senator Daylin Leach and activist Tim Potts, and decide whether all types of “reform” are a good idea for Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: State Senator Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery; Tim Potts, Director, Democracy Rising. Moderated by John Micek, Allentown Morning Call.

Who Needs More Women in Government? Everyone.

2:30-3:30pm, Ash Room

Pennsylvania is currently ranked 46th when it comes to women serving in public office. Take the opportunity to hear first-hand experiences from women who have run for office in Pennsylvania. Candidates will discuss the essential values that women bring to the table and what needs to be done to get more women on the track to serve in elected office now.

PANELISTS: Sam “Siobhan” Bennett, Women’s Campaign Forum President/CEO and former congressional candidate (PA-15). Sam will be joined by other women candidates and elected officials from Pennsylvania

The Campaign for Health Care Reform and How we Won

2:30-3:30pm, Birch Room

Representatives of the key partners in the Health Care For America campaign for health care reform (including ACORN, Penn Action, PUP, SEIU and others) will discuss how the HCAN campaign was built and why it was successful. The focus is on political strategy, coalition building, and the integrated message / internet / field effort to secure the support of members of Congress for health care reform. There will be some discussion of the national campaign but most of the session will be about how campaign played out in Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: Marc Stier, PA State Director, HCAN; Antoinette Kraus, Regional Health Care Organizer, Philadelphia Unemployment Project; Ian Phillips, Legislative Director, ACORN; Robin Stelly and Richard McVey, Organizers, PennAction; Diane Topakian, Political Program Coordinator, SEIU PA State Council; Roxanne Pauline, Northeast PA Director, HCAN

You Tube 101

2:30-3:30pm, Chestnut Room

So you have a camera and a YouTube account. How can you take these simple elements and turn them into a tool for progressive change? In this brief overview, we will provide you with the essentials for filming, editing and uploading your video masterpiece, focusing on storytelling.

PRESENTER: Alan Franklin, Online Operations Director, Progress Now

Lobbying 101

2:30-3:30pm, Dogwood Room

This presentation is an overview of the legislative process in Pennsylvania. Participants will learn how laws are actually passed (or stopped)—not the version found in textbooks—and gain an understanding of how to lobby the members of the General Assembly in each phase of the legislative process.

PANELISTS: Laurel McLeaish, Staff Attorney, PSEA; Thomas Previc, Director of Public Affairs, Pennsylvania Association for Justice; John Meyerson, Director of Legislation and Political Action, United Food and Commercial Workers 1776

Pennsylvania as the Leader in a Green Future

2:30-3:30pm, Elm Room

Global warming is a top environmental priority--and an illustrative case study of special interests vs. the progressive community. PennEnvironment Energy and Clean Air Advocate Nathan Willcox was one of the 18 stakeholders appointed by Governor Rendell and the legislature to the state's Climate Change Advisory Committee, charged in 2008 with developing a blueprint for tackling global warming in our state. Hear about the process, what the CCAC has proposed, how it will help us reduce global warming pollution where the process goes from here, and how you can get involved.

PANELISTS: Adam Garber, PennEnvironment Clean Energy and Air Advocate; Michael Fedor, Pennsylvania State Director, Repower America; State Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware)

Effective GOTV Strategies

2:30-3:30pm, Fir Room

Do GOTV text messages work? Can Internet banner ads persuade? Can simple questions double the impact of a GOTV call? This presentation will introduce attendees to the cutting-edge world of data-driven politics and evidence-based best practices. Hundreds of randomized controlled experiments were conducted during the 2008 and 2009 election cycles by leading progressive organizations to determine what works and what doesn’t in voter contact. Learn the basics of how a randomized controlled experiment works and be a part of building the progressive toolkit.

PRESENTER: Regina Schwartz, Director of Communications and Outreach, Analyst Institute

Out in the Silence

2:30-3:30pm, Hemlock Room

Out in the Silence captures the remarkable chain of events that unfold when the announcement of filmmaker Joe Wilson’s wedding to another man ignites a firestorm of controversy in his small Pennsylvania hometown. This gripping documentary illustrates the challenges of being an outsider in a conservative rural community and the change that is possible when courageous people break the silence and search for common ground. Out in the Silence will challenge you to rethink your values and help close the gaps that divide our communities.

PRESENTER: Joe Wilson, producer, co-director and screenwriter, Out in the Silence

SESSION V Click here to return to Conference Agenda

State Legislative Briefing

4-5pm, Pennsylvania Ballroom

Out with the Oughts, in with the New. Legislators will share their thoughts and insights on the past year and what progressive initiatives can we expect to see pushed in 2010. There will be Q&A for those in the audience, so bring your questions!

PANELISTS: Rep. Mike Gerber (D-Montgomery), Rep. Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny), Rep. Eugene Depasquale (D-York). Moderated by Mike Crossey, PA State Education Association

A Dialogue on Common Values: Progressives and the Working Class

4-5pm, Ash Room

Since the early 1960s, conservatives have framed policy discussions in terms of social issues, values, and security—and thereby created a gap between social progressives and the working class, the two groups traditionally at the core of the progressive political movement. Bridging this gap is essential to the success of progressive politics and to the restoration of constitutional rights, economic prosperity, security and transparency in government. This session will find the common ground between urban progressives and those who share their values but feel abandoned by the political process.

PANELISTS: Mark Karlin, founder and editor-in-Chief of the Buzzflash Online News Network; Ritchie Tabachnick, business owner and progressive political activist in Pittsburgh; Charles Showalter, Host, The Union Edge; Jennifer Jannon, Regional Director, Working America

Mobilizing Spiritual Communities for Social Action

4-5pm, Birch Room

Spiritual communities--churches, synagogues, mosques and other faith-based and interfaith groups--often have social service as part of their program. While tax regulations preclude partisan political activism, spiritual communities can be a powerful force for long-term, progressive social change in their neighborhoods and beyond. Find out how leaders from a wide range of faiths are engaging and mobilizing their congregations to serve the larger community, and discuss how to network more of them together.

PANELISTS: Rabbi Carl Choper, President of The Interfaith Alliance of PA; Rev. Jesse Brown, Lutheran Advocacy Ministry of PA; Rev. Howard Dana, Unitarian Church of Harrisburg; Rev. Sandy Strauss, Pennsylvania Council of Churches; The Ven. Dr. Anthony Stultz, Director, Blue Mountain Lotus Society; Blaise W. Liffick, UUPLAN Representative

Integrating Offline Activism with Online Mobilization

4-5pm, Chestnut Room

As North America’s largest industrial union, the United Steelworkers represent workers in nearly every sector of the economy. This panel will outline how USW has wedded its traditional on-the-ground union activism with cutting-edge, online mobilization in both issue-based and electoral organizing. By integrating web-based applications such as blogs, YouTube, and the union’s own interactive website with a long tradition of grassroots organizing, USW has positioned itself as an effective advocate for workers in America and all over the world.

PANELISTS: Barbara White Stack and Connie Mabin, Communications Department; Eric D. Russell and Kyle McDermott, Political Department, United Steel Workers

The Progressive Movement and Racial Equity

4-5pm, Dogwood Room

The Progressive movement of the early 20th century unleashed, aided and abetted some of the most destructive racist forces in since Emancipation. Questions of race and inclusion continue to run throughout all of our work, and the better we understand history, the less likely we are to repeat it in the 21st century. We don't imagine we can put an end to racism at the Summit, but we have planned a workshop that addresses ways in which all stakeholders can have equity in the progressive movement.

PANELISTS: Celeste Taylor, Director, Regional Equity Monitoring Project, a program of the Black Political Empowerment Project; Pat Clark, Pennsylvania VOICE state consultant, Jackson/Clark Partners

Holding Government Accountable for Creating Family-sustaining Jobs

4-5pm, Elm Room

The creation and retention of good paying jobs in Pennsylvania is not just the responsibility of those in the private sector. State and local government has considerable authority over the kinds of jobs created through the distribution of financial incentives and economic development dollars. Government also procures millions of dollars worth of goods and services each year. Using the proposed Pittsburgh Prevailing Wage law as an example, this workshop will go over how government can leverage these “powers of the purse” to ensure that the businesses that benefit from State expenditures are giving something back in return – namely, good jobs that keep low- and middle-income Pennsylvanians working and able to support their families.

PANELISTS: Gabe Morgan, Western PA Director, SEIU Local 32BJ; Mark Price, Labor Economist, Keystone Research Center

Voting Accessibility

4-5pm, Fir Room

The National Voter Registration Act, (the “Motor Voter Law”) may be the greatest tool for targeting poor, elderly, High School and disabled voters. But, the great potential of the NVRA is being squandered in Pennsylvania! For example, in 2008 Pennsylvania had only 34 voter registrations by all 501 school districts! Pennsylvania does not require NVRA compliance by state unemployment offices and job centers -- we need to change that. This workshop will show the exciting results of a five county pilot; and discuss how NVRA implementation can help develop an expanded and inclusive electorate.

PANELISTS: Paul W. O'Hanlon, Esq, Disability Rights Network of PA; Rachel Freund, Director, Community Outreach, Mental Health America Allegheny County

Organizing for Fairness, Equality and Progressive Change in Small Towns and Rural Communities

4-5pm, Hemlock Room

LGBT and their allies are on the move in smaller towns and rural communities in Pennsylvania, leading efforts to achieve fairness and equality for all and to advance progressive solutions to critical problems in the state. Join us to look at powerful models of activism already underway and, more importantly, to help strategize about how to support, strengthen and make sure such work is included in the broader progressive movement for change in Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: Linda Henderson, Co-Founder, It’s Time Venango County; Alan Franklin, Coordinator of the GLBT Justice Initiative at Unitarian Universalists of Cumberland Valley; Becca Glenn, Community Organizer, ACLU of PA. Moderated by Joe Wilson, Director, OUT IN THE SILENCE Community Engagement Campaign

SESSION VI Click here to return to Conference Agenda

What Happened in November, and What's at Stake in 2010

5:15-6:15pm, Pennsylvania Ballroom

2008 saw major gains for Democrats in party registration and partisan performance in Pennsylvania, while in 2009, Republican candidates were ascendant in statewide contests. In this session we will discuss some of the reasons for last year’s results, and what the implications are for progressives in 2010 and beyond.

PANELISTS: Mary Shull, America Votes Pennsylvania State Director; Jeff Garis, America Votes Pennsylvania Political Director; Kati Sipp, Political Director, SEIU Healthcare PA; Daniel Nickeson, Senior Research Analyst, Women's Voices, Women Vote Action Fund

Electing Pro-Choice Candidates

5:15-6:15pm, Ash Room

Contrary to popular belief, it is not necessary to be ‘pro-life’ to win elections in many regions of the Commonwealth. In fact, the opposite is true, and until we dispel this dangerous myth, Pennsylvania will remain the anti-choice bastion of the Northeast. The Pennsylvania public supports a woman’s right to choose, and recent polling clearly demonstrates that a candidate who holds positions that are hostile to women’s reproductive rights and family planning actually moves voters to the other candidate, regardless of party. This panel will explore PA abortion law, recent elections where reproductive rights played a significant role, messaging and polling and why and how a pro-choice candidate can win in any region of Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: Morgan Plant, Lobbyist and Board Chair of the Planned Parenthood PAC; Sari Stevens, State Director of Public Affairs for Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, the State Office of Planned Parenthood; Beth Zampogna, Chair of the PA Women’s Campaign Fund; Karen Ritter, former State Rep. and current Board Chair, Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates

Passing Single-payer Healthcare in Pennsylvania

5:15-6:15pm, Birch Room

Single-payer healthcare is publicly financed, privately delivered healthcare that provides comprehensive benefits to all while lowering cost. This presentation will explain single-payer healthcare, including how it can provide significant healthcare benefits to Pennsylvanians, and what we need to do to get this legislation passed.

PANELISTS: Chuck Pennacchio, Executive Director, Healthcare 4 ALLPA; Dr. William Davidson, a Lebanon PA cardiac physician and member of Physicians for a National Health Program

Reframing Progressive Value Messaging

5:15-6:15pm, Chestnut Room

Family values. Personal responsibility. Individual liberties. Progressives have let conservatives take political ownership of these values for the last half century, when in reality they are just as much progressive values. How can we take back this framing as a way to communicate progressive policy as grounded in deeply-held American Values? How do we take progressive messaging from movement to mainstream?

PANELISTS: Michael Fedor, Pennsylvania State Director, Repower America; Fiona Conroy, Executive Director, PA House Democratic Campaign Committee; Khari Mosley, Director of Green Economy Initiatives at GTECH; Tony May, VP of Communications at Triad Strategies. Moderated by Jon Deustch, Principal and senior strategist at Capital D Design

Campaign Finance Reform

5:15-6:15pm, Dogwood Room

Big money is the root of all evil in politics, right? That’s the conventional wisdom among most progressives. But a growing number of activists believe that limiting campaign contributions could actually hurt progressive causes by limiting our ability to compete. This session will be a debate between two activists in Pennsylvania who take two very different views on the need for campaign finance reform.

PANELISTS: Laurel McLeaish, Staff Attorney, PSEA; Barry Kauffman, Executive Director, Common Cause/Pennslvania. Moderated by former State Senator Alan Kukovich

Medical Marijuana: Mainstream Policies for the 2010s

5:15-6:15pm, Elm Room

Presenters will outline the rationale for legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, and discuss the process and prognosis for getting the legislation enacted in Pennsylvania.

PANELISTS: State Rep. Mark Cohen, Democratic Caucus Chairman and prime sponsor, House Bill 1393; Chris Goldstein, Communications Director, PhillyNORML (National Organization for Reform of Medical Marijuana Laws), and board member, PA4MMJ; Derek Rosenzweig, Secretary, PhillyNORML, and co-founder and board member, PA4MMJ

Running Blue Campaigns in Red Country

5:15-6:15pm, Fir Room

We’ll look at the strategies, tactics and tricks needed to run progressive campaigns in profoundly conservative areas. Topics to be covered will include The Centrist Trap, Letting the Bench Call the Game, The Cavalry’s Not Coming, and Issue Jiu-Jitsu. We’ll look at some recent case studies – both successful and painfully unsuccessful--from Congress and local races. Bring your questions and ideas: everything’s on the table.

PANELISTS: Walter Ludwig, Team Blue; Steve Dunkle, Assistant Director for Government Relations, PSEA

Winning Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2010

5:15-6:15pm, Hemlock Room

Conservatives have used anti-immigrant rhetoric to distort progressive efforts on healthcare and worker rights, to undercut our civil liberties and to enact bad policies that disenfranchise low income people and people of color. With the commitment of the President and Congressional leadership in the House and Senate to move Comprehensive Immigration Reform in 2010, we have a historic opportunity to change this. The capacity of the progressive movement to organize and mobilize support for progressive CIR in the next six months will make or break this effort. Winning will change the lives of millions and reshape the political landscape in our country for generations to come. We invite you to attend this workshop to learn more about why immigration is a progressive issue in our local communities and nationally, the legislative battle, our overall strategy to win, and what we need to do here in Pennsylvania to succeed.

PANELISTS: Regan Cooper, Executive Director, PA Immigration and Citizenship Coalition; Ali Kronley, Reform Immigration for America Now