Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power

Saturday, December 4 and Sunday, December 5, 2021

by Zoom

Rep. Ayanna Pressley Keynote Address

National Strategy Panel
Joseph Geevarghese Our Revolution Executive Director	Maurice Mitchell Working Families Party National Director	Alan Minsky Progressive Democrats of America Executive Director	Matt Miller Democratic Socialists of America National Political Committee

Massachusetts progressives are well aware of the crises we face. Climate catastrophes and COVID-19 ravage communities across the country, Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and the poor always suffering most. The risk of nuclear war is as close as we have ever been.  In Massachusetts, the growing incidence of the diseases of despair; addiction, ODs, and suicide reflect the worsening misery of much of our population while Trumpism threatens our political will to make change happen.

Come to our online Fall 2021 conference, Coming Together: Building Progressive Political Power, on Dec 4-5, where we will explore how we can move our programs forward with maximum impact, strategizing how to engage, unite and build the power needed to reverse the destructive policies of our current governmental structures. We acknowledge the urgency to center those whose lived experiences of resistance to oppression and injustice form the scaffold for our agenda.

The 2016 and 2020 national elections, the Black Lives Matter movement, and Indigenous resistance to the Line 3 pipeline have changed power relationships and shifted cultural narratives in the United States. The Sanders presidential campaigns and the elections of AOC, Ayanna Pressley, and other members of The Squad point out the possibilities and the potential for progressive politics in the United States, but we are far from where we need to be. We will examine how we strengthen Progressive influence in our national, state and local governments.

State Strategy and Issues Panel
Martha Karchere Our Revolution Massachusetts (ORMA) Co-Chair	Rachel Poliner Progressive Massachusetts	Jordan Berg Powers Mass Alliance Executive Director	Anna Callahan Incorruptible Massachusetts
Mahtowin Munro United American Indians of New England (UAINE)	Elvis Mendez Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts Executive Director	Vaughn Goodwin 1199SEIU, Organizer Mass. Poor People’s Campaign, Tri-Chair	Logan Malik Massachusetts Climate Action Network Clean Energy Director

To build power, we must forge coalitions of movements and groups, made up of different racial, ethnic, class, and gender constituencies. We must dismantle white supremacy and understand what it means to be an ally. We will begin the process of building a political agenda that is inclusive of human rights, including frequently under-represented BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities, as we confront the threats of economic exploitation, climate change and nuclear war.  

Lastly, we will address: how we maintain morale when political incrementalism impacts our power to address broad international issues and crises faced by the grassroots; and how we can conserve stamina, have fun and feel joy in our efforts.  We should dance as we work toward a more just and sustainable world.

Sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action, Our Revolution Massachusetts, Progressive Democrats of America, Progressive Massachusetts, North American Indian Center of Boston, Incorruptible Mass, Boston Democratic Socialists of America, Cape Cod Democratic Socialists of America, Massachusetts Call 2 Action, Liberation Road- Massachusetts, and Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment.

Endorsed by Massachusetts Sierra Club.

Registration fee:  Pay what you can afford, $0- $100 – unlimited, sliding scale.  Average to cover our costs: $20.  Read the sliding scale guidance page.    Register to attend.   After covering expenses, any remaining funds will be divided among the sponsoring organizations.

We need 30 breakout facilitators and 30 student recorders!  Breakouts will focus on discussing and responding to the presentations.  Breakout facilitators should experienced at convening groups of people to work together on a common task, and preferably, be familiar with the conference’s subject matter.  There will be a planning meeting for conveners, probably on Dec. 2 or 3.  Sign up to be a breakout facilitator (and register for the conference at the same time).   You must be able to attend on Sunday as well as Saturday!

Student recorders should be high school or college students who can take notes during breakouts, capture list of attendees, and make a Zoom recording.  You will be paid $30 for this work.  There will be a brief orientation session on Dec. 3 at 3pm.  Sign up to be a student recorder!

Massachusetts progressive organizations are invited to cosponsor or endorse.   See details and sign up.

Payment can also be made by check payable to Massachusetts Peace Action.  Mail to 11 Garden Street, Cambridge, MA 02138 and write “Coming Together” on the memo line.

Agenda

Saturday, December 4

9:00 am Welcome

9:15 am  Keynote Address – Rep. Ayanna Pressley

10:00 am National Strategy Panel

11:00 am National Strategy Breakouts

12:00 noon Lunch

1:00 pm State Strategy and Issues Panel

3:00 pm State Strategy and Issues Breakouts

4:00 pm Wrapup

5:00 pm Adjourn

Sunday, December 5

10:00 am Breakout Reports and Next Steps

12:00 pm Adjourn