Massachusetts has the reputation of being one of the most progressive states in the country. Yet we lack legislative transparency, have a progressive Democratic Party platform that the leadership ignores, and have a state government that struggles to pass progressive legislation.
In response, the Massachusetts Progressive Action Organizing Committee (MPAOC) invites you to an online Strategy Conference. We will focus on how progressive activists can gain the power to pass vigorous meaningful legislation and initiate changes to improve the lives of all of our citizens.
In panels and breakout groups, conference attendees will examine paths to increase progressive power, identify the obstacles to our success. and learn strategies to overcome them.
REGISTER HERE
Schedule
9:30 Welcome and call to order
9:50 Nina Turner – Plenary Speaker – founder, We Are Somebody; former Ohio state senator and Bernie Sanders campaigner
10:30 Panel 1 – Social/Economic Consequences in Massachusetts of excess military spending
Three activists who organize to support the social and economic needs of the people of Massachusetts will speak on how the Pentagon budget is starving state and local budgets.
Rep. Mike Connolly, state representative from Cambridge and Somerville, will speak about needed housing policies, including social housing and rent control.
Katie Murphy RN, president of the Mass. Nurses Association, will talk about the crisis in nursing and healthcare as providers try to rebuild the increasingly profit-driven system after COVID.
Jonathan King, professor emeritus of molecular biology at MIT and board co-chair at Mass. Peace Action, will address the impact on the important science and technology industries in Massachusetts.
11:30 Breakouts 1
12:30 Lunch break
1:15 Special presentation – Rep. Max Frost (D-FL)
1:30 Panel 2 – Overcoming Obstacles: Learning From Successful Campaigns
Three speakers from three different, successful Massachusetts-based issue campaigns will name the three largest obstacles to their goals and the strategies they used to overcome them, using examples from their work.
Sonia Chang-Díaz, former State Senator and 2022 candidate for Governor, will talk about how she worked with allies to pass ‘The Student Opportunity Act’, later renamed ‘The Promise Act’, which significantly increased funding to poor school districts.
Harris Gruman, executive director, SEIU State Council, will speak about the successful Raise-Up campaign he helped lead to increase taxes on income over one million dollars (The Fair Share Amendment) to fund public schools and transit.
Tricia Farley Bouvier, state representative from Pittsfield, will tell us about the campaign she helped lead which resulted in qualified undocumented immigrants being able to get driver’s licenses.
2:30 Breakouts 2
3:30 Panel 3 – What Are We Going to Do?
Speakers from grassroots organizations that have advanced the progressive agenda will be asked to identify barriers to continued progress as we enter 2024. Each will be asked to talk about strategies they employ and how they will use them to advance their political agenda.
Andrea Miller, founding board member of the Center for Common Ground, will talk about her work to build Democracy Centers in the U.S. South, addressing in particular the challenge of alienation from electoral work that is growing in communities of color.
Nicky Osborne will speak about her work to organize in southeast Massachusetts against MAGA supporters who are running for school boards with funding from major right-wing organizations. She will talk about the extent of the MAGA threat in Massachusetts and effective organizing techniques.
4:30 Wrap-up
5:00 Adjourn
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