This session talks about the relationship between public policy, advocacy and lobbying, and shares strategies for being an effective citizen lobbyist. Participants spend the bulk of this session in an exciting exercise involving lobbying decision-makers who are supportive, undecided and opposed to a particular issue.

Trainers: Peggy Flanagan, Rudy Lopez

We’re here to help. At this interactive training, you’ll learn how to navigate the action-packed schedule of Netroots Nation, how to survive on two hours of sleep (and still be alert for a day of panels!) and how to make genuine, lasting connections with the other fantastic folks gathered here in Providence. Best of all, you’ll get an early start on networking!

Trainers: John Brougher, Karlo Marcelo

The Occupy movement created a major opportunity and an imperative for progressives: Figure out what a new system, one that isn’t based solely on individual greed and a race to the bottom, might look like. In this session, we will explore how Occupy has changed the game in the fight for economic justice and how progressives might start to invest in earnest in building a real alternative economic and political system that works for us—one that is designed as a tool to help us achieve a set of societal goals including human rights and fulfillment.

Beyond Occupy: What Does a New Economic System Look Like?

Miss this panel? No problem! Here’s what happened.

Storified by Netroots Nation · Thu, Jun 07 2012 15:19:58

Led by: Jenifer Fernandez Ancona

Panelists: Sarita Gupta, Simon Johnson, Colin Mutchler, Erica Payne

This January, against long odds, the environmental movement dealt a blow to Big Oil, forcing President Obama’s rejection of a presidential permit for the Keystone XL tar sands oil pipeline—the industry’s marquee project and a conduit to the continent’s biggest “carbon bomb.” The hard-fought campaign united indigenous communities, Nebraska ranchers and Texas landowners, union representatives, youth climate activists, interfaith leaders and grassroots citizen activists and breathed new life into a movement fractured and demoralized after having failed to advance meaningful climate legislation following the election of a Democratic Congress and a new president who promised to lead on clean energy and climate solutions. Panelists will discuss the lessons the environmental, climate and progressive movements can take from the KXL fight and how these movements might build on this success to continue fighting the southern leg of the pipeline expedited by the president and to reclaim our democracy from corporate polluters and gain lasting wins for a safe climate and justice-fueled future.

Led by: Kim Huynh, Brad Johnson

Panelists: Becky Bond, Jane Fleming Kleeb, Bill McKibben, Ben Powless

Occupy Wall Street has not only been a successful movement in and of itself, but it was pivotal in reinvigorating the work of labor unions and community organizations throughout the country.  This panel will examine how labor and community organizations have collaborated with OWS over the past year—on endeavors including Occupy the Boardroom, Occupy Our Homes and bank actions throughout the country—and what the future holds for progressive partnerships.

Led by: Greg Basta

Panelists: Nathan Henderson-James, Camille Rivera, Nelini Stamp

With reproductive rights under constant attack, young women and men face some of the most extreme consequences of social conservatives’ anti-sex policies and are too often sold out in compromises from the left. Whether it’s parental notification laws, the Obama administration caving to political pressure to deny young women access to Plan B emergency contraception or the manufactured “controversy” over birth control, the rights of youth are too often traded away in larger political fights. In a culture that demonizes young people’s sexuality while denying them everything from sex education to basic health care, this panel will explore how youth activists and their allies are fighting back.

Paying the Price, Leading the Fight: Youth and the Politics of Reproductive Rights

Miss this panel? No problem! Here’s what happened.

Storified by Netroots Nation · Thu, Jun 07 2012 14:19:47

Led by: Rachel E. Cooke

Panelists: Ernesto Dominguez, April Flores, Debra Hauser, Amanda Marcotte

The SOPA and PIPA bills were defeated by a fascinating combination of forces. There was an inside game in Washington and an outside one online. It included liberals and conservatives, and it brought together the public, non-profits and the business community in common cause. The panel will look at the cross-cutting effects of the effort and determine what lessons to take away for other campaigns at the federal, state or local level.

Organizing Lessons from SOPA and PIPA

Miss this panel? No problem! Here’s what happened.

Storified by Netroots Nation · Thu, Jun 07 2012 14:37:16

Led by: Art Brodsky

Panelists: Stephen DeMaura, Andrew McLaughlin, David Moon, Steven Renderos

Vote modeling, voter targeting, consumer data, NCEC, vote scores, crosstabs. What does this all mean? This panel of data geeks will walk through common uses of data in politics and share some cutting-edge techniques that will be used in 2012.

Winning Smarter: Using Data to Transform Elections

Storified by Netroots Nation · Thu, Jun 07 2012 15:24:27

Led by: Darcy Burner

Panelists: Tim Lim, David Mermin, David Radloff

Progressives talk a lot about narrative and storytelling these days. So why are we so bad at it? We’re not just bad at it – we’re often reinforcing right-wing ideas about our most important issues without even knowing it. We have to be smarter about research and strategy. But first, we need to know what a real narrative looks like. This interactive workshop led by progressive strategy consultant Ryan Senser, along with the help of cognitive linguist and communications expert Anat Shenker-Osorio, will help you practice effective storytelling. We’ll use great stories to help us, from Harriet Tubman to Superman, and offer compelling examples of narrative, visual storytelling and words that actually move people. You’ll walk away with simple and smart tools, and learn how to avoid dead-end talking points and pointless infographics. We’ll also tackle one narrative challenge from the audience and work together to transform it.

Trainers: Caitlin Burns, Ryan Senser, Anat Shenker-Osorio

In an era of 24-hours corporate news, it’s harder than ever to break into the conversation—which is why using comedy and satire to break through is more important than ever. A panel of expert web-video creators, prank-based activists and full-time troublemakers will discuss how creative new media, bold real-world interventions and being damn funny can break into the news cycle and reframe the debate, whether you’re working for a progressive organization struggling to get a message out to a wider audience or you’re a sole artist-activist trying to advance a cause. And we’ll have fun—that’s an order!

Led by: Andrew Boyd

Panelists: Lee Camp, Elon James White, Lizz Winstead

Connect with like-minded folks and talk with others from your community in our identity caucuses.

Everyone knows email is one of the most important tools in an organizer’s arsenal, but not everyone knows how to build a successful email program. This training will cover techniques for growing and managing a list of active supporters, and getting the most you can out of every email sent. We’ll look at concrete examples, and attendees will come away with solid ideas for improving their own programs and using email to win campaigns.

Trainers: Matt Lockshin