Especially in the post-Citizens United universe, organizers involved in political campaigns and party organizations, 501(c)(3)s, (c)(4)s and the labor movement are often unsure what kinds of activity they can engage in online. Can a 501(c)(3) “friend” a candidate? What happens when a campaign retweets a SuperPAC ad? Experts in the law and in new media will provide the most up-to-date advice possible for keeping your activities beyond reproach during the 2012 election season.

Trainers: Adam Bonin, Abby Levine

This training is designed to prepare participants to train others in identifying the most impactful aspects of their personal stories for the purpose of moving others to action. Participants will learn the fundamentals of the workshop, along with helpful facilitation tips.

Trainers: Rosa Gonzalez, Julian Mocine-McQueen

Studies show women voters are the key to election success and that women rule social media platforms. But few candidates or causes use those tools to effectively engage those crucial women voters. What’s working—and what isn’t—when it comes to social media outreach to women? This panel will focus on successful case studies and tips for effective engagement, as well as what backfires when trying to persuade these influencers to support your efforts.

Panelists: Veronica Arreola, Joanne Bamberger, Carol Jenkins, Kristin Rowe-Finkbeiner

We’ll share 10 often overlooked web, social media and email metrics you can use to improve your social bottom line (in terms of actions taken, money raised, etc.). More than the online statistics that we all usually track—unique visitors, email open rates, advertising clickthroughs, etc.—these data sets can help you spark more user engagement, cultivate long-term brand loyalty and incentivize sustained peer-to-peer sharing. How do you use “website activation time” to attract email list subscribers? How do you use Facebook EdgeRank to measure the health of your fan base? These are just a few of the questions this training will answer.

Trainers: Nikki Serapio

Led by: Marc Lamont Hill

Panelists: Abraham J. Bonowitz, DeJaun Correia, Laura Moye

Wall Street crashed our economy, perpetrated widespread fraud on millions of homeowners, bankrupted our communities and continues to inject unfettered corporate money into our democracy. That’s the bad news. The good news: In an extraordinary example of progressive power, a group of organizations and individuals built a dynamic movement to challenge big bank power and rebuild our economy. People have occupied their homes, moved millions of dollars out of big banks, taken over big bank offices and annual shareholders meetings, won a federal investigation into big bank fraud and made big bank power the pariah in media coverage. In this session, participants will dive into specific strategies—from grassroots organizing to online mobilization to popular education—that led to this groundswell. We’ll also have a lively discussion on taking lessons back into your own community to and how to make this a central issue this election cycle.

Led by: Tracy Van Slyke

Panelists: Max Berger, Matt Browner-Hamlin, Peggy Mears, Lenore Palladino

When the right-wing noise machine gets started, any progressive group or individual can find themselves the target of a coordinated wave of attacks (remember ACORN?). Fighting back isn’t easy—it takes courageous leadership, a strong voice, savvy staff and the ability to rally committed supporters online. Join leaders and organizers from three of the right’s favorite targets—Planned Parenthood, AFSCME and Jewish Voice for Peace—as they talk about their experiences fighting back in the face of relentless, vicious opposition. They’ll share tactics and strategies for organizing and mobilizing activists to stand strong when the right wing comes after you.

Led by: Will Valverde

Panelists: Tracey Conaty, Stephanie Lauf, Cecilie Surasky

Culture is the realm of ideas, images and stories; it is where people make sense of the world and where they find meaning and forge community. History shows that when the culture changes, politics follows. Culture can reach audiences beyond the bounds of what community organizing and policy-based organizing can do. While the media is laced with myths, stereotypes and misrepresentation of grassroots movements, cultural interventions can play a key role in pushing forward stories that help shift the public debate. A growing movement of artists around the country are using cultural tools to fight economic inequality, corporations, banks and anti-migrant hate. In this session, artist-activists, writers, cultural leaders and creative institutions will discuss models for connecting artists to movements for social change.

Led by: Favianna Rodriguez

Panelists: Cloee Cooper, Gan Golan, Betsy Richards

In state after state, working people and the progressive community have met unprecedented attacks on their salaries, pensions and social services with blow-out success. But it’s not enough to play defense. Labor-progressive coalitions must work in 2012 to elect state lawmakers who support working people to prevent further assaults on our jobs, our families and progressive democracy. This panel will examine how we can take back control at the state level by sharing hands-on strategies and equip activists with tools to successfully energize the public and get out the vote.

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

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.

Led by: Jenifer Fernandez Ancona

Panelists: 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 Kleeb, Bill McKibben

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