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Netroots Nation events will be held at the America’s Center Convention Complex in downtown St. Louis, Missouri. If you’re new to Netroots Nation, you can get a sense of what the event looks like by checking out our schedule overview. Below you can view panels, training sessions, keynotes and other content as sessions and speakers are confirmed.

Highlights for Netroots Nation 2016 include:

  • 90 panels and 45+ hands-on training sessions
  • Local activism
  • A progressive film Screening Series
  • Annual events including our pub quiz, comedy show and candidate reception and much more to be announced!

Order by:

Best Practices in Digital Analytics: Using Website and Social Media Testing to Optimize for Virality

In recent years, using A/B testing to drive more actions from email campaigns has become a common best practice among digital campaigners. But most people haven’t yet cracked the nut on how to use A/B testing to increase a campaign’s virality and reach a wider audience beyond their existing email list. In this training, we’ll explain what virality actually is, show you how you can use website and social media A/B testing to increase it and go over real examples of how organizations have done this. We’ll conclude with an exercise where you’ll have a chance to optimize your own simulated campaign and make it go viral.

Attendees should have some experience with digital campaigning and should be familiar with the concept of A/B testing.

Trainers: Angelica Morales, Jim Pugh

6 Legal Rules for Online Advocacy that Everyone Needs to Know in an Election Year

Can a c3 lose its tax status over a careless tweet? What happens when a politician “likes” your organization’s Facebook page? Social media can help an organization shape public policy, but it comes with its own set of rules and regulations. Many nonprofits are hesitant about engaging in online advocacy, but knowing these rules can strengthen your work! Join us for a training that will clarify the rules for using social media, blogs and email as part of your advocacy toolkit. Trainers will give concrete examples and invite the audience to discuss hypothetical situations to develop a deeper understanding of the rules that apply to online advocacy.

This training will provide the basics for those new to the c(3) world but is also a good refresher for more experienced organizers.

Trainers: Isaiah Castilla

The Trump Effect: Techniques to Combat Prejudice in the Age of Islamophobia

How can you possibly connect with an audience that sees your skin color or your head scarf and thinks “terrorist”? How can you be an effective ally for Muslim, Arab and South Asian communities? With SCIENCE! This training will explore how the brain filters messages to reinforce or combat previous stereotypes, describe social psych techniques to diffuse bias and provide concrete examples of how to implement these techniques. Training includes examples from successful media campaigns to counter bias against Muslims and those perceived to be Muslim (Arab, Sikh, South Asian), reflecting the socio-political climate of the past year.

This training is meant for activists and advocates in the field. Training level is beginner to intermediate.

Trainers: Zainab Chaudary

Personnel is Policy: Making Progress in an Era of Congressional Gridlock

Congress is messed up. How can activists push the government to address pressing problems constructively amidst political polarization and gridlock? As Senator Elizabeth Warren noted in last year’s Netroots Nation keynote address, “personnel is policy.” One key takeaway is to make sure that the president aggressively enforces powerful laws already on the books. From the Sherman Antitrust Act and Clean Air Act to Dodd-Frank and the ACA, regulatory action and inaction shape the country in which we live. Join our panelists to learn who makes these decisions—and how activists can impact the direction of the executive branch.

Led by: Marcy Wheeler

Panelists: Alexis Goldstein, Angela McCall, Kurt Walters

Climate Messages That Work: We Did the Polling so You Don't Have To

We all know the right messages to get the environmental activist base on board with taking action on climate change. Now, what are the most compelling ways to talk to a broader audience to engage them in the fight for a just transition to a clean energy future? NextGen Climate has worked with pollsters, researchers and allied organizations to identify the best messages that work for diverse audiences. By talking about a just transition to a clean energy future, we know we can broaden the intersectionality of the climate movement. Come hear from message experts and organizers from the field as they discuss how we can broaden our movement through better messaging and engagement.

Led by: Andrea Purse

Panelists: Celinda Lake, Ben Wessel, David Winkler

Wise Latinxs: How to Build Power for 2016 and Beyond

In the 2016 election cycle, the Latinx and immigrant community have been demonized by Donald Trump. However, this framework and racism has been driving policy in America for generations. Meet Latinxs who are challenging the national discourse and owning perceived wedge issues to tackle the biggest issues of our time. As the Latinx community continues to grow, something is shifting and we’ve found power at the intersections. Hear from some wise Latinxs about how to build a path forward.

Led by: Hemly Ordonez

Panelists: Jessica González-Rojas, Zenen Jaimes Pérez, Nelini Stamp, Catalina Velasquez

Rethinking the Municipal Court System: How to Move Money from Police and Courts to Services that Make Our Communities Safe and Prosperous

In low-income, Black communities disenfranchised by the criminal legal system, millions of dollars are spent each year on courts and police that could be invested into public services to meet basic needs of the community and combat inequity. What if we could empower community members to envision how they would like resources to be spent to promote genuine public safety? What would it look like to hold political officials accountable to these community-led visions? Join grass roots St. Louis organizers as we chart a path to redirect resources from traditional policing and court models into public services that meet basic needs of the community and address root causes of crime.

Led by: Thomas Harvey

Panelists: Kayla Reed, Kennard Williams

#BlackWomenLead: The Role and Importance of Black Women Organizers

From the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement to the impact Black people have on social media with platforms such as #BlackTwitter to the rising number of Black women running for office, it is clear that Black women’s work and voices in the progressive movement are monumental and significant. The discussion will focus on two elements—how Black women have shaped current social movements such as racial justice, criminal justice reform and reproductive justice; and how Black women have emerged as the largest voting bloc in the U.S. Panelists will engage the audience on why Black women matter in transforming our country.

Led by: Anay Bickham

Panelists: Jessica Byrd, Glynda C. Carr, Maria Chappelle-Nadal, L. Joy Williams

Galvanizing the Forces: Moving Forward in the Disability and LGBT Rights Movements

Want to learn how the LGBT and disability communities have been intertwined for years as they have helped each other achieve rights? Want to learn how to be an educated and effective ally with the disability and LGBT movements? Want to learn how to make lasting social change? If so, this panel is for you. Led by the first lesbian Commissioner of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, this panel of change agents from both communities will talk about stopping discrimination against people with disabilities and LGBT people – for real.

Led by: Chai Feldblum

Panelists: Rebecca Cokley, Anupa Iyer, Shannon Price Minter

How to Make Your Content Go Viral (Maybe)

Do you have a boss telling you to make everything go viral? It’s ok. This is a safe space. Upworthy returns to explain what can actually (maybe) make your content perform well (if you are lucky and strategic). We’ll share what we’ve learned about telling good stories in all forms, from Facebook videos to articles on your site. We’ll explain to your boss that if they ask you to make something go viral, they’re gonna have to send you to Hogwarts first because you aren’t magic. But most importantly, we’ll explain to your boss why telling great stories that build empathy are necessary to the rest of your organizing.

This training is ideal for those who want to learn more about strategic ways to improve your online presence, from Facebook video optimization to storytelling techniques to make challenging content accessible. And for folks who want to know how Facebook actually works. Bosses totally welcome.

Trainers: Adam Mordecai

Defeating Trump: How Our Side Will Unite And Win the 2016 Presidential Election

The Democratic presidential primary has been intense. But nothing will be more intense, scary, and destructive than a Donald Trump White House. We all know that. Come hear how our side will unite and win the 2016 presidential election. Panelists include senior leaders from the Democratic presidential campaign, SEIU, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, NARAL, and MoveOn. Folks on both sides of the democratic primary. People on the inside and outside. If voters hear our message on wealth inequality, the fight for Black Lives, women’s access to abortion and health services, debt-free college, expanding Social Security, Wall Street reform, a humane immigration policy, and fighting Trump’s hate-filled agenda — we will win.

Led by: Adam Green

Panelists: Sasha Bruce, Anna Galland, Marlon Marshall

AFT Student Debt Clinic [Sponsored Panel]

Over 40 million people in the United States are carrying debt from student loans worth $1.3 trillion, an average of over $30,000 a borrower. Many people struggle with making their monthly payments, while others worry that this debt will follow them throughout their life. The weight of this debt is having a massive impact on our personal and national economic well-being: people are putting off buying a home or starting a family, and money that could be spent on goods and services that could spur economic growth are going to service the debt accrued while financing an increasingly expensive college education. Further, student debt has a more profound impact upon communities of color and women.

However, the federal government has free programs available that can help many student loan borrowers lower their monthly payments and, in some cases, even have their debt forgiven. Unfortunately, these programs are not well known, and can be somewhat confusing – opening a space for scammers who charge borrowers to enroll in free programs.

The AFT recognizes that these programs can help a huge number of our members and their families. To that end, we are rolling out Student Debt Clinics, developed with the help of Jobs with Justice, to provide people with the information they need to enroll in income-driven student loan repayment programs and Public Service Loan Forgiveness. More importantly, these clinics are a member engagement and community engagement opportunity, and the run-up and follow-through for the clinics provide multiple opportunities to have meaningful conversations with members, and their communities, and organize them to take action to help student loan borrowers and make a college education more affordable before another generation finds themselves in debt.

A Student Debt Clinic is 75-90 minute session where attendees are educated on the systemic injustices of our current student debt national crisis. Participants are encouraged to shift their perspectives and stop seeing student debt as just a personal issue, but rather a shared national crisis that will require collective action to address. Participants are then guided through enrolling in Income-Driven Repayment programs – where monthly payments can be as little as $0/mo – and Public Service Loan Forgiveness, two under-utilized programs that work in tandem to lower payments and forgive debt. Following a Q&A session on the programs, participants are presented an organizing ask.

Panelists: Samantha Jordan, Justin Tzuanos

Black Women and Storytelling: How Centering Black Women's Experiences Can Move Policy and Shape Culture [Voter Pick]

Storytelling is one of the most sought-after ways to change cultural and political landscapes; however, sometimes the ways in which stories are collected, shared, and used can replicate the same systems of oppression we seek to disrupt. How can centering Black women’s expertise in storytelling and story sharing move policy and culture? Participants will leave this session with an understanding on how to approach, respect, and uplift the expertise of Black women story tellers.

Led by: Quita Tinsley

Panelists: Jessica Byrd, Suzette Gardner, Regina Mahone

Fear Trumping Reason: Reclaiming America's Brain from Right-Wing Media Manipulators [Voter Pick]

In order to break the toxic grip that Fox and other right-wing outlets hold over so many of our fellow Americans, progressives need to have a deeper understanding of how right-wing media manipulators work, what forces enable their continued success, and how to fight “The Fox Effect” where they are—be it at family dinner, at church, or on the doors during a field canvass. Attend this session and you’ll leave with insights, tools, techniques, and motivation to help counter the misinformation and divisive influence of right-wing media in our relationships, politics, and culture.

Panelists: Dave Ninehouser, Erin Ninehouser, Jen Senko

Changing the World One Story at a Time

Last year, California Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law an aid-in-dying bill that had been defeated six times before. This was in large part thanks to 29 year old Brittany Maynard, a terminally ill woman who used her last days to advocate for the cause. Thanks to Brittany and her husband Dan Diaz, we were able to recruit and train others to use the power of their experience to create dialogue and understanding on an issue as complex, divisive and difficult to broach as death and dying. Join us for a look at lessons learned in recruiting, training and maintaining the best storytellers and the most effective ways to maximize their impact in all aspects of a grassroots campaign.

This training is geared toward the more seasoned staffer who has some experience working with storytellers and can benefit from lessons learned. Ideal for those who have the capacity to coordinate between members of communications, fundraising and outreach staffs.

Trainers: Dan Diaz, CHRISTAL SMITH

Making it Rain: Donor Research and Baller Asks

Improving your fundraising is critical, whether you’re running a small grassroots campaign or running for office. Our exercise-based curriculum will help you learn hands-on how to research donors and ask for money more effectively. And when progressives can raise more grassroots dollars, we win more. It’s that simple. This training received rave reviews at Netroots Nation last year, and we’re excited to offer it again!

This training is ideal for beginners.

Trainers: Abigail Collazo

Networked Change: Real Stories and Research from the Front Lines of Today's Most Successful Movements

NetChange Consulting (formerly Communicopia) recently released a report that maps the strategies and practices that made today’s most successful advocacy campaigns work while so many others fail to create lasting change on the issues they address. The result of a deep dive into nearly 50 case studies, the Networked Change report puts special focus on what we’re calling “directed network campaigns,” a model for building people-powered movements that are centrally framed and managed in a way that leads to staying power and concrete wins. What’s a directed network campaign? Look no further than the four hottest movements of the moment: #Fightfor15, BlackLivesMatter, Keystone/Tar Sands/Climate, and Bernie Sanders. Our session will unpack the strategic and operational elements common to these campaigns, and panelists will share real stories from the front lines running innovative campaigns that reflect these principles.

This panel features NetChange principal consultant Jason Mogus, Marissa Franco, the Campaigns Director at Not1More Deportation and Mijente.net, Faith Cheltenham, President of #BiNet, and Kyle Tanner, the Digital Director at #Fightfor15.

Led by: Jason Mogus

Panelists: Faith Cheltenham, Marisa Franco, Kyle Tanner

Refugee Rights: How the Anti-immigrant and Anti-Muslim Movements Target Refugees (And What We Can Do)

This year has seen a nearly unprecedented rise in the political targeting of refugees—from bigoted rhetoric to xenophobic legislation on the state and federal levels. Fear-mongering from Trump and other politicians has opened up space for anti-refugee sentiment to move into the mainstream, but the groundwork for this explosion of bigotry was laid by the increasing collaboration of the organized anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim movements. This panel will expose the drivers of anti-refugee policy and rhetoric and discuss how our communities can—and must—fight back.

Led by: Lindsay Schubiner

Panelists: Asha Noor, Stephen Piggott, Faizan Syed

The Progressive Movement Has a Sexual Assault and Harassment Problem. Now What?

We have a rape culture problem in the progressive movement. After the high-profile closure of FitzGibbon Media and the rise of a survivor-justice movement, addressing everyday sexism, sexual harassment and assault in the movement has become a hot topic. But how do we fix it? The reality is this abuse is not just the product of a few isolated actors, but the result of a permissive and often supportive culture in our organizations. Serial abusers move from one group to another for years, making our movement a toxic and sometimes dangerous place. This panel will discuss how to address this issue, what a positive structured response could look like and how to make our progressive organizations and movement safer.

Led by: Mariana Ruiz Firmat

Panelists: Molly Haigh, Austen Levihn-Coon, Bridget Todd, Wagatwe Wanjuki

Building Power through Your Email List

Join us for a session on how to use email to increase your organization’s activism, fundraising, and web traffic reach. This session is for those with an existing email program that are looking to up their game.

Trainers: Chris Bowers

Master Class: Nationbuilder

The Master Class program is focused on the specific tools that organizers use every day, and helping intermediate users become efficient, effective power users. Feel free to bring tool-specific questions to the session.

This master class will focus on the tactics for smart rapid response campaigning on NationBuilder. We’ll also cover some important new features that are particularly relevant for progressive campaigners looking to collaborate, build coalitions, and win together. We’ll focus on four pillars of smart rapid response: aying the groundwork (translating your ladder of engagement into paths and goals), identifying your audience and asks (smart targeting through advanced filtering), creating and launching campaign assets including action pages, and working in coalition (leveraging “tag sharing” for shared growth, mutual data enrichment, and building power.)

Trainers: Emily Schwartz, Alex Stevens

Beyond the Like: Creative Content for Success on Facebook

Wondering how to take your Facebook content to the next level? How to create and plan content to maximize your reach and impact? Join a session with Facebook strategists to see the latest trends, understand the newest tools, and get the most out of your time on Facebook.

Led by: Crystal Patterson

Panelists: Kaiya Waddell

From 'Saying Abortion Aloud' to UndocuQueer: A Discussion of Storytelling Genres and Methods

We’ve seen that storytelling can give visibility to the invisible, destigmatize experiences considered controversial, and mobilize social justice movements. Join us as people with diverse identities and experiences discuss their strategies for relating personal stories through art, social media, spoken word, and other genres to achieve innovative activism.

Led by: Daniela Ramirez

Panelists: Renee Bracey Sherman, Julio Salgado, Leora Tanenbaum, Sonya Renee Taylor

Screening: Free CeCe

On her way to the store with a group of friends, Chrishaun Reed “CeCe” McDonald was attacked. In fighting for her own life, a man was killed. After a coercive interrogation, CeCe was incarcerated in a men’s prison in Minnesota. An international campaign to free CeCe garnered significant support from media and activists, including actress and executive producer Laverne Cox. Laverne uses her platform to explore the roles race, class, and gender played in CeCe’s case.

CeCe emerges not only as a survivor, but as a leader. Documentarian Jac Gares pushes past everyday narratives of victimhood that surround the lives of trans people, to foreground the way CeCe and other trans people are leading a growing movement to critically interrogate and disassemble the prison industrial complex.

CeCe will be present for Q&A and discussion, along with filmmaker Jacqueline Gares, and activist Joshua Allen, a Black trans-feminine organizer and abolitionist whose work revolves around issues of race, gender and policing.

Screening cosponsored by Democracy for America and Ultraviolet.

Panelists: Jacqueline Gares, CeCe McDonald

First-Timer Meetup

First-time Netroots attendee? Want to find to find your crew of people to conquer the conference with? This session’s for you. Meet other first-timers and hear long-time attendee Shayera Tangri’s tips for having a great convention.

(If you haven’t joined the first-timer Facebook group, there’s still time! Check it out.)

Gays, God, and Guns: Where Will the LGBTQ Movement Go From Here?

Over the past year, the LGBTQ movement has struggled to find direction in dealing with the right-wing backlash after winning marriage equality. From over 100 attacks in state legislatures, to the unending murders of trans women of color, to the recent massacre at a gay club during Latinx Night, LGBTQ people are still very much fighting for our liberation. Join this session to learn more about the challenges the movement is facing, as well as how you can join the fight for LGBTQ liberation.

Led by: Michael Crawford, Heather Cronk, Reuben Hayslett

Silicon Valley Comes to St Louis

Special Event for Media & Influencers with the Leaders of Netroots Nation, New Media Ventures and Attentively. Light lunch to be provided.

The Poli-tech Startup: Working through the Challenges [Voter Pick]

Many of the challenges facing progressive political tech startups are unique. VCs are inherently skeptical of poli-tech and the measure of early success is often much different than it is in Silicon Valley. Whether you’re weighing a startup or are already past early stage, this session will offer insight from entrepreneurs at all stages of the startup cycle.

Led by: Kate Maeder

Panelists: Jessica Hyejin Lee, Jason Putorti, Perry Rosenstein, Kendall Tucker

Into the Hornet's Nest: How Women of Color are Leading the Fight Against the Hyde Amendment [Voter Pick]

For 40 years the Hyde Amendment has targeted poor women, women of color, and young women by banning abortion coverage from Medicaid, condemning many to unsafe procedures or unwanted pregnancies.Women of color in the reproductive justice movement have risen up to take on Hyde—and with it, 40 years of stigma and silence. In five years, organizations like All* Above All introduced the EACH Woman Act and proactive state and local policies and mobilized thousands of grassroots supporters to stand up against Hyde. This year, for the first time ever, both Democratic candidates have called for the repeal of Hyde. Learn how our leaders are braving a political hornet’s nest and where we’re going next with this fight.

Led by: Morgan Hopkins

Panelists: Ravina Daphtary, Jessica González-Rojas, Yamani Hernandez

Engage Young People with Your Campaign: Best Practices and Test-Driven Lessons from the Alliance for Climate Education and ShareProgress

Since 2008, the Alliance for Climate Education has engaged more than 2 million young people. ACE recently launched a digital youth climate action campaign powered by a social automation platform: the Get Loud Challenge. Since launch, more than 130,000 young people from all 50 states have signed up, growing their mobile subscriber list by more than 60 percent, and tracked 265,000 new actions. ACE worked with ShareProgress to run a series of tests to find effective ways of using social media advertising and interactive web experiences to engage young people on climate change. Join us to learn best practices for working with younger audiences, both online and offline, and understand how to use testing with paid social to evaluate messaging and tactics.

This training is intended for anyone familiar with digital campaigning and interested in engaging young people.

Trainers: Sandhya Anantharaman

There's Only Me in Team: How to Conquer Social Media as a Staff of One

In many organizations, social media work is handed over to just one person—and is usually just one of many responsibilities that staffer has. But like the name suggests, strategic social media is best practiced with others, as you share ideas, lessons learned and each other’s content. In this training, we’ll give you the tools to manage day-to-day and long-term social media work as a team of one, while also introducing you to communities and resources that are already in place to support your digital efforts.

This training is for beginning to intermediate level digital or communications staffers, especially those at smaller organizations with limited budgets and resources.

Trainers: Beth Becker, Hilary Woodward

Victory from Day 1: Ensuring a Successful Launch for Your Online Campaign

You only have one chance to make the most of one of the biggest moments of your online campaign. A successful launch offers an opportunity for huge gains—and failure to take full advantage of the moment can set the tone for the rest of your campaign. In this workshop, we’ll break down the components to a successful launch: how to set up tech infrastructure, coordinate partners, run ads, get a splash page or a website live and plan an email calendar. Join us and you’ll be set up for victory from Day 1.

This training is for all skill levels. Participants should attend with a goal of understanding the machinery behind a successful launch.

Trainers: Raffi Appel, Kirin Jessel

Saving Millions with Earned Media: How to Organize Kick-Ass Press Events and Get Your Campaign Covered

Back by popular demand! Earned media can be one of the most important (free) resources on your campaign, especially if you are strapped for cash. Our exercise-based curriculum will help you learn hands-on how to plan and execute a great press event—and generate thousands of dollars in media for your campaign.

This training is good for beginners and more advanced participants. We’ll cover the basics and go more in-depth with case studies.

Trainers: Marissa Barrow, Kait Sweeney

Economic Violence and the Black Jobs Crisis

We have a Black jobs crisis on our hands—and the impact that race has played in our ability to obtain employment has devastated many of our communities. From Black unemployment rates in the double digits to the severe underemployment of Black transgender women, this panel will discuss the history of our economy built on slave labor, the current crisis the Black community faces as we strive for full employment, and actions our organizations and communities can take as we look forward to true employment equity.

Led by: Carmen Berkley

Panelists: Elle Hearns, Fareed Michelen, Bill Spriggs

Coalitions: The Key to Survival When You're the Superminority in the State Capitol

Join Progress Missouri and leaders from four coalition partners to discuss the importance of building strong coalitions and sticking together in the face of seemingly non-stop attacks. Attendees of this panel will come away with new strategies and ideas for their organizations to survive—and even thrive—when operating in states where they are part of a significantly out-numbered minority. This honest discussion will bring to light debates, strategies, disagreements and solutions necessary for carrying out the missions of progressive organizations in the very real world of red state politics.

Led by: Laura Swinford

Panelists: Ashli Bolden, Nancy Cross, Molly Fleming, Katie Stuckenschneider

New Models to Fund Movements

The old funding models have stopped working well for 21st Century progressive movements, but the new ways are still being created. Join this session for an informative and dynamic discussion about some new models for funding movement-building work that are being implemented among progressive donor networks, individual small-dollar donors, and social-change organizations themselves. Funding of movements has changed dramatically in the last 40 years. Are our current models working to support real social change? What has worked and where are we failing? What new models can we lift up that free us to do the real work of organizing? Join us and help reinvent what it means to be a movement philanthropist.

Led by: Jenifer Fernandez Ancona

Panelists: Tram Nguyen, Sara Velten, Howard Watts III

#BlackQueerMagic: Black Feminism and Pop Culture as Resistance

This panel will center Black women and femmes who explicate on their experiences, Black feminist resistance and popular culture analysis to dissect and examine the ways in which Black women are constantly surviving violence, voyeurism and erasure while being the most important demographic for political shifting and public policy implementation. From Beyonce getting us InFormation to Love & Hip Hop politicking, there is a power and politicization within popular culture that is created by Black women and femmes that links to how public policy around Black women and femme bodies is shaped. Topics addressed in this panel will include public policy, reproductive and sexual rights, consent, #BLM and labor/wage justice.

Led by: Ashleigh Shackelford

Panelists: Rian Brown, Bri Carter, Tyrell Cooper

The Past Year in Digital Testing: Where We've Come From and Where to Go in 2016

In the past year, organizations across the progressive space have done amazing work measuring the digital tactics and tools that do and don’t work for a variety of persuasion and mobilization campaigns. Come learn from some of the cutting edge techniques that agencies and vendors are building and using to optimize programs—and the outstanding questions that organizations should keep top of mind for planning programs in 2016.

Led by: Amy Kelleher

Panelists: Brandt McCool, Tatenda Musapatike, Dan Scarvalone, Aaron Strauss, Ben Wessel

Religious Exemptions and Bathroom Panic: How to Defeat Anti-LGBTQ Legislation in the States

The 2015 Supreme Court decision in favor of marriage equality brought with it a slew of blatantly discriminatory bills against the LGBTQ community from state-to-state. This harmful legislation most frequently includes religious exemption bills and bathroom regulations directly targeting the transgender community. The ultimate goal of these bills is to prevent transgender people from transitioning, or even functioning on a day-to-day basis. In this panel discussion, we will hear from statewide and national advocates and activists on how to address these bills, from messaging and organizing on how to defeat these proposed laws, to strategic responses in states in which these measures passed. We will also discuss where these bills are coming from, and how we are coordinating with organizations to challenge them legally and constitutionally in court.

Led by: Zack Ford

Panelists: Jaimie Hileman, Kirstin Palovick, Brynn Tannehill, Kayley Whalen

Filmmaker Caucus

Introduce yourself to fellow filmmakers, producers, presenters, activists and movie-lovers at our annual Filmmaker Caucus. All are welcome, whether you’re participating in the Screening Series or just interested in hearing about a range of projects and meeting other people creating progressive change through film.

Led by: Justin Krebs

Master Class: Salsa

The Master Class program is focused on the specific tools that organizers use every day, and helping intermediate users become efficient, effective power users. Feel free to bring tool-specific questions to the session.

Join this advanced Salsa session and learn how to level up your next campaign with our powerful advocacy and email tools, featuring tips and tricks for power users. Stick around for a sneak peek of our new, easy-to-use DIY tools that will turn even the most casual of users into an all-star campaigner.

Trainers: Meghan Apfelbaum

Guerilla Comms: How to Organize a (cost-effective) Plan that Gets Maximum Exposure for your Cause [Sponsored Panel]

Momentum is key to 21st-century movements. Whether built over years or in days, campaign velocity necessitates effective planning and response to real-time situations on the ground. Bridging the gap between your offline and online advocacy efforts can be made easier with the right technology and strategy.

Budget constraints should no longer dictate the reach or size of your campaigns. Join us to hear from seasoned experts in grassroots coalition building with experience in winning local, state, and federal campaigns that have developed a blueprint for winning campaigns how you can leverage from the 4-year election cycle.

Led by: Michael Moschella

Panelists: Ximena Hartsock, Bo Shuff

The Future of Collaborative Data: How We'll Continue Beating Republicans [Voter Pick]

Over the past 10 years, Democrats and progressives have built a superior campaign data and technology infrastructure and a more effective ground-game than Republicans. What’s been our secret weapon and how will we continue innovating and expanding upon our “progressive tech edge”? This panel will feature key leaders in progressive tech to discuss what has contributed to our current tech advantage, and what types of technology progressive campaigns are building to continue winning up and down the ballot for elections to come.

Led by: Amanda Coulombe

Panelists: Kassia DeVorsey, Josh Hendler, John Lee, Matthew Saniie

Moving Beyond White Guilt: How to Talk to Whites About Systemic Racism [Voter Pick]

You might hear white members of your organization say things like, “I don’t see race” or “We should focus on economic inequality; that will take care of everyone.” Knowing how to respond to such comments—especially if people are scared, defensive or paralyzed by guilt—can be a challenge. The burden to end systemic racism cannot be left only to people of color. With an interactive mix of real-world tools, some history and theory, and a little role-play, this practical training will provide participants with tools and strategies for better understanding systemic racism. In order to build diverse coalitions and truly embrace intersectionality, white people must confront white supremacy. So let’s get to work!

This training is appropriate for anyone who wants to learn and discuss strategies for talking to white people about dismantling white supremacy.

Trainers: Karen Gaffney

The #1 Way to Engage Your People

Engagement isn’t a trend; it’s how we win. The problem is that most content strategies with engagement in mind are based on the idea of posting or emailing from a pre-determined timeline, which is just one way to engage people. We’ll show you a powerful new tactic to dramatically increase engagement with this one idea—responding to people as they talk about your campaign on social media. Know what people are saying on social media and who is influential, so you’re able to boost engagement and drive action when people are most excited about your campaign. We’ll walk you through social listening and offer game-changing strategies for multi-channel engagement.

This training is ideal for organizers who are already using social media but want to increase engagement.

Trainers: Beth Becker, Rosalyn Lemieux

Using SEO for Social Change, Profit and Fame

SEO is straight up magical. It’s free, easy, and can drive millions of visitors to your website. I’ll show you how I used SEO to secure top Google placement for almost any search related to voting, driving millions of visitors to LongDistanceVoter.org. We’ll share our case study on how LDV registered 100,000 voters in 2012 on just $5000. During the training, you’ll learn five things you can immediately do to your website to improve your search engine ranking and reach more visitors without spending any more money.

This is an intermediate to advanced level training for people who love the internet, love user-generated content, know HTML and have administrative access to at least one website. Bring your laptop and your admin password so you can get under the hood of your website and start making changes.

Trainers: Debra Cleaver

Flip the Script: More Money, More Power

You’re an organizer, a policy advocate, a culture-shifter. You make change happen. Yet far too often, you or your allies struggle to keep the lights on, buy supplies and get paid. We all know this work takes money. Yet far too many funders are stuck in outdated modes of philanthropy—from misinformed reluctance to fund social justice to outdated ideas of what it means to be a good funding partner. In this training, we’ll debunk all those grantmaking excuses about funding advocacy and organizing, give you tools to advocate for the concrete impact of your work, and share platforms to push back on that funder-grantee power dynamic, holding philanthropy accountable to live up to its potential.

This training is geared toward nonprofits, activists, community leaders and funders who want to see a philanthropic sector that is a stronger ally to movements for social justice. Attendees don’t need to have advanced legal knowledge or an intimate understanding of philanthropy.

Trainers: Isaiah Castilla, Yna Moore

Flint and Detroit Public Schools: Disasters for Democracy and Public Health

Flint and Detroit Public Schools were both assigned the same Emergency Manager, and in both cases, infrastructure crumbled, resulting in a disastrous impact on local communities. In Flint, residents were subject to lead-poisoned water, and in Detroit, students were subjected to toxic mold in their schools. Democracy was subverted by this law, and communities had an unrepresentative manager who did not respond to their needs. We’ll examine the underlying issues of democracy and austerity and how they ended up harming public health. We’ll also talk about what can do to prevent disasters like these in other parts of the country.

Led by: Chris Savage

Panelists: Emily Figdor, Bishop Brenadel Jefferson, Terrence Martin, Vien Truong

Moving Beyond Brogressives: Ensuring Economic Justice Includes Reproductive Justice

It’s 2016, so why are we still seeing male dominance within the progressive movement? It’s not uncommon to see issues of particular importance to women—especially reproductive health, rights, and justice—sidelined as “social issues” while the progressive agenda is defined by economic issues that are framed as somehow separate. Yet reproductive and sexual self-determination are core economic issues, as is freedom from identity-based discrimination. In this panel, we’ll talk about why the progressive movement can and must move beyond brogressives, mansplaining and unhelpful comments targeting activists who speak up on Twitter and how we can work toward greater inclusion and an agenda that offers meaningful opportunity to everyone.

Led by: Erin Matson

Panelists: Gregory Cendana, Imani Gandy, Atima Omara, Erica Prosser

#transTRUTH from Trans Youth: Challenging media narratives of what it means to be young and trans

TRUTH, a collaboration between Transgender Law Center and GSA Network, is a national storytelling and movement-building campaign led by transgender and gender nonconforming young people from across the U.S. Through videos, selfie campaigns and other creative new media projects, TRUTH empowers trans and gender nonconforming youth to share their stories as a way to challenge media narratives, create community with other young people and build empathy. This discussion of youth leaders will allow the audience to hear directly from trans and gender nonconforming young people about their experiences and work building an intersectional movement.

Led by: Juniper Cordova-Goff

Panelists: Violet Martinez, Ka'Milla McMiller, Foster Noone, Zeam Porter

Pop! Goes the Hegemony: Activists Taking on the Entertainment Industry—and Winning

Save Kesha! #OscarsSoWhite and & #StopWhiteWashing are just some of the powerful campaigns our panelists have waged to influence Hollywood, pop music and even the comic book industry. Because pop culture shapes the public imagination, activists are fighting for diversity both behind the camera and in front of it. Campaigns around popular culture provide opportunities to expose oppression that can go unnoticed and unchallenged. Online activism is already making a difference in the entertainment we consume. We’ll teach you how to do it!

Led by: Elana Levin

Panelists: Brandi Collins-Dexter, Cayden Mak, Audine Tayag

Race and Justice: Telling the Stories of Black and Latino Youth in the Adult Criminal Justice System

Over the last decade, a number of states have enacted laws that aim to keep juveniles out of adult prisons and court systems—a reversal of the tough-on-crime legislation of the 1980s and 1990s. The new laws stem from concerns about teenage suicides in adult jails and new research showing that young people held in adult courts are more likely to be repeat offenders than juveniles not held in adult jails. Youth of color particularly are disproportionately impacted by this practice. Join us for a discussion about the long-term impacts of treating children as adults in the criminal justice system.

Led by: Brian Evans

Panelists: Alton Pitre, Angel Sanchez, Rev. Dr. Dietra Wise Baker

Healing Justice, Love and Liberation: Is The Movement Killing You?

While it has always been true, it seems today’s life or death stakes, high-stress environment means front-line activists face increasing amounts of stress, pressure and violence or threats of violence in their daily work. With the urgency of our work so acute, it can feel selfish to take care and do essential healing work for ourselves. But love is justice and justice is love—especially when that love means developing practices of self-care and healing that are as expansive as our vision and as rigorous as our task. Engaging and creating communities that can help us find space to develop personal practices keeps us sane, healthy and balanced for the long run, which both history and the current moment tells us is likely the path before us. Join us to explore strategies and tools to show up for the work that needs be done, while creating the space needed to heal, care for and resource ourselves so we can thrive along the way.

Panelists: Carla Goldstein, Andrea Cristina Mercado, Rod Owens, Jasmine Sydeullah, angel Kyodo Williams

Silence, Shame, Scandal: Ending Abortion Stigma in the Media (and the Fight to Protect Access)

News and entertainment media can act as a mirror to our understanding of abortion in the U.S. It It can also be a platform for moving society by generating programming that questions existing practices. We will explore how the media talks about abortion, from right-wing examples of abortion stigma to examples of media dismantling stigma and discussing it with authenticity and facts. Examining ways in which media can be used as a tool to shift stigma, we will highlight fresh efforts to tackle abortion stigma creatively through culture and art. We will share best practices on how to talk about abortion outside of the political paradigm and creative ways to reach new audiences whose support is critical for the longterm fights ahead. And we’ll touch on what things are being done to protect—and expand—access to abortion around the country.

Led by: Lauren Himiak

Panelists: Kathy Plate, Rachel Tardiff

The Screening Liberally Reel Action Showcase

Film showcases present several films in one session by showing 10-15 minutes of each, then inviting a presenter from each film to participate in a moderated discussion. Lineup subject to change. This showcase includes “Making a Killing,” “LGBT Equality Act” and “Just a Judge.”

“Making a Killing: Guns, Greed, and The NRA” tells the stories of how guns, and the billions made off of them, affect the lives of everyday Americans. It features personal stories from people across the country who have been affected by gun violence, including survivors and victims’ families. The film exposes how the powerful gun companies and the NRA are resisting responsible legislation for the sake of profit—and thereby putting people in danger. The film looks into gun tragedies that include unintentional shootings, domestic violence, suicides, mass shootings and trafficking—and what we can do to put an end to this profit-driven crisis. Through this film and campaign, Brave New Films will work with partners to fight for a country where public safety is more valued than profit.

On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court made marriage equality the law of the land. Many Americans saw this momentous decision as the end of a decades’ long struggle for LGBT equality. In truth, it was only the beginning. Not long after the SCOTUS decision, the Center for American Progress began its campaign in support of the Equality Act, a piece of federal legislation that would essentially serve as a modern Bill of Rights for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Americans. The Act would extend comprehensive non discrimination laws to universally outlaw practices like denying same sex couples service in places of public accommodation, or firing someone simply for because of who they are. A major part of that campaign was a multifaceted video series that raised awareness around LGBT discrimination and the need for the Equality Act through explainer videos and personal stories of discrimination. We teamed up with YouTube sensation HeartBeat for a series of explainers on how the Equality Act protects LGBT Americans. And we embarked on a series of emotionally resonant stories of discrimination faced by LGBT Americans, including a lesbian couple whose baby was denied medical care because of her parents’ sexual orientation, and a Virginia man who was fired for being gay. The videos were seen nearly a million times by people across a variety of social networks, and have been an integral part in CAP’s work to educate elected officials and the general public of the need for comprehensive LGBT anti-discrimination laws.

Thanks to the classic Schoolhouse Rock video, we all know how a bill becomes a law. But with the current vacancy on the Supreme Court and 90 vacancies in our lower courts, you might be wondering—how does a person become a judge? Taking inspiration from the “Just a Bill” video, we follow the journey of Martha, a fictional aspiring federal judge, from appointment to confirmation and show the many ways that justice can be delayed along the way. Our goal was to turn a sometimes dry topic into a fun and accessible product everyone can understand and rally behind.

Led by: Matthew Filipowicz

Panelists: Regina Clemente, Laura Durso, Anisha Singh

Action Network 101: a training for digital organizers (sponsored training)

The Action Network is an easy-to-use, full-featured toolset for digital organizing. In this training, you’ll get an overview of the Action Network’s top features and an opportunity to ask questions about how you can use Action Network to organize your best online campaigns. This session is ideal for folks who are interested in exploring new tools to run their digital programs and existing partners that are new to Action Network. To learn more about our toolset before the session, visit www.actionnetwork.org/toolset.

This training is sponsored by Action Network.

Trainers: Misha Cornelius

Opening Keynote with This Week in Blackness

The systematic oppression of people of African descent is woven into the fabric of the United States and its institutions. The uprising in Ferguson following the killing of Michael Brown was a pivotal moment in the ongoing movement against America’s system of policing, which is responsible for the killings of countless Black lives. Join This Week in Blackness to hear from local and national organizers in Ferguson and around the country who are working to resist, empower and build.

Check out the highlights as told by Netroots Nation attendees on social media.

Screening: The Brainwashing of My Dad

Jen Senko, a documentary filmmaker, looks at the rise of right-wing media through the lens of her WWII vet father who changed from a life-long, nonpolitical Democrat to an angry, right-wing fanatic after his discovery of talk radio on a lengthened commute to work. In trying to understand how this happened, she not only finds this to be a phenomenon, but also uncovers some of the forces behind it: a plan by Roger Ailes under Nixon to create a media for the GOP; the Lewis Powell Memo, urging business leaders to influence institutions of public opinion, the media and the courts; and under Reagan, the dismantling of the Fairness Doctrine—all of which helped to change the entire country’s direction and culture, misinformed millions and divided families and even the country itself. The film will be introduced by Charles Chamberlain of Democracy For America, which is planning screening parties of this film throughout the summer.

Panelists: Charles Chamberlain, Jen Senko

Ice Cream Social: Missouri's Fight for the Right to Vote!

The Advancement Project and Ben & Jerry’s invite you to join the fight to protect the right to vote. As the state legislature moves to implement a new  era of Jim Crow voting restrictions and barriers to the ballot, grassroots groups are building a movement to protect a just democracy for all. Come for the free Ben & Jerry’s EmpowerMint ice cream and stay for the movement!

You Should Smile More and other Manspirational Things: The Lady Parts Justice Comedy Show

The Daily Show co-creator and LPJ co-founder, Lizz Winstead has gathered some of the most hilarious comics working today to create a multimedia comedy show that uses stand-up, sketch and videos, to expose the sexism and anti abortion extremism that dominates our political and social landscapes. The LPJ team hilariously reminds us of the challenges that come with walking the earth with a uterus in 2016.

Join us at 6:30pm on TWIB stage! Starring Lizz Winstead (The Daily Show Co-creator), Leah Bonnema (IFC’s Comedy Drop), Joyelle Johnson (Wyatt Cenac’s Night Train) and UCB theatre’s sketch group Buzz Off, Lucille.

Netroots After Dark: Sex, Cocktails & Karaoke

Join us for what’s become an annual tradition at Netroots Nation! Whether you can’t hold a tune or have ambitions to be on The Voice, we want you on that stage. This event is generously sponsored by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Drink tickets to get you in the singing mood will be provided. This event will be held at 400 Washington Avenue, just a few short blocks from the convention center and HQ hotels.

Generously sponsored by Planned Parenthood Action Fund.