Inside the Activists’ Studio: What to Do When the Right Comes After You
Session Type(s): Panel
Starts: Thursday, Jun. 7 9:00 AM
Ends: Thursday, Jun. 7 10:15 AM
Room: Ballroom C
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.
Moderator
Will Valverde
For the past seven years, Will has helped build, organize, and mobilize an online activist base for a broad range of progressive groups, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Humane Society of the United States, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. His responsibilities include anticipating conservative threats, crafting response strategy and executing direct supporter engagement.
Panelists
Heather Holdridge
Heather joined Planned Parenthood Federation of America in August 2011 as Director of Digital Strategy after two years as VP of Digital at Fenton Communications, where she led the DC office’s digital practice. Heather worked to develop and execute social media strategies and multimedia projects across a diverse client base.
Prior to Fenton, Heather served for four years as the director of political advocacy for Care2. She worked to connect Care2’s millions of members to non-profits doing political work and advocacy campaigns. She led the effort to develop Care2’s Election2008 Channel.
Heather was also a partner and online organizing director for the Carol/Trevelyan Strategy Group (CTSG), instrumental in developing and growing CTSG’s Creative Multimedia department, including serving as executive producer and co-writer for several Pollie-award winning campaigns.
Cecilie Surasky
Cecilie Surasky is Deputy Director of Jewish Voice for Peace, a 35-chapter national Jewish advocacy organization that supports democracy, international law and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. Cecilie is excited to be back in Providence where, prior to her work in the never-a-dull-moment world of Israel/Palestine politics, she hosted AM talk radio and wrote a column for the Providence Journal. Cecilie is the editor of Muzzlewatch, a blog that charts efforts to stifle debate on Israel-Palestine politics.
