 The 2009 Campus Progress National Conference: Delivering ChangeJuly 8, 2009 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C.
You organized in your community. You registered voters. You voted. Progressives won. Now what?
At the fifth annual Campus Progress National Conference, to be held on July 8, 2009, in Washington DC, hundreds of young people will come together to address the task of Delivering Change. They will discuss the critical challenges our generation faces, and to develop the ideas, networks, and innovations that will help us meet those challenges.
Our generation has a real opportunity to deliver change – to move the country in a strongly progressive direction. Just as our hard work was essential to bringing progressive results in 2008, we need to stay dedicated to working for progressive change, to pressing government for action, to ensuring an economic recovery effort that advances opportunity for all. At the Campus Progress National Conference, we’ll come together and prove we’re serious about a progressive future, and we’re not letting anyone stand in our way.
What It All Meant
The Campus Progress 2009 National Conference probably meant something different to everyone. We’ve heard compliments, we’ve heard criticisms, and we take both happily. With that in mind, here’s my humble take on the Conference.
Erica Williams’ morning speech was an inspiring call to action, prefacing the real-world White House experience of John Podesta and Daniella Gibbs Leger. Alongside the inevitable doodling, the morning breakout sessions produced the most promising bottom-up plans for change crayons and parchment paper have ever seen.
At lunch, Staceyann Chin brought down the house in a performance of passion and prose empowering young women to own their bodies- while taking many of us guys out of our privileged comfort zone. Van Jones brought some real power to the session, weaving together climate, economy, and jobs within the language of justice and rights.
After several panels covered a range of vital issues came the much-anticipated final plenary. John Oliver called out mainstream media and compared America’s healthcare system to Britian’s while appearing unable to make a comment that wasn’t downright hilarious. Nancy Pelosi’s “pillars” for the future of strong America sounded strangely familiar (education, climate, healthcare). And President Clinton gifted a detailed primer on the state of our world and the progressive path out, sending us off inspired.
So what could be better? We’ve heard comments suggesting some felt there needed to be a greater diversity of ideas represented and more space for discussion and debate. Campus Progress loves the idea of debate and diversity. We felt the breakout sessions were the most appropriate space for such activity, and incorporated time for small group discussion and unique panels to get the conversation going.
 President Clinton feelin’ the love
Looking back on the Conference, we at Campus Progress are more optimistic than ever about being progressive. At what other Conference could texting on your cell phone be ideal, rather than faux pas? With what other crowd could a Daily Show correspondent feel right at home? And what other set of ideas today could truly empower young people to reclaim their future?
Progressivism shined at the National Conference, and it is thanks to the young attendees who dedicate themselves to progress. Thanks to them and everyone else that helped make the Conference a success. See you next year!
Click here to give your input on the Conference.
Click here to view and tag photos of the Conference.
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Comments
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“Progressivism shined at the National Conference…”
On the main stage more attention was paid to the gender neutral bathrooms than to the brutal and costly wars being waged by the Democrat controlled US government.
What a refreshing example of progressivism!
If only the Obama administration would try to bring gender neutral bathrooms to Afghanistan instead of more destruction we could probably “win!”
— Bob Collins - Jul 15, 09:01 AM - #