Hundreds of Young People to Demand Action on Health Care Reform, Green Job Creation, and Affordable
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2009
Contact: Katie Andriulli, Campus Progress
202-481-8238 / kandriulli@americanprogress.org
Hundreds of Young People to Demand Action on Health Care Reform, Green Job Creation, and Affordable Higher Education
Will Lobby their Elected Officials on Capitol Hill during the 2009 Campus Progress National Conference
Washington, D.C. –On Thursday, July 9, as part of the 2009 Campus Progress National Conference, hundreds of young people will participate in a Lobby Day on Capitol Hill where they will meet with their elected officials to demand action on health care reform, green job creation, and making higher education more affordable. The Lobby Day is co-sponsored by Campus Progress Action, Health Care For America Now, Energy Action Coalition and the Student PIRGs.
“Last November, young people proved that they are a political force to be reckoned with,” said Erica Williams, 25, Deputy Director of Campus Progress. “But now, more than ever, we must work to make sure that the change we voted for becomes a reality. We want to show our elected officials that, as young people, we will not sit idly by and let the powers-that-be in Washington decide what is best for us. We will continue to organize, take action, and make our voices heard on the issues that matter to us, from the economy to civil rights to climate change and affordable higher education.”
The annual Campus Progress National Conference has become a central hub for organizing by young progressives. With record youth turnout in the 2008 presidential election, and young people strongly oriented toward progressive views on the issues, this year’s conference will discuss the millennial generation’s opportunity to deliver change and move the country in a progressive direction while developing the ideas, networks, and innovations to meet challenges ahead. On Wednesday, July 8, President Bill Clinton will deliver keynote remarks at the conference. Speaker Nancy Pelosi, White House green jobs adviser Van Jones and “The Daily Show” writer and correspondent John Oliver will also address the gathering. Other conference speakers include Executive Vice President of the AFL-CIO Arlene Holt-Baker and Center for American Progress President John Podesta.
The Campus Progress Lobby Day is preceded by other conference events: On Tuesday July 7, there will be a Journalism in Action training day for budding young journalists, as well as a Grassroots Training Day“>Grassroots Training Day run by Campus Camp Wellstone. Wednesday July 8, the main conference day, will feature morning panels and breakout sessions addressing health care, labor, human rights, college affordability, and climate change. Afternoon panel discussions will cover topics including hip hop, faith and LGBTQ rights, personal finance, foreign policy, and independent media. Students not attending the Lobby Day on Thursday July 9 may choose to attend Campus Progress and The Nation magazine’s annual Youth Journalism Conference, which will include remarks by Dahlia Lithwick of Slate, Air America Radio’s Ana Marie Cox, and The Nation’s Katrina vanden Heuvel and Chris Hayes.
To speak to students attending the Campus Progress Lobby Day, please contact Katie Andriulli at kandriulli@americanprogress.org or 202-481-8238.
All members of the press who wish to attend July 8 conference panels and keynote addresses must RSVP and will be asked to present proper credentials on site. To RSVP, please click here.
###
Campus Progress is the youth division of the Center for American Progress, a nonpartisan, nonprofit progressive organization. Through programs in activism, journalism, and events, Campus Progress helps young people make their voices heard now on issues that matter, and works with young leaders and organizations nationwide to build a strong, united progressive movement that can bring long-term positive change. Campus Progress runs a daily web magazine, CampusProgress.org; supports student publications on 50 campuses; supports local and national youth issue campaigns; and has held over 700 events and film screenings. For more information, please visit Campusprogress.org
