POSTPONED – PDM Spring Issues Conference

2020 Spring Issues Conference
Conference Schedule
Saturday, March 21, 2020
9:00 AM-3:30 PM
Lasell University, Newton

Lasell is Green Line Riverside D accessible. There is convenient on-site parking (P12 and P8),  near the buildings we’ll be using: Brennan Library Building and Arnow Student Center. A downloadable map is found HERE
Link to the Facebook event may be found HERE

Suggested donation is $25 (includes buffet lunch) — Eventbrite RSVP HERE.

Coffee

Available in lobby outside the Rosen Auditorium in the Brennan Library Building
9:00 AM-9:30 AM

A Call to Action on Affordable Housing

Rosen Auditorium in the Brennan Library Building
9:30 AM – 10:45 AM

It’s time to build political will to address our critical affordable housing needs and to understand the options that are available (or aren’t) across Massachusetts. We’re excited to welcome State Representative Mike Connolly and Eric Shupin from CHAPA. PDM’s Peter Enrich will Moderate the discussion.

Break

Coffee available in the lobby outside Rosen Auditorium
10:45-11:00 AM

Skill-Building Breakout Sessions I & II

Various locations adjacent to Rosen Auditorium
Session I: 11:00-11:40 AM
~ 10 minute break ~
Session II: 11:50 AM-12:30 PM
Hone your skills for the crucial work ahead! Choose to attend two sessions. Each session will run for 40-minutes with a ten-minute break in between.


Crucial Conversations
Mary Cummings

Campaigns can be won without having to talk to strangers. Learn one way to use your own personal network to win issue or candidate campaigns. Slides and handouts from Mary: http://cummingscampaign.org/


How a Bill Becomes a Law & Grassroots Lobbying
Rosen Auditorium John Lippitt and Rep. Mike Connolly

First, a quick overview of the Massachusetts Legislative, Budget, and Constitutional Amendment processes followed by effective lobbying for your issue to your elected representatives.


Issue Framing & Messaging
Cathleen Cavell

Like affordable housing, public transportation, climate change, and green energy are cross-cutting issues that intersect with public health, educational equity, economic and environmental justice, inclusive communities, and other social justice issues. In this session participants will contribute to making a strategic case for how we are all part of this work, the need for engaging others in our mission, and consider frames and messages for solutions to some of our most pressing problems.


Social Media For Advocacy
Hope Anderson and Mary Ann Stewart

Social media has leveled the playing field for activists and organizers to bring timely and urgent communications on issues and calls to action. We’ll review PDM’s social media platforms then use them to post messages on what’s moving at the State House.

Issue Speed Dating & Buffet Lunch

Arnow Student Center
12:30 PM-1:45 PM
We’ll have our lunch while networking in the Arnow Student Center, a short walk from the Brennan Library Building. Choose to sit at one of a dozen topic tables representing some of the critical issues before us. Get up to speed on at least three different issues in three separate 20-minute presentations (beginning at 12:45 PM)


ROE Act & Face Surveillance Moratorium
ACLU of Massachusetts Olivia Santoro, Community Outreach Strategist, ACLU of Massachusetts

Learn about two of the ACLU of Massachusetts’s top priorities: The ROE Act, a bill to protect and expand access to abortion; and the Face Surveillance Moratorium, a bill to press pause on the government’s use of face surveillance technology
https://www.aclum.org/


Ranked Choice Voting
Voter Choice for Massachusetts (VCMA) Ari Jahiel, Organizer for VCMA

Voter Choice for Massachusetts is a campaign to place a question on the 2020 ballot that would bring Ranked Choice Voting to Massachusetts elections starting in 2022. https://voterchoice2020.org/


Greening Massachusetts
Massachusetts Sierra Club Paul Dale, Energy Committee Chair, Massachusetts Sierra Club

Massachusetts Sierra Club is the state chapter of the largest, oldest, and most influential environmental grassroots organization in the country.
https://www.sierraclub.org/massachusetts


National Electoral Races
Elect535 Rina Schneur, Elect535

Elect535 is an online tool to select and support candidates for Congress. Rich in content and analysis, this free platform guides you to candidates that align with your values and have a great chance at winning. Use this tool individually or with your group to build your dream Congress.
www.elect535.org

Winning the Fight for Progressive Leadership in the State Legislature

Rosen Auditorium
2:00 PM-3:15 PM
We’ll wrap up with a discussion that promises a lively exchange of ideas on how to make leadership in the Massachusetts State House more progressive. Panel experts include Becca Glenn of Mass Alliance and Jay Kaufman, retired State Rep. of 24 years and Beacon Leadership Collaborative founding president. PDM’s own Jeanne Kempthorne will serve as Moderator.

Share-Back and Closing Remarks

Rosen Auditorium
3:15-3:30