Last year, over 350 progressives gathered in St. Paul to kick off the first ever Netroots Minnesota. The conference was an opportunity to strengthen our community, inspire action, and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately bring change to the public sphere.
That's why we want to do it again. Today, we announce that the Netroots Minnesota 2010 will be held on August 21st, and will be a mix of trainings and discussions about how we strengthen the progressive movement in 2010 and beyond.
If we're going to be prepared for the November election and beyond, we'll need to get as many Minnesotans fired up and ready to go as possible. That's why I'm excited to announce that, because of the generosity of our sponsors, we are able to start general registration for Netroots Minnesota at $20.
The Netroots Minnesota conference is about empowering you to help build a stronger progressive community -- and to do that, we need to know what you want to learn. Please send us your ideas for discussion and training topics that you would like to see on the Netroots Minnesota 2010 agenda.
< Netroots Minnesota in Saint Paul Friday-Saturday
DFL Governor candidates, New Media Activists, Progressive Politics Take Center Stage at First Netroots Minnesota Conference
Saint Paul – More than 100 Minnesota-based netroots activists will be in Saint Paul Friday and Saturday for the first ever Netroots Minnesota conference. Modeled after, and partially hosted by Netroots Nation, the conference allows participants to learn about key issues, skills for advocacy and grassroots organizing and connect with other netroots activists.
As a regional gathering of Netroots Nation, Netroots Minnesota amplifies progressive voices by providing an online and in-person campus for exchanging ideas and learning how to be more effective in using technology to influence the public debate. Within that campus, we strengthen community, inspire action and serve as a incubator for progressive ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.
Netroots Minnesota will also feature a DFL gubernatorial forum moderated by Minneapolis Star Tribune writer Lori Sturdevant. Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will kick off the event and Congressman Tim Walz will brief participants on the latest from Washington, D.C.
Members of the media are allowed to attend the conference and the gubernatorial forum if they pre-register or bring their press credentials. For more information, contact Denise Cardinal of Alliance for a Better Minnesota at 612.269.9276.
WHAT: Netroots Minnesota WHERE:
Hilton Garden Inn City Center 411 Minnesota Street Saint Paul
WHEN: Friday, November 20 - Saturday, November 21
KEY EVENTS:
Friday, November 20
Welcoming Speech Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman 1:00 p.m.-1:30 p.m.
DFL Gubernatorial Forum 6-8 p.m.
Saturday November 21
Representative Tim Walz (MN-03) Congressional Briefing 12:30 p.m.
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Alliance for a Better Minnesota (ABM) is a grassroots lobbying and online communications organization that works with progressive groups and working families on the issues that matter most to Minnesotans. You can find out more at www.allianceminnesota.org.
One of the goals of the Netroots Minnesota is to provide an online and in-person campus for progressives to exchange ideas and learn how to use technology to influence the public debate. We're happy to be partnering with Democracy for America, the nation's largest progressive political action community.
Mary Rickles, the Communications Director for DFA, emailed DFA activists in Minnesota to share how a conference like Netroots Minnestoa is exactly what the progressive community needs:
Friend--
When I left Pittsburgh after this year's Netroots Nation, I felt re-energized, connected and engaged with a booming online progressive community. Packed with crowds of buzzing progressive minds, invaluable workshops and the best bloggers from across the nation, I wouldn't have changed a thing about this year's Netroots Nation - except that I'd have them more often.
That's right, you heard me, Netroots Minnesota -- a convention with the same incredible progressive panels, keynotes, training sessions and networking opportunities -- all just a short drive away.
With the Governor's seat to fill in 2010 and countless other issues to take action on, Netroots Minnesota is the place to be. You'll have the chance to speak with our nation's leaders and engage in the campaigns that matter to you.
Come get your political fill before you hit the dinner table with your in-laws at Thanksgiving. Make Netroots Minnesota your first step towards planning progressive change in 2010.
I'll see you there,
-Mary
Mary Rickles, Communications Director Democracy for America
In two weeks, progressives from across Minnesota will gather in St. Paul for a day and a half of panels, trainings, networking opportunities and keynotes--all in an effort to strategize and organize around progressive change.
Netroots Minnesota will be the premier kickoff to the critical conversations progressives will be having as we approach 2010, and today, Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director announced a forum for Netroots Minnesota attendees to start the conversation with the candidates running for governor.
The Minnesota 2010 gubernatorial race will be one of the most-watched in the nation.
What should the race be about? How can a progressive win? What role will the Netroots play in the campaign?
These vital questions will be answered by some of the gubernatorial candidates themselves at Netroots Minnesota.
On Friday evening, November 20, DFL candidates for governor will join us at Netroots Minnesota to take questions directly from you. Get all the details and register at:
During a discussion moderated by Star Tribune writer Lori Sturdevant, the candidates will be asked questions solicited online via Twitter (using the hashtag #nmn09gov), Facebook, email, and in person.
This forum, sponsored by Alliance for a Better Minnesota Action Fund, is going to be one of the most interactive and engaging forums for the candidates to date -- be sure toregister for Netroots Minnesota to get a front-row seat at this must-see-for-yourself political event.
The Washington Times (a.ka. Fox News in print) took notice and griped about our efforts to give regular folks a chance to engage more deeply on the topics that matter most to them:
Progressives have announced plans for a social-media offensive, geared to "our new reality", says Xavier Lopez-Ayala of the Alliance for a Better Minnesota. The progressive group is one of several across the country that are honing the Twittering, blogging, videography and advocacy prowess of grass-roots types to "further change" as 2010 approaches.
Uh-oh. There's that old "c" word, Mr. Obama's onetime mantra. Progressives are hot to Tweet, and they still recall the Web-based victories of Howard Dean well over 100 years ago. Wait. It was 2004. It only seems like a century ago.
Meanwhile, Mr. Lopez-Ayala calls the dicey art of social media "impact journalism." So, Republicans: Log in and get thee to thy Tweet board.
We've just started rolling out the agenda for Netroots Minnesota and I'm sure The Washington Times will be thrilled by the panels, training sessions, and issue discussions we have on tap, including:
New Organizing: A Better Model to Engage Volunteers and Truly Build a Movement
The last thing the right-wing wants is Netroots Minnesota to be as successful as Netroots Nation in helping progressive influence the public debate. But that's exactly what Netroots Minnesota is going to be. The conference agenda is designed to get progressives trained on the new tactics that will help us step up our current organizing.
If you read Denise's email on Monday and asked yourself what a "netroot" was and why you'd want more than one -- don't worry. When I went to my first Netroots Nation two years ago, I didn't know what to expect.
I quickly learned that "the Netroots" referred to a community of progressives committed to discussing important issues and using technology to empower regular people to influence the public debate. From blogging to texting and tweeting, the Netroots is helping the progressive movement adapt to our new media reality.
Denise was really excited this morning to announce the first-ever Netroots Minnesota, a regional conference of the very successful Netroots Nation (formerly YearlyKos). Netroots Minnesota will include panels, workshops, caucuses, keynote speakers, and other creative sessions designed to educate, stimulate, and inspire the nation’s next generation of progressive leaders.
Check out the email announcement below:
Friend--
You know you're not alone in wanting to build progressive power in the state.
Over the next 12 months, we will be working hard to advocate for progressive policies. But in order to be effective, we're going to need to get the progressive grassroots and Netroots together to network and organize.
Join us, along with progressives from all over Minnesota, in St. Paul on November 20th and 21st for the first ever Netroots Minnesota conference.
We'll have captivating panels led by national and state experts, practical training sessions and workshops, and a gubernatorial candidate forum. This conference is the premier kickoff to the critical conversations progressives will be having as we approach 2010.
Netroots Minnesota is modeled after the Netroots Nation conference (formerly known as the YearlyKos Convention). The Netroots have played a critical role in helping shape a progressive agenda over the last several years.
We hope to build upon that same success in Minnesota, and with the hotly contested 2010 gubernatorial race on the horizon, now is the time to start this important conversation. Through this conference we hope to strengthen our community, inspire action and serve as an incubator for ideas that challenge the status quo and ultimately affect change in the public sphere.
The staff of Alliance for a Better Minnesota is off at Netroots Nation for the next few days, learning from some of the best and brightest minds in the progressive movement about how to use technology to influence the public debate.
But we're also here to share some of the lessons and knowledge that Minnesota's progressive movement has to share.
Denise Cardinal, ABM's Executive Director, is on a panel on Saturday, August 13th at 3 p.m. on Cutting-edge Evidence-Based Practices. From the website:
Do GOTV text messages work? Can Internet banner ads persuade? Is it true that simple questions can double the impact of a GOTV call? Through randomized controlled experiments, we have answers. This panel will introduce attendees to the cutting-edge world of data-driven politics and evidence-based best practices. Hundreds of randomized controlled experiments were conducted during the 2008 election cycle by leading progressive organizations to determine what works and what doesn’t in voter contact. Learn the basics of how a randomized controlled experiment works and be a part of building the progressive toolkit.
I'm also on a panel today, Thursday, at 4:30 p.m. about "the myth of digital democracy" and how progressives can make sure that their online organizing strategies are reaching the right communities. From the website:
In his book “The Myth of Digital Democracy,” Matthew Hindman “debunks popular notions about political discourse in the digital age, revealing how the Internet has neither diminished the audience share of corporate media nor given greater voice to ordinary citizens.” This panel will use Hindman’s argument as a starting point, addressing the question of whether or not online political and social organizing is indeed reaching under-represented communities, such as young people in inner-cities and rural areas. Do online organizing sites work with and reach a diverse group of members, especially in terms of age, race, education level and economic background? Who is being left out of the conversation? Looking forward, what steps do we need to take to make sure these communities are incorporated into the discussion so they can be empowered both socially and politically?
If you're interested in joining in on some of the conversations happening here in Pittsburgh, check out the Netroots Nation website, where they'll be "doin' it live" and streaming panels throughout the weekend.
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