Conference Kick-off Party

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the kick-off party and limited space, only attendees who registered specifically for the kick-off party will be admitted to the party. If you are confirmed for the party, you would have received a confirmation email. For those of you not confirmed, we'll see you first thing in the morning for our National Student Conference!

Jin Asian Caribbean Soul Lounge, 2017 14th Street, NW Washington DC (map)

Start the week off right with our pre-conference kick off social on the night of June 25th. This is an event that you don't want to miss! Come out and meet other young progressives from across the country in town for the conference. See performances from some of today's hottest performers. And of course enjoy awesome drink specials, delicious grub and great conversation. All ages are welcome, but you must be 21 to drink. ID required. No cover charge, but you must be on our list of registered Campus Progress conference attendees to attend the party.

Registration & Welcome Breakfast

Morning Plenary 

Senator Russ Feingold, United States Senator from Wisconsin
David Halperin, Director, Campus Progress & Senior Vice President, Center for American Progress
William Brawner, Youth AIDS Educator & Activist, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Jessy Tolkan, Campaign Director, Campus Climate Challenge
Adrian Avila, Community Organizer for immigrant rights
Keynote Address by Representative Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Congresswoman from California

Morning Foreign Policy Discussion 

Hard Truths about National Security
A Conversation with Seymour Hersh

Seymour Hersh, Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist, The New Yorker Magazine
Asra Nomani, Journalist & Author, Standing Alone in Mecca

Lunch Service 

Luncheon Plenary

John Podesta, President & CEO, Center for American Progress
Congressman Keith Ellison, United States Representative from Minnesota

Breakout I - Issues Seminars

Breaking Ballot Barriers
Challenging a system in which many Americans, especially young people, are deprived of their right to vote

Henry Beck, City Councilman, Waterville, Maine & Student, Colby College
Andres Idarraga, Student, Brown University
Daniel Tokaji, Assistant Professor of Law, Ohio State University
Tova Andrea Wang, Democracy Fellow, The Century Foundation
Moderator: Tanya Clay House, Director of Public Policy, People for the American Way

Queer Rights as Civil Rights and Human Rights
How young progressives are transforming institutions to honor the full spectrum of gender and sexual identities

Samiya Bashir, Communications Director, Freedom to Marry
Jeffrey Chang, Co-founder & Associate Director, National Student Genderblind Campaign
Haven Herrin, Co-Director, Soulforce Q
Richard Kim, Associate Editor, The Nation
Moderator: Rob Anderson, Blogger, WashingtonPost.com

Nowhere Near Universal
Making healthcare affordable for all Americans

Dave Chandra, Senior Policy Coordinator, DC Primary Care Association
David Grande, Robert Wood Johnson Health & Society Scholar, University of Pennsylvania
Jennifer Ng'Andu, Senior Health Policy Analyst, National Council of La Raza
Julia Skapik, Health Care Policy Chair, American Medical Student Association
Moderator: Senator Tom Daschle, Distinguished Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Whose Responsibility?
Holding the business community accountable on the environment, labor, and human rights

Aaron Chatterji, Assistant Professor, Duke University and Fellow, Center for American Progress
Bennett Freeman, Senior Vice President for Social Research and Policy, Calvert Group
Ralph Nader, Consumer Advocate
Nancy Steffan, Assistant Director for Policy and Communications, Workers Rights Consortium
Moderator: Jonathan Jacoby, Associate Director for International Economic Policy, Center for American Progress

Breakout II - Issues

Embedding Feminism
How young feminists can establish their issues within the larger progressive movement

Randy Albelda, Professor of Economics, University of Massachusetts- Boston
Jennifer Lawless, Professor of Political Science, Brown University
Aimee Thorne-Thomsen, Executive Director, Pro-Choice Public Education Project
Jessica Valenti, Editor, Feministing.com
Moderator: Dana Goldstein, Associate Editor, CampusProgress.org

Race to the Top
With increased attacks on affirmative action, how we can continue to diversify higher education and ensure equal opportunity

Marvin Krislov, Vice President and General Counsel, University of Michigan

Norma Nava, Vice President and Board Member, For People of Color, Inc.

Samantha Sewell, Midwest & South Central Campus Organizer, Feminist Majority Foundation
Moderator: Stephanie Chang, Former Field Organizer, One United Michigan

Fighting Poverty in Post-Katrina America
What Hurricane Katrina and the government's disgraceful response have taught us about the racial and class divide of our "two Americas"

Indivar Dutta-Gupta, Professional Staff Member, Ways and Means Committee

Martin Eakes, CEO, Center for Responsible Lending and Self-Help
Congressman James McGovern, United States Representative from Massachusetts
M-1, Hip-Hop Recording Artist, Dead Prez

Dorothy Stoneman, Founder and President, YouthBuild USA
Moderator: Cassandra Q. Butts, Senior Vice President for Domestic Policy, Center for American Progress

Confronting Genocide and Mass Atrocities
In Darfur, Uganda, and elsewhere, examining the international community's "responsibility to protect" innocent people and how to mobilize help at home

Erin Mazursky, Co-Founder & Former Director, STAND

Muadi Mukenge, Senior Program Officer for Africa, Global Fund for Women

Michael Poffenberger, Executive Director, Resolve Uganda
John Prendergast, Co-Chair, ENOUGH & Senior Adviser, International Crisis Group
Moderator: Gayle Smith, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Breakout III - Skills Seminars

Mobilizing the Youth Vote
How to strengthen the youth vote for upcoming elections

Lindsay Daniels, National Council of La Raza
Malia Lazu, Director of the Racial Justice Campaign Fund, Progressive Voter Majority
Joe Montano, Northern Virginia Regional Field Organizer, State Partnership Program
Jennifer Pae, President, USSA
Heather Smith, Executive Director, Young Voter Strategies

Moderator: Dave Rosenfeld, Campus Program Director, Student PIRGs

Media Bootcamp
How to work with the press to get out your message

Ari Berman, Contributing Writer, The Nation
Vanessa Cardenas, Ethnic Media Director, Center for American Progress
Christopher Johnson, Director of Public Affairs, Human Rights Campaign
Jennifer Palmieri, Vice President of Communications, Center for American Progress

Moderator: Doug Thornell, National Press Secretary, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee

Starting an Online Revolution
How to implement a catchy online issues campaign, publicize events, and deliver your message using the latest internet tools

Elizabeth Brookbank, Consultant, M+R Strategic Services
Ezra Callahan, Senior Product Manager, Facebook.com
Ginny Hunt, Organizer, Generation Dean
Tom Matzzie, Washington Director, MoveOn.org
Moderator: Jamia Wilson, Communications Specialist, Young People For

Issue Campaigns that Win
How to successfully organize for change on campus and beyond

Jotaka Eaddy, Field Manager, USAction & USAction Education Fund
Gabriel Pendas, Vice-President, United States Students Association
Marc Rodrigues, Student/Farmworker Alliance
Jessy Tolkan, Campaign Director, Campus Climate Challenge

Moderator: Raj Goyle, State Representative, Kansas House of Representatives

Closing Plenary 

Voices of the War
Our generation speaks out

Rajai Hakki, U.S. Marine & Student, American University
Abdul Henderson, Peace Activist & Decorated Veteran of Iraq War
Eli Paintedcrow, Veteran of Iraq War
Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran & Co-Founder and Chairman, VoteVets.org
Moderator: Brian Katulis, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress

Closing Reception