COVER |
This May , the YEO Network held its 11th annual National Convening in Chicago , Illinois . Our policy sessions and skills trainings brought together national and Chicago-based experts with over 100 young electeds from across the country . In what has been a generally toxic year for national politics , the conference proved that young leaders can shift the narrative to be bolder and more unapologetically progressive . |
RECAP : 2016 National Convening |
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NETWORKING
MEMBERSHIP
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POLICY |
We opened Wednesday with our Women ’ s Caucus Pre- Conference , where women-identifying members learned about messaging , mentoring , and more from Erika Soto Lamb of Everytown for Gun Safety ; Susan Mendoza , the clerk of the city of Chicago ; Jessica Byrd of Three Point Strategies ; Cook County Commissioner Bridget Gainer ; former West Virginia Delegate Meshea Poore ; and Nicole Carlsburg of the Barbara Lee Family Foundation . Sara El-Amine of Organizing for Action provided the closing remarks at a cocktail reception .
Thursday concluded the Women ’ s Caucus with sessions including Organizing for Action ’ s Yolanda Magallanes and actress and People For the American Way Foundation board member Kathleen Turner . Our opening reception included a rousing speech from
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NBCUniversal ’ s Evan Shapiro , who reiterated the importance of youth power in politics , before the announcement of the 2016 Barbara Jordan Leadership Award winner , Ithaca Mayor Svante Myrick .
Cook County Commissioner Jesús “ Chuy ” García spoke at our opening plenary session on Friday , imparting his perspective on the challenges faced in the city of Chicago and for the progressive movement more broadly . Our Expanding Democracy plenary panel launched our policy programs with a lively discussion on gerrymandering and other politically exclusionary policies and ensuring voting rights are strengthened across our communities and the country . Skills sessions for the day included digital organizing , running for higher office , participatory budgeting , entrepreneurship , and fundraising . Bestselling author and progressive strategist Steve Phillips joined us for a lunch plenary to discuss America ’ s changing demographic trends and what this shift means for politics and policy . Our last plenary panel of the day examined the role of community schools in our education system and how the added support network they provide can offer our students greater opportunities for intellectual and emotional growth .
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YEO Frontline News • Summer 2016 • PG 6 |
www . YEONetwork . org |