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For information on each session: See session catalog

Activism Sampler

Judith Bolker, Susan Pfeifer, Sylvia Russell

Track: Volunteers

Are you somewhat new to political activism? Looking for a way that you can enjoy being effective? Then come to this session and learn about some of the ways that volunteers can have a real impact on elections! It is a wonderful sampler of 1-on-1 activism: Learn about phone banking, text banking, canvassing, postcards, voter registration, and tabling. Find the ones that feel the most comfortable with, and then be sure to practice your new skills to help win elections!

Cultivating Sustainable Volunteer Communities

Margaret McCarthy

Track: Captains, Leaders

Abstract: You’ve got great volunteers, but how do you get them to stay? This session will cover the ins and outs of volunteer management: data and record-keeping, orientation and training, engagement and retention; and accountability. You’ll leave with concrete actions you can implement to strengthen your volunteer program, however big or small.

DACA and Immigration: How to Talk to Voters

Lariza Dugan-Cuadra

Track: Issues

Abstract: The overall goal of this presentation is to provide participants with a simple breakdown of the U.S. electoral system, and the importance and role of civic and voter engagement in the creation of local, state, and national policies that either protect, or further erode, individual rights, particularly those of the estimated 11 million+ undocumented immigrants in the U.S., currently under attack by the Trump administration.

We will give a basic demographic overview of the current eligible voter population, including average voter turn-out and other basic voter demographics locally, at the state, and at the national level. We will discuss the relationship between voter engagement (being a constituent), civic engagement/advocacy, and local, state, and national policy (i.e., laws that impact our everyday lives). And we will give local, state and national examples of how voter/civic engagement has impacted local policies, including DACA, Sanctuary Cities, Universal Legal Representation and other community driven policies/laws.

Developing The Coalition’s Foundation

Linda Herman, Pat Mundy, Steve Pierson

Track: Coalition

Abstract: This session will open with background on why the Coalition Committee formed, its history and mission. Most of the session will be group dialogue to help finalize the Coalition's vision, operating principles, objectives, processes and roles, and current key initiatives: www.norcalbluewave.org and Leadership Lab.

Expanding the Map to Rock All 14

Doug Linney

Track: Regional Races

Abstract: Democrats need to retake 24 seats to flip the House of Representatives, and the path to that victory starts in California. There are 14 California congressional seats held by Republicans who continue to vote against the interests of the state and their constituents. Nationwide, Hillary Clinton won in 22 Congressional Districts currently held by a Republican. Winning the districts that Clinton won will not be enough; we can and must do better. It’s time to expand the map of winnable seats in California. It’s time to Flip the 14. This session will review why it is important to compete in all 14 seats, and review the "lower 7" seats and the strategic opportunities to maximize chances of winning, both short term and long term. We will also discuss how to message in Red districts, and how to build a bench for the long term.

Reaching Latino Voters

Brigitte Davila, Jose Torres

Track: Issues, Captains, Leaders, Volunteers

Abstract: CD 10 is 40% Latino; 60,000 Latino voters are unregistered in San Mateo County. State-wide, 59% of unregistered potential voters are Latinos. Why aren't Latinos voting and taking power? How can we engage with, register, and activate Latino voters?

Values-Based Organizing: Knowing Your “Why” ^

Liz Erickson

Track: Captains

Abstract: Many Americans have ideas about how to change our country for the better, but why are we not always compelled by them? It’s likely because we don’t always hear the underlying values behind why they care about the change in the first place -- their “why.” Through this training, we will help you identify your own “why,” and practice communicating it in a clear, persuasive way that allows others to connect with your ideas and story.

Why State Legislatures Matter

Stephanie Engelsen, Laura Xuereb

Track: Issues, Regional Races, Volunteers

Abstract: Over the past decade, the GOP has invested heavily in Project REDMAP to win state legislative seats, and unfortunately, it has paid off. The GOP has 26 trifecta states (where one party controls both chambers of state government, as well as the state governorship) while Democrats only have eight. In fact, Democrats lost nearly 1,000 state seats between 2008 and 2016.

With control of many state capitols, the GOP instituted gerrymandering and passed voter suppression laws. These in turn have created a vicious cycle of guaranteeing continued dominance on the state level and outsized advantages for U.S. House of Representatives seats, even when registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans. For example, in 2016 in Wisconsin, the GOP won 64 seats in the state assembly vs 35 won by Democrats. Yet an analysis commissioned by AP found that the Republican edge in Wisconsin’s assembly districts only had a 1 in 60,000 probability of occuring by chance. We must fix this imbalance before the Census-driven redistricting after 2020 locks down the gerrymanders for another decade. So come to this session to learn what you can do!

Sister District is committed to flipping or holding chambers blue by re-invigorating grassroots activists to realize the importance of state races. We’ve already help make history in the 2017 election for the Virginia House of Delegates when 13 seats we supported flipped from red to blue. This year, the blue tsunami continues with blue, down-ballot state upsets in Florida, Kentucky, and Wisconsin.

Working Session: Determining The Coalition’s Shared Values

Steve Barber

Track: Coalition

Abstract: Based upon the current reality of the progressive landscape comprising a host of issue/interest focused groups/initiatives, the scope of this session is twofold: (1) Participants will explore the principles of effective collaboration essential to the success of building coalitions. Collaboration” is not just about “talking nice”. “Collaboration” is a collection of practices grounded in behavioral principles and shared language. (2) This session will draw upon participants' individual goals as activists, to discover the shared purposes underlying our work. The output of the session will be synthesized with the output of similar sessions that have been and will be conducted at all other Rock the Congress events, to produce a robust set of foundational values for the Coalition.