Get your tickets now! Buy Tickets

For information on each session: See session catalog

Expanding the Map to Rock All 14

Doug Linney

Track: Regional Races

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.

How to Build a Phone Bank Program

Juli Uota

Track: Captains

Abstract: You know phone banks work. You know how to make calls. Now you’re ready to take the next step and lead a phone bank. Establishing and running phone banks is more than just location, lingo, and wi-fi. In this session we will focus on: assessing and addressing logistical requirements, different types of calling tools, specifics on campaign approaches, creating a team, backup systems, volunteer management, getting lists, building capacity, and basic problem solving. Get the know-how you need so you and your team can successfully run phone banks, whether for a few volunteers or a thousand.

How To Run An Effective Meeting

Susan Shain

Track: Leaders, Captains

Abstract: The session will be focused on sharing simple and effective ways to get the best results from meetings. A few straightforward tools will be shared which can be used by meeting organizers and facilitators to set and attain desired goals. When the tools are applied, meetings will be more productive, participants will be heard and outcomes will be met. People will leave with a sense of time well spent.

The session will present the tools and give all in attendance an opportunity to practice using them. Learn and practice the strategies and leave the session armed and ready to apply them at your next meeting and event.

Organizing a Campaign: Volunteer Management and Technologies

Jay Carmona, Adriel Hampton

Track: Leaders, Tech

Abstract: In this second half of a two-part session, Jay and Adriel will discuss volunteer recruitment and management, and how administrative systems and technology can facilitate massive, volunteer-led campaigns. They’ll take you through a complete campaign engagement cycle. They’ll show how different tools and platforms fit together, and they’ll give participants a tool for building their own tech infrastructure. This is a platform-neutral workshop.

Text Banking and Postcard Writing

Amy Bayersdorfer, Jacinth Sohi

Track: Volunteers; Captains

Abstract: We often think of phone banking and canvassing as core organizing tools for volunteers. But what happens when you have volunteers who don't enjoy person-to-person contact, or who aren’t available for long blocks of time during the day or on weekends? In this session, we'll explore two initiatives that are rapidly gaining traction for volunteer toolkits: postcard writing and text banking. In this interactive workshop, you'll learn about the power of these new activism strategies and how they're being used in 2018. You’ll leave with a list of resources to run your own postcard parties and text banks. And you’ll also get to actually write postcards and participate in a text bank. Afterwards you'll be equipped to start leveraging these methods to maximize your volunteer force and supercharge your group's organizing power.

Turning Arizona Blue -- The Opportunity Next Door

Alec Bash

Track: Regional Races

Abstract: Arizona is the largest urban Western state that is not yet reliably Democratic - and it’s right next door to California. In fact, the Phoenix metro area (the third largest metro area in the West, with nearly 5 million people) is as close to Los Angeles as is the San Francisco Bay Area.

While we are not yet where we’d like to be, Arizona is making the shift to a more progressive future. And with attention and assistance from our California neighbors, our turn will be all the faster and more stable, allowing us to hold on to the gains we are now making.

In 2016, we ended one-party Republican rule in the Phoenix metro area’s Maricopa County by electing Paul Penzone as Sheriff to defeat Joe Arpaio. In total, we ran 9 Democratic candidates for countywide offices (the most Democrats running for those offices since the 1930s), and 6 of those 9 candidates were elected. In fact, Paul Penzone won parts of Maricopa County that no other Democratic candidate has ever won. Phoenix’s Maricopa County, with over 60 percent of the state’s population, was formerly the stronghold of Republican Arizona. But that is true no longer.

In 2018, Democrats in Arizona are poised to take a U.S. Senate seat and we are likely to win the majority of our U.S. House delegation – 5 of 9 seats.

See how you can help turn Arizona blue - the opportunity with over 7 million people right next door.

Update on CD 10

Lucia Nuñez

Track: Regional Races

Abstract: Hear updates on the field program in California's 10th Congressional District. What are local activist groups and the Democratic Party doing regarding the race? How might the voter contact programs change moving forward? What are the various ways to be involved in this race as an individual or group leader living outside the district? This session is ideal for activists and organizers who are looking to get involved in CA-10 or who are already involved and wish to hear the latest developments. There will be an opportunity for Q&A.

Update on CD 21 and CD 22

Jennifer Halsing, Mary Trounstine

Track: Regional Races

CD 21 and CD 22, two potential red-to-blue congressional districts in the San Joaquin Valley south of San Jose and surrounding (but not including) Fresno, are ripe for a Democratic victory, but only if we work hard. This panel discussion will focus on the issues important to voters in the districts, the groups working to win a blue victory, and what you can do as a volunteer! Come with your questions; we expect a lively Q&A.