CPA News Releases, Advisories, and Editorials

Washington, D.C. ﾗ Over 250 state legislators and activists from the labor, women’s rights, consumer protection and civil rights communities from 40 states will come together Saturday, December 8-Sunday, December 9th in Washington D.C. for the Center for Policy Alternatives annual Summit on the States. Held in December every year prior to the opening of the state legislative sessions, the Summit is the nation’s premier convening of progressive state leaders. The agenda will focus on the impact of the terrorist attacks and the economic slow down on the states and the leadership required of policymakers and activists to respond appropriately.

Workshops with legislators, grassroots advocates and national experts will touch on a wide range of state issues ﾗ unemployment insurance reform, preserving civil liberties while protecting safety, maintaining support systems for low-income families even as state budgets tighten, voting reform, immigrant’s access to driver’s licenses, new homeland protection measures, hate crimes, and more.

Open Press:
Location: Omni-Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert Street NW, Washington, D.C.

Saturday, December 8^th, 9:30 AM-11:00 AM (Pallidium Ballroom)
Plenary I: Economic Policy in Uncertain Times
State leaders face difficult decisions as the nation heads into a recession and state budgets tighten.

• Nelson EasterlingﾗExecutive Director, Florida Institute for Economic Justice
• Margaret SimmsﾗVice President, Joint Center on Political and Economic Studies
• Bill Spriggs, DirectorﾗInstitute of Opportunity and Equality, National Urban League
• State Representative Diana Urban (CT)

Saturday, December 8^th, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Pallidium Ballroom)
PLENARY II: Challenges to Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
How should policymakers respond to the unprecedented challenges to civil rights and civil liberties?

• Raul YzaguirreﾗPresident, National Council of La Raza
• James ZogbyﾗPresident, Arab American Institute
• Linda Tarr-WhelanﾗChair, CPA Board of Directors

Sunday, December 9^th, 9:30 AM – 11:00 (Pallidium Ballroom)
PLENARY III: Public Leadership in a Time of Crisis
How can leaders promote a just and democratic society in a time of economic recession and threats to national security?

• Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC)
• State Representative Nan Grogan Orrock (GA)

Sunday, December 9^th, 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM (Blue Room)
Plenary IV: Communicating Progressive Values Effectively in a Time of Crisis
How can state leaders effectively speak from their values to communicate a progressive, majoritarian agenda, especially in a time of crisis?

• State Representative Dawnna Dukes (TX)
• Anna GreenbergﾗVice President, Greenberg Quinlan Research
• Julianne MalveauxﾗEconomist and Political Commentator
• John NicholsﾗWashington Correspondent,The Nation

To view the complete Summit on the States Agenda, see www.stateaction.org/summit.

Founded in 1976, the Center for Policy Alternatives is the nation’s leading progressive public policy and leadership development center, serving state legislators, state policy organizations, and state grassroots leaders. For more information about CPA, see www.stateaction.org.

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