Independent Progressives Policy Network Nat’l Coordinator George Friday
Farm Labor Organizing Committee President Baldemar Velasquez
Ella Baker Center for Human Rights Director Jakada Imani
Black Women's Health Imperative founder Byllye Avery
Indigenous Environmental Network Director Tom Goldtooth
Liberty Tree Foundation's David Cobb
Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin
After Downing Street founder David Swanson
Institute for Policy Studies fellow Steve Cobble
(See Summit Brochure www.progressivecabinet.org for complete list of attendees.)
I wanted this impressive collection of people to jump at the chance to co-create an alternative government institution. I hoped that the hospitality provided by the Backbone Campaign - the setting of Carter Center, delicious meals, advance delivery of the colorful Brochure - would tempt everybody to take co ownership of the nascent Progressive Cabinet.
After all, many were full time activists, albeit with packed schedules and a myriad of commitments. And I knew from research and Conversations that they each already had fantastic and inter-related propositions for government policy.
In addition, we hoped the Summit would offer everybody present a rare opportunity for building collective power across race, ethnicity, class, gender, nation of origin, party affiliation, geographic boundaries, and even issues.
Finally, I knew that this general structure – opposition movements and people-based parallel governments - had played a significant role in transforming troubled countries in Europe in the last century.
Admittedly, these were lofty goals. But history has shown that in moments of perceived hopelessness, our brightest ideas need to be given specificity and tangibility. People need to see what best practice might look like in order to develop a plan of action.
A Chinese phrase sums this up nicely: crisis equals danger plus opportunity.
We began the day with video greetings from leaders who couldn’t be with us such as Rev. Lennox Yearwood (CEO of Hip Hop Caucus) and Professor Howard Zinn.
Professor Zinn has given this project unfailing encouragement and he was our guest on two Conversations.
Here are some words from Professor Zinn's video greeting www.progressivecabinet.org:
Welcome to the Progressive Cabinet Summit. The Progressive Cabinet is a really important tool for social change…The idea of an alternative cabinet is a profoundly democratic idea, to return to the people the possibility of choosing their own representatives. This idea goes back to the American Revolution, the Committees of Correspondence. I can see the possibility of a progressive Political Cabinet, advancing ideas which are not advanced by the major political parties, which are not in the major media, but ideas which are bold…to create a truly decent society. It’s something we should cherish and support. (video by www.libertynewstv.com)Adrienne Maree Brown of the Ruckus Society was our facilitator. Matt Power of Liberty News TV filmed the event and produced a documentary of the Summit. Throughout the day we listened to eloquent speeches and had fruitful discussions. Progressive Cabinet nominees recorded ‘First 100 Days’ videos, and a ‘Brilliant Ideas’ document was produced.
In our small group sessions, a few expressed doubts that their primary concerns would receive adequate attention. Others clung tightly to their beliefs that uniting progressives would forever remain an impossible task. We appreciated everyone’s perspectives, and tried to accommodate folks as best we could.
On the new Progressive Cabinet homepage, you'll find a Summit slideshow, two recent Huffington Post articles by Progressive Cabinet Nominees Baldemar Velasquez and Chuck Spinney www.progressivecabinet.org.
In the months since the Summit, I have reflected on what I'd do differently next time.
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
