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2/10: #YESWECAN8 Anniversary Celebration @ 1776! (8th birthday of Obama For America & 4th birthday of Network For Progress)

1/30/2015

$7 for Advance registered attendees! $10 @ Door with NO RSVP!

Open Bar, Pizza & Raffle Prize courtesy of General Assembly!
(raffle prizes also provided by 201 Bar and Digital DC)

featuring

“Future of the Movement” discussion on the 8th birthday of Obama For America
&
“Ready For Unity” campaign launch on the 4th birthday of Network For Progress

SPEAKERS INCLUDE:

Mark Walsh
Host, "Left Jab Radio"
founding CEO, Progress Media (creator of Air America Radio)
former Chairman, New Leaders Council
former Chief Technology Adviser, Democratic National Committee
former Head of Internet Strategy, Kerry for President
Board Member, Bipartisan Policy Center
http://www.leftjabradio.com/about
@walsh

Richard Fowler
Host, Richard Fowler Show
Fox News contributor
former President, Alexandria Young Democrats
http://fowlershow.com
@richardafowler

Catherine Read
Democratic Social Media Strategist
Board Member, Equality For Virginia
Board Member, NARAL Pro-Choice Virginia
Rural Caucus Chair, Virginia Democrats
www.catherineread.com
@csread

*** Young Leader Panel ***

Joseph Kitchen, President
Young Democrats of Maryland
www.ydmaryland.org

Maurice Simpson, President
Prince George’s County Young Democrats
www.pgcyd.com

Matt Brown, President
Arlington Young Democrats
www.arlingtonyoungdems.org

Dadly Cordero Teran, President
Fairfax Young Democrats
http://www.fairfaxyoungdems.net

Shawn Logue, Northern Region Chair
Virginia Young Democrats
www.vayd.org

Valeria Ojeda-Avitia, President
AU Democrats
http://www.aucollegedems.org

PARTNERS INCLUDE:

Network For Progress
http://networkforprogress.weebly.com/follow-us.html
(including DC Career Progress, DC Comm Tech For Progress and more)

Generation Obama-Washington, DC
http://www.facebook.com/generationobamawashingtondc

Northern Virginia for Obama
https://www.facebook.com/NorthernVirginiaforObama

Young Democrats of America
www.yda.org

America’s Impact
(formerly Foreign Policy Professionals for Obama)
https://www.facebook.com/AmericasImpact

DC Young Politicos
http://www.meetup.com/CapitalHillMeetUpDCYoungPoliticos

Public Policy Professionals Social Group
http://www.meetup.com/Public-Policy-Professionals-Social-Group

Cameroon American Council - African Congressional Fellows Program
http://africansincongress.nationbuilder.com

6:30pm-8:30pm
Tuesday, February 10th
(6:30 Networking, 7:00 Program, 8:00 Networking)

General Assembly
(12th Floor)
1133 15th St, Washington, DC 20005
@ McPherson Square

Please join Network For Progress, a social and media-savvy community inspired by the "Yes We Can" Movement to engage Progressives, Democrats, Hope Mongers and Change Makers in political and civic participation, for a celebration of the 8th birthday of Obama For America with a look ahead at the “Future of our Movement” and the 4th birthday of Network For Progress with a “Ready For Unity” campaign to advocate for a stronger coalition in 2016 and beyond.

The program will include several media-savvy experts and young activists who can give their take on how to grow our causes in the 21st Century online and offline.

And there is no better place to host a gathering focused on the future of the increasingly digital-driven world of movement-building than a space that President Obama has recognized recently, the 1776 Startup Campus, which boasts the tagline “Where revolutions begin.” Our venue as well as open bar and appetizers are provided courtesy of General Assembly - the school for technology, business and design education for entrepreneurs and startup companies.

As the President described at the State of the Union Address, 2014 was a great year for America but a terrible year for his Democratic allies but as we saw during the 2008 Obama campaign and recently witnessed in Paris, “unity” is not just an hopeful ideal but a STRATEGY for positive action that we need more than ever to move America forward.

As you might have seen, the DNC has created a Democratic Victory Task Force that is planning to submit a report at their February Meeting and sent out November and December surveys to ask for your input on how to succeed again so please have your voice heard:

The President’s organization, Organizing For Action (formerly Obama For America) is also asking for feedback.

But we need to make sure ALL our voices are heard this time. At the event, we will encourage a more open dialogue as well so we can learn from each other and work together as well to build support for our collective causes.

Want to be a Co-Host or Sponsor? Questions/Comments?
Contact us at network4progress@gmail.com

Please invite friends and colleagues!

ADVANCE REGISTER BY 2/10!

JOIN & SHARE on Facebook!

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INVITE: 6th Annual STATE OF THE UNION Watch Party: “Unite For Progress” Edition (including 2016 Straw Poll & DNC Suggestion Box)

1/20/2015

1 Comment

ADVANCE REGISTER BY 5PM 1/20!

JOIN & SHARE ON FACEBOOK!

Join 200+ Registered for #SOTUUNITYDC!

$10 Suggested Donation @ Door without RSVP!

(ALL attendees receive straw poll card, raffle & pizza starting at 7pm)

#SOTU15 preview and live-stream information:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sotu
(watch online for infographics, photos and more)

1/21: White House Online Open House!
#‎AskTheWH‬
http://wh.gov/cheeseday

Feedback Form:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/your-feedback-2015

2014 Progress Highlights:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/2014-in-review

Special Guest:

Franklin Garcia
U.S. Shadow Representative
@fgarciadc

Partners include:

Network For Progress
http://networkforprogress.weebly.com/follow-us.html
(including DC Career Progress, DC Comm Tech For Progress and more)

Generation Obama-Washington, DC
http://www.facebook.com/generationobamawashingtondc

Obama For America Alumni Association
https://sites.google.com/site/ofadcalumni

Progressive Communicators of DC
http://www.pcdcnetwork.org

Social Security Works
http://www.socialsecurityworks.org

Launch Progress
http://launchprogress.org

DC Young Politicos
http://www.meetup.com/CapitalHillMeetUpDCYoungPoliticos

DC Democratic Party
http://www.dcdemocraticparty.org

America’s Impact
www.americasimpact.org

Host Committee:
Jim McBride, Emile Aries, Lauren Babb, Charles Balogh, Crystal Brooks, Kelsi Browning, Daniel Buk, Molly Checksfield, David Do, Margot Friedman, Randy Goldstein, Lauren Jencik, Alex Lawson, Britton Loftin, Svetlana Matt, Jeff Pudlo, Brian Rauer, Nate Reul, Kyle Simon, Alvil Singh, Herb Smith, Luke Squire and more!

6:30pm-10:30pm Tuesday, January 20th
(Program & Presidential Address starting @ 8:30pm)

Local Sixteen
(upstairs bar and heated deck)
http://www.localsixteen.com
1602 U Street NW, Washington, DC 20009
@ U Street Metro

Pizza & Drink Tickets for Early Birds + Raffle Gift +
$5 Drink & Appetizer Specials ALL NIGHT courtesy of Local 16!

Raffle Sponsors also include:

The Madhatter bar & grill
http://www.madhatterdc.com

NAKID Social Sports
http://www.playnakid.com

Please join Network For Progress, a social and media-savvy community for those inspired by the "Yes We Can" Movement, and several great partners for our 6th Annual State of the Union Watch Party where Progressives, Democrats and “Hope Mongers” can watch and celebrate the President’s Address to Congress at 9pm while mingling for friends, careers and PROGRESS starting at 6:30pm! In exchange for straw poll, raffle tickets and feedback activities etc. small donations are requested to fund N4P expenses.

As many of you know, 2014 was a great year for America (http://www.whitehouse.gov/2014-in-review) but a terrible year for Democrats so this year's theme is...UNITE FOR PROGRESS! As we saw during the 2008 Obama campaign and recently witnessed in Paris, “unity” is not just an hopeful ideal but a STRATEGY for positive action that we need more than ever to move America forward.

Featured activities include….

2016 Candidate Showcase & Straw Poll:
First off, we want to offer a platform for attendees to meet representatives of groups supporting 2016 candidates and hear their pitch before voting in a 2016 Straw Poll that will reveal who DC-area politicos would like to see run for President. Feel free to share who you are supporting and why they’re the best candidate to unify the movement with #sotuunitydc

2016 Action Showcase & Petition Station (with Twitter Bomb):
We also want to offer a platform for attendees to have their voice heard and connect with causes they care about so we will highlight various local and national causes with an issue petition and information station. Before the speech we will also stage a “DC Voting Rights” twitter bomb for @whitehouse @mcconellpress @speakerboehner with the help of our friends at Phone 2 Action. You can sign a petition now on the White House web site.

What else should the President need say to America during his State of the Union Address?

Here is a #MySOTU Wish List and feel free to share yours with @whitehouse @mcconellpress @speakerboehner and Members of Congress!

Open “Dem Autopsy” Interviews & Submissions:
But most importantly, we also will ask everyone to join together to become “Ready For Unity” by getting engaged in the future of our Movement so we can help build on the President's growing legacy and message so we can build critical momentum when the nation decides which party should have the majority again in 2016 and beyond.

As you might have seen, the DNC has created a Democratic Victory Task Force that is preparing a preliminary report for their February Meeting and sent out surveys to ask for your input on how to succeed again so please have your voice heard:
http://my.democrats.org/page/s/december-survey
https://my.democrats.org/page/signup/survey-nov-2014

At the event, N4P will also ask you to do the same thing via video interviews during the event where you can share your Open “Dem Autopsy” feedback with the world! You can also share your ideas for @thedemocrats via your eventbrite registration, the hashtag #mydemautopsy and our DNC Suggestion Box at the event. We will post them later with your permission.

Want to be a Co-Host or Sponsor? Questions/Comments?
Contact us at network4progress@gmail.com

Please invite friends and colleagues!

ADVANCE REGISTER BY 5PM 1/20!

JOIN & SHARE ON FACEBOOK!

1 Comment

FWD BLOG: What should the President say to America during his State of the Union Address? #MySOTU

1/19/2015

0 Comments

As the President and his congressional supporters try to dust themselves off and position the Democratic Party for success in 2016 it’s important to examine their new message to America and that starts with the State of the Union Address.

Democrats need to get better at simply explaining what they did and what they want to do while persuading through a well-framed moral and fact-based argument that can win Hearts AND Minds that is supported by universal ideals that can find common ground to appeal to the broadest audience possible.

Vox recently published an analysis of persuasion techniques that teaches you “How to debunk false beliefs without having it backfire” that everyone interested in advocacy should read. Luckily this is one thing that this President is good at, and frankly MUST be good at as the leader of the entire nation...that’s why he his in the Oval Office. But we can ALL do better....especially when we share a consistent message that people can remember.

Here is the the #1 issue on my “wish list” on what the President should say and how he should explain it...I will update it as an ongoing reference that I hope our fellow Obama supporters can use as well.

TALKING POINT: RENEWABLE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE

Issue: Jobs, Economy, Energy, Environment

The President needs to discuss the importance of Renewable Energy Independence for helping create jobs at home in America and explain the great success of solar and electric vehicles thanks to federal loans etc. and how the reduction of gas prices is partly fueled by our unsustainable reliance on the expensive and environmentally harmful fracking process. He should then share his future plans like the EPA’s new standards for cutting carbon emissions and how they will benefit the economy but he should also consider re-working his carbon tax into a more popular-sounding Polluter Tax.

All Americans should understand the importance of ending our dependence on foreign oil and how countries like Russia and Iran benefit from it so this should be an easy argument to make that is practical for today and not just a “sacrifice” to fight the distant and murky effects of global warming that can be difficult to sell in the current political environment.

The White House’s online live-stream of the speech is a great tool for sharing supporting graphics and photos with those willing to find it but in this case I would recommend hold up a live picture at the lecturn of the California drought to SHOW America what global warming looks like. These kinds of images should also be live-tweeted at minimum.

Here is my template….feel free to share your own!

Policy:

Issue Category:

Common Ground:

Progress Example (past record and how it worked):

Agenda Example (future proposal and how it will work):

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2/10: #YESWECAN8 Anniversary Celebration @ 1776! (8th birthday of Obama For America & 4th birthday of Network For Progress)

INVITE: 6th Annual STATE OF THE UNION Watch Party: “Unite For Progress” Edition (including 2016 Straw Poll & DNC Suggestion Box)

FWD BLOG: What should the President say to America during his State of the Union Address? #MySOTU

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