Thousands of Progressives To Gather This Week To Forge ‘America’s Future Now’

Emboldened, Unified, Organized Progressive Movement Mobilizing Against Special Interests Standing in the Way of President Obama’s Bold Agenda

WASHINGTON, May 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Energized by last year’s elections and more organized and unified than ever, thousands of progressive leaders and activists will gather at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington this week for the Campaign for America’s Future’s “America’s Future Now” conference, formerly known as “Take Back America.”

Progressive groups are coordinating their efforts and mobilizing independently to fight special interests standing in the way of President Obama’s progressive agenda. Leaders of some of the largest progressive groups will hold a news conference on Monday to unveil details of their plans for the largest progressive health care reform campaign in history. This year’s gathering will also feature a straw poll that gauges where the progressive base stands on several key issues.

“AMERICA’S FUTURE NOW”

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

Omni Shoreham Hotel, 2500 Calvert St., N.W.

MONDAY, JUNE 1

10 a.m. White House economist Jared Bernstein and Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage join other progressive leaders to open the “America’s Future Now” conference and discuss the new economy.

11:30 a.m. Organizing for America director Mitch Stewart, Center for American Progress president John Podesta and Change to Win chair Anna Burger discuss the progressive movement in the Age of Obama.

1 p.m. Gov. Howard Dean holds a news conference with Health Care for America Now coalition leaders and pollster Celinda Lake to announce plans to move the most expensive progressive health care reform campaign in history.

3 p.m. Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., joins progressive leaders to discuss torture, presidential abuse and accountability.

4:30 p.m. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Gov. Howard Dean join progressive leaders to discuss the health care reform battle.

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

11 a.m. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., and Rep. Jared Polis, D-Colo., join ProgressiveCongress.org executive director Darcy Burner to discuss the rise of progressives in Congress.

12:30 p.m. Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., joins progressive leaders to discuss an Apollo Project for good jobs and energy independence.

2:15 p.m. Rev. Jesse Jackson and Education Under Secretary Robert Shireman discuss making college affordable.

3:45 p.m. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass., joins national security experts to discuss military spending. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, D-Ill., joins progressive leaders to discuss countering bias against mothers in hiring, wages and advancement. Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Va., joins progressive leaders to discuss electing more progressives to Congress.

7 p.m. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Donna Edwards, D-Md., host the Campaign for America’s Future’s awards gala honoring AFL-CIO president John Sweeney and Center for Community Change executive director Deepak Bhargava.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

9 a.m. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, discusses moving progressive change in the U.S. Senate.

10:30 a.m. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., and pollster Stan Greenberg join progressive leaders to discuss a global economic strategy.

12 p.m. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., joins Campaign for America’s Future co-director Robert Borosage, United Steelworkers International president Leo Gerard and author Naomi Klein to rally progressive leaders and activists for “America’s Future Now.”

**NOTE: Media representatives who wish to cover the Campaign for America’s Future’s “Take Back America” conference should pre-credential by contacting Jenn Ettinger at jettinger@ourfuture.org. Valid federal- or state-identification must be presented to pick-up credentials at the Media Check-in desk at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Updated event details are available at http://now2009.confabb.com/conferences/82401-americas-future-now/sessions.**

SOURCE Campaign for America’s Future