What’s Next for the Populist Movement in a Moment of Populist Upsurge

A broad cross section of progressive and community leaders and activists will gather in Chicago beginning Friday night June 17 through Sunday June 19 for a major forum on next steps for the populist upsurge that has characterized much of the 2016 Presidential race.

Led by an all-star lineup of prominent national leaders, more than 3,000 people are expected to join the three-day People’s Summit, which is intended to step up the momentum and movement building associated with the populist moment and the broad grassroots organizing on progressive issues that has been underway with less media fanfare around the nation for years.

The Summit will also bring together many of the leaders and organizations who have participated in the Bernie Sanders campaign, as well as other community leaders and activists who have worked for social, political, and economic change for years.

What: People’s Summit

When: June 17-19, McCormick Place, Chicago

How to Get Involved: Via http://www.thepeoplessummit.org or info@thepeoplessumit.org

Twitter: @pplsummit

Program begins 7 p.m. Friday night, June 17. Continues through 12 noon, Sunday, June 19.

(Press Registration – Lakeside Ballroom, McCormick Place. Best Parking – Parking Lot C)

Live streaming will be available for a number of the sessions, as indicated, all times CST. The live stream will be posted at http://www.thepeoplessummit.org/livestream

Sen. Sanders is one of the invited but not confirmed speakers.

Confirmed speakers and participants include:

• Naomi Klein, environmental/social activist, author, “This Changes Everything”
• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, veteran, Meritorious Service Medal awardee
• RoseAnn DeMoro, Executive Director, National Nurses United
• Former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner
• Rosario Dawson, actress/activist
• Gaby Hoffman, actress/activist
• Josh Fox, documentary filmmaker, showing his new film “How to Love Everything Climate Can’t Change”
• Frances Fox Piven, author, activist
• Heather McGee, President, Demos
• Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia
• Juan Gonzalez, co-host Democracy Now, author, writer, “Harvest of Empire”
• Jim Hightower, American populist
• Shaun King, New York Daily News columnist, Occupy activist
• Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President, Hip-Hop Caucus
• George Goehl, Co-Director, People’s Action
• Tobita Chow, chair, People’s Lobby
• Becky Bond, former Executive Director CREDO, director digital organizing Sanders campaign
• Michael Moore, filmmaker, via Skype

A Vision of Change

The Summit opens Friday night, June 17. Presenters include Naomi Klein, RoseAnn DeMoro, and Juan Gonzalez outlining visions of social justice and continuing the progressive movement building going forward to the November election and beyond. Live stream, 7 p.m..

On Saturday morning, leaders of social justice and environmental organizations will discuss how collective actions have already led to a number of significant victories for social change. Presenters include Dante Barry from A Million Hoodies: Movement for Justice, Linda Sarsour founder of MPOWER, and Mark Schlosberg, Food and Water Action Fund. Live stream, 8:30 a.m..

That will be followed by additional presentations and discussions of how to continue the momentum to strengthen the unity of the broad diversity of movements around the country. Live stream, 9:30 a.m..

Early Saturday afternoon, Congress member Tulsi Gabbard, former Ohio State Sen. Nina Turner, Cook County Commissioner Jesus “Chuy” Garcia, and John Nichols, national correspondent for The Nation, will participate in a discussion of formation of a “people’s agenda” that can help unify many movement activists. Live stream, 1 p.m.

Saturday’s program will also feature workshops on a broad range of topics including energy democracy and climate justice; racial and economic justice; ending voter suppression, mass incarceration, and deportations; the push for guaranteed healthcare through Medicare for all; student actions to raise wages, not tuition; and building a movement while interacting with an increasingly concentrated corporate media. Live stream of workshops on the Media and the Moment and Building Independent Political Power, 2 p.m., and an economic critique of the writings of columnist Paul Krugman, 4 p.m.

An additional highlight Saturday evening, June 18, will feature a “People’s Speak” of dramatic theatrical readings by celebrated actors including Rosario Dawson, Gaby Hoffman, Wallace Shawn, and Kendrick Sampson.

Sunday morning, the Summit concludes with a celebration of Juneteenth, an anniversary of the abolition of slavery, and discussions of how to bring actions back to local communities. Live stream, 8:30 a.m.

Additionally, the Summit will feature special screenings of several prominent documentary films, including Josh Fox’s “How to Love Everything Climate Can’t Change” and Michael Moore’s “Where To Invade Next” with Moore introducing his film via Skype.

Summit endorsers/participants include National Nurses United, Peoples Action, Presente, People for Bernie, United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), 350.0rg, Food and Water Action Fund, MillionHoodies: Movement for Justice, Physicians for a National Health Program, Iowa Citizens for Community Involvement Fund, Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Progressive Maryland, the United States Student Association, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), African Americans for Bernie, Working Families Party, HealthCare Now, and Friends of the Earth.