This Wednesday: The Statehouse Futures Summit!
Hi friends and followers of DPN!
Wanted to send one more reminder that Statehouse Futures — our annual virtual summit of transformative policy and strategy for state leaders — is back this coming Wednesday, July 31st! Join hundreds of statehouse leaders — electeds, staff, wonks, advocates, and journalists — to be energized and illuminated by panels from Run for Something Action Fund (RFS), the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center (BISC), and the Democracy Policy Network (DPN) on topics ranging housing affordability to the 2024 ballot measure landscape to reviving local journalism.
At the summit, DPN is putting together three exciting sessions:
- A keynote from Jason Wiener, a leader in employee ownership policy in Colorado, which has led the state on policy and programming supporting worker cooperatives and other forms of employee-owned enterprises
- A panel on public support for local journalism with researchers and advocates working to pioneer inspiring models of supporting the re-cultivation of local news ecosystems.
- A panel on housing affordability and justice with Sherry Taylor (Durham Community Land Trustees), Paul Williams (Center for Public Enterprise), and Ora Prochovnick (Eviction Defense Collaborative) on promising models for addressing the housing crisis, including social housing, tenant right to counsel, and community land trusts.
Other panels at the summit include:
Public Duty, Private Danger: Ensuring Safety for Candidates and Elected Officials: 8 in 10 local officials experience harassment, threats, & violence. Protecting candidates & elected officials is crucial. They must balance public accessibility with safety. Join our panel for insights and strategies from firsthand experiences to prioritize safety effectively. Presented by: Kristina Shelton (WI) & Tiffanie Harrison (TX)
The Will of the People: the 2024 Ballot Measure Landscape: Learn how advocates nationwide are using direct democracy to push policies directly to voters. Join us to discuss key ballot measures and how you can get involved in these critical campaigns. Presented by: Quentin Savwoir (BISC) & Marsha Donat (BISC)
How to Pitch a Newsroom During a Busy Presidential Election Year: Learn to navigate election year noise and effectively engage reporters. Discover the state of newsrooms, craft your reporter shortlist, refine compelling story angles, and master effective communication strategies for media outreach. Presented by: Caroline Sánchez-Avakian (BISC)
Taking a Ride on the Pollercoaster: The Issues That Matter in 2024, and How to Talk About Them: Inflation, abortion access, voting rights, & public safety are top issues for voters. How we discuss them matters. Explore polling and message testing trends at national and state levels to clarify how to effectively talk about these and other key issues in public discourse. Presented by: Danielle Deiseroth (Data for Progress)
