Friday morning
Our opening session will give activists the opportunity to share accomplishments, possibilities and challenges around independent politics as those who are new to independent politics hear about increasing democracy from the bottom up!

Friday mid-morning
Voting – Does it Help the Left? – Perspectives from Younger Activists
There are major problems with the two-party, corporate-dominated electoral system in the US. What does this mean as far as strategies for empowerment and movement-building? Hear from activists who came of age in the last 10-15 years discuss if/how they see electoral activity as part of a sound strategy to promote progressive causes and increase left movement building.

Friday afternoon
Lessons from Local, State and National Electoral Efforts--Insights From Women
This panel and workshop will highlight the experiences of women who have run for office, connecting different social justice issues through their campaigns while building an effective power base for ongoing organizing and work for change at the local, state or national levels. There will be a panel of women from across the country (Madison WI, Oakland CA., Durham NC, & Boston, MA) who have run for office. Conversations that follow the panel and activities during the workshop will focus on how we build bottom up power of women leaders and, therefore, all those in need of fundamental change.

Additional Friday and Saturday morning Democracy Track Workshops

What is Local Democracy? Building from the Bottom Up for Political Power http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2042

'A little revolution from time to time' . . . Democratizing the Constitution for social change in the U.S.A. http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2244

Elections for Radicals http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2352

Creating a “Third Party” That Will Make the State Our Own http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/3213

Saturday afternoon
IPPN Strategic Discussion and Organizing Plan
Based on shared lessons, insights and opportunities during the Forum and IPPN Summit we will work together with participants to translate these concepts into organizing strategies. Our process will highlight strategies, structures and methods that can be successfully employed, measured, and revised for use in near and long term to enhance local, regional and national organizing efforts.

CC themes: There is no real democracy in the US electoral system. IPPN helps groups work to build political power outside of mainstream institutions, with a consciousness of the centrality of race and oppression, US corporate rule, and international alliances for justice. Power to make needed changes that can benefit all the cross cutting themes is currently held by a corporate dominated two party system. Until the US has an electoral system and process that can be trusted; one that is clean and truly representative, reforms to mitigate or transform the effects of imperialism and oppression to build a movement for justice can only go so far. The Independent Progressive Politics Network’s panel presentations and workshops will provide discussion, debate and sharing of perspectives concerning electoral work in the US and its relationship to organizing and movement building.

We will attempt to engage participants in all forms known to be effective for adult learners. Panel presentations will include role plays and be followed with group discussions, small group exercises will include art and music and we will use visual media as well as written materials. The sessions will be in English. Interpretaion may be provided based on registrations and interest from participants for whom English is not a first language. 20-25% of our materials will be translated into Spanish.

Challenge: There is no realistic vehicle or consistent practice to build political power from the bottom up in the US. Electoral activity continues to decline among low income and working class populations and with good cause as the electoral process is dominated by corporate money, illegal practices and flagrant disregard for common people. Political power CAN be created from the bottom up but not before serious reforms occur in the election structure and process, including an end to the dependence many so called progressive voters have on the two party system.

Proposed alternatives/strategies: Using grassroots organizing and leadership development that acknowledges the key role those living in conditions caused by oppression and corporate domination have in leading the struggle for transformation and establishing justice. We want to see key reforms in the current electoral structure and system that result in truly clean elections that can be trusted with expanded forms of democracy; one in which we have truly representative leaders who know and can respond to the needs of their constituents.

Other needs: We request coordination of timing of workshops with other Pro-Democracy workshops IPPN is co-sponsoring as part of our National Summit.

We recommend considering these workshops to compliment IPPN's Summit workshops

Don't be Afraid to Vote for Third Parties http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/3176
Anarchy for the Future: Progressive Anti-Authoritarianism http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2764,
Participatory Budgeting: Community Control Over Public Money http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2040
Voter Organizing for People Who Hate Voting http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2268
Elections for Radicals http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2352
A Democracy Movement for the U.S.A. http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2582
Globalization and the 2008 Elections: How can we make Global Justice a major campaign issue? http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2709

“Got Democracy? – Changing Felon Disenfranchisement Laws to Change Power” http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2815

Pushing Back: Building Electoral Power among Low-Income Communities of Color http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2951

Race, Property and the Commons http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/1678
Uniting for Democracy: Unifying And Growing the Voting Integrity Movement http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/3002
Through the Lens of Culture (3-part workshop)http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/3801,
Defining Racism: Different Perspectives; Shared Goals http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2727

“Holding the United States accountable for racial discrimination against Native Americans http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/5170

Undoing Racism/Community Organizing: An Anti Racist Solution for Building a Movement toward Social Transformation and Equity http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2750
Why Don't They Play by the Rules - The Story Behind Immigration http://www.ussf2007.org/en/node/2676