The workshop will be an opportunity for organizations and individuals to share strategies for (and concerns about) using the 2008 election season advance the cause of Global Justice. Presenters will discuss the results of the 2006 midterm elections, and present models of organizing to take advantage of the electoral season, including bird-dogging in primary states, issue-oriented Get Out the Vote strategies, and working with PACs and progressive candidates.

While there will be several presenters, we hope that the event will engender lively discussion and may decide that small group breakout sessions are most appropriate.

Take away: Election season is a critical time to convince our current and would-be representatives to become leaders for progressive social change. If we play it right, it can be an opportunity to get our issues -- broadly defined -- in the the corporate media, and out the to very large audiences and to shift the national debate about what issues are significant to "the public."

Cross-cutting themes: The focus of the workshop will be more focused on strategies and tactics than on specific policy prescriptions, the presenting groups focus their efforts on economic inequality both within the United States and between the United States and other countries, immigration and immigrant's rights, privatization and deregulation -- but encourage participation from groups with different objectives or representing different peoples.

Language: Undecided as of yet whether it will be both English and Spanish or only in English. We have not yet explored budget for interpretation.

Handouts: In English and Spanish.

Challenges: There will be several different movements represented, but many of our challenges are the same -- the consolidation of political power among the rich, corporate influence over the political process, racial/ethnic/cultural discrimination manifested in critical public policies.

Concrete Alternatives: Specific policies will not be the focus of the event, but alternatives that the organizations participating are advocating include universal health care, comprehensive immigration reform, and fair trade policies.

Strategies: The purpose of this event will be to discuss strategies related to the electoral process, though the participants believe that these strategies cannot exist independent of strong grassroots organizing and coalition building.