2024 Workshops Descriptions

Please note that this is a tentative schedule and may be subject to changes. All times are Eastern.

Thursday, August 15

3:00 – 4:15

Cracking the Class Ceiling and Escaping the Debt Trap

Sponsored by the Banking & Monetary Reform Committee
Presented by Rita Jacobs, Howard Switzer, Sue Peters

Speakers will include Howard Switzer, Rita Jacobs, Sue Peters, Mary Sanderson, Steve Showen, Kevin McCormick, and Eugene Woloszyn. All of the speakers wish to use traditional pronouns.

This workshop will include 7 speakers: One will play a short video called "Save the World: get real money!" and 6 will speak live on zoom with short presentations. The presentation will include ways to end the current crises in our economy, obstacles to improving the economy for the common good; some successful past programs that been beneficial in overcoming economic hardship, and general information about creation of public money for the common good.

Printed materials in the form of PDF Handouts will be provided. Questions will be answered, and a general discussion will follow the presentations.

Documents

BMRC Revive!
BMRC Money Pamphlet
Greening of the Dollar
NEED Act flyer

Finding Undiscovered Greens

Presented by Rita Maniotis, Barbara Dahlgren

We Greens are often a rag tag group of volunteers who fight to get people on the ballot only to discover that Green Candidates garner thousands upon thousands of votes! Who are all those Green voters and how do you get them to join the Green Party and build its ranks? In this workshop, we will explore techniques to draw in those voters as well as the disaffected who are looking for a political home.

The mighty, big tent of the Green Party can cover them all. The sea cucumber model of outreach is doomed to failure. An alternative model put in practice could seek out, attract, and build the critical mass needed in the Party to win seats on all levels of government.

This workshop will include an interactive Q & A session via kahoot.io (pin 2445313). It will be serious and silly simultaneously.

Grassroots Local Organizing

Presented by Chris Blankenhorn

As a grassroots party, the growth of the Green Party is dependent on the growth of our local chapters and base. In order to win seats at the federal level, we need to build our base and elect thousands to local office to build a foundation for larger impacts. Historically Green successes on the local and state level, have not been one off individual victories in isolation, but grown out strong organizing and relationships of trust in the community. The first Green Congressperson is not a question of can win, but where is the local organizing strong enough to run a serious and successful federal campaign. In order to overcome the money and institutional power weilded by the duopoly, we must activate and mobilize the masses and to do that, we must be organized, starting in our own communities and building outward.

This workshop explores organizing theory, strategy, and tactics for engaging in independent (of the major parties or major institutions) organizing in your community. While there are a lot of resources about community organizing, many are oriented around engagement with mainstream political outlets and/or structured in ways antithetical to Green values or effective grassroots organizing. This workshop will take from a wide range of proven organizing theory to provide frameworks from which local organizers can think about their community and strategize effective action, look at models and tools that can be picked up and modified to serve your locals needs, and provide real world examples of these strategies and tactics in action.

Social Mixer: Green Travel

This informal discussion is a chance for Greens to chat and mingle. Tell us about your last trip, your next trip, or your dream trip. Or maybe you have plans for a staycation. Do you have ethical and political concerns as a Green traveler? Let’s talk about it!

Hosted by Aly Schmidt from the Green Party of Texas

4:45 – 6:00

From Segregated Streets to Sustainable Solutions: Environmental Justice Through Local Activism

Sponsored by the National Black Caucus
Presented by Philena Farley, Marsha Coleman-Adebayo

The portion of Moses Cemetery that has been the victim of an active desecration was paved over this the 2nd week of May 2024. Decades after the county paved over another portion of Moses Cemetery to create a parking lot over the graves of our ancestors, they have decided to commit the same crime in broad daylight. This is Montgomery County, Maryland, in the 21st century.

This workshop will explore:

The history of environmental racism in the United States: We'll discuss how policies and practices have resulted in environmental burdens being placed on Black communities.
Black-led environmental justice movements: We'll highlight inspiring examples of local activism across the country, showcasing how these efforts are making a difference.
Building a Green future for all: We'll explore how to translate local actions into broader environmental change, including policy advocacy and community organizing.
Green Party Platform and Environmental Justice: We'll discuss how the Green Party platform aligns with the goals of environmental justice movements and identify opportunities for collaboration.
Proposal Amendment: https://gpus.org/other/platform-2017/2024-proposals/protect-and-preserve-african-african-american-cemeteries/

Workshop Outcomes:

By the end of the workshop, participants will:

Gain a deeper understanding of environmental racism and its impact on Black communities.
Learn about successful examples of Black-led environmental justice movements.
Develop strategies for taking action in their own communities.
Understand how the Green Party platform aligns with the goals of environmental justice.

Target Audience: This workshop is open to anyone interested in learning about environmental justice, taking action in their communities, and supporting the Green Party's vision for a sustainable future.

Materials:

Handouts with key information and resources.
Whiteboard and Screen sharing for brainstorming.

Additional Notes:

This interactive workshop explores the powerful connection between local activism by Black Americans and the pursuit of global environmental justice. We will delve into historical and contemporary cases where Black communities have fought against environmental racism and championed sustainable solutions in their neighborhoods.

Solidarity Economy: A Practical Way to Advance Green Party Values

Presented by Emily Kawano

The Solidarity Economy is an explicitly post-capitalist framework that seeks to transform the capitalist system and other authoritarian, state-dominated systems. This session will explore the core values of that framework:

Solidarity (cooperation, mutualism, reciprocity, sharing, etc.)
Participatory democracy (at work, in community, in governance, etc)
Equity in all dimensions (race, class, gender, etc.)
Sustainability
Pluralism – not a one-size-fits-all approach. A world in which many worlds fit.

We will explore concrete "non-reformist reforms" that are at the core of this approach: Public Banking, Participatory Budgeting, Worker-Owned Cooperatives, Community Land Trusts, Universal Basic Income.

In this session, Emily Kawano will describe concrete examples and describe ways folks can connect with this growing movement.

A Seat at the Table

Presented by Kalia Fitzgerald

Join an engaging discussion on how social media can be used as an advantage to make local actions have a national impact. Greens across the country can join together to identify where a Green candidate might be elected and concentrate a social media presence there which will in turn ensure other resources go towards the candidate as well. By doing so, this will help the Green Party get a Seat at the Table by acquiring a national voice and recognition.

Social Mixer: Green Pets

This informal discussion is a chance for Greens to chat and mingle. Whether you’ve got dogs, cats, chickens, or something more exotic, this is your chance to talk about your pets with fellow Greens. Introducing them via zoom is optional. Just for fun!

Hosted by Aly Schmidt from the Green Party of Texas

Friday, August 16

Noon – 1:15

What's the Matter with the United States?: A Review on the emerging fascism in the united states

Presented by AJ Reed

Fascism has been on the rise in the United States since the end of the Civil War and has been building ever since. Many grassroots efforts have developed to fend off fascism. Still, the growth of fascist behavior and rhetoric at an exponential rate since Trump's first presidential campaign and taking office set the bar when it comes to other fascists holding positions of power. Fascism has a global effect, as many international locations recognize the concept through experiencing it firsthand and seeing social movements gaining traction in respective locales.

Organizing social movements at the local level is how we can protect our communities from oppressive concepts like fascism. In this workshop, we review how fascism got into the United States and why developing or getting involved in antifascist social movements to fight back against fascism

Single Payer/Medicare for All is Still a Matter of Life & Debt! Why does it continue to die in the Duopoly

Presented by Gloria Mattera, Daniel Lugassy

The Green Party has always fought for “Healthcare as a Human Right” for EVERYONE living in the United States regardless of income, insurance status, and immigration status. Compared to other similar industrialized nations the US spends more, has poor healthcare outcomes, widespread socioeconomic disparities and doesn't cover everyone! We also have something other countries don’t have and that’s personal bankruptcy due to medical debt where you can lose your car, home, wages and savings. Despite public polls demonstrating a clear majority of voters across party lines in favor of a Medicare For All system, federal legislative efforts have been feeble. State level Single-payer movements have grown such as in California & New York but have stalled even with majority co-sponsorship and Democratic majorities in the House & Senate.

In this workshop we will empower you with the knowledge and talking points to engage in discussions on the current state/financial impact of US healthcare system; key features of the Green Party Single Payer/Medicare for All platform; and privatization efforts within the duopoly at State & Federal level. We will discuss strategies on how Green Party members can be active participants in grassroot, local, state, federal and other community groups advocacy efforts. Medicare for All legislation is still needed emergently but has died in the duopoly, together in the Green Party it can be revived.

Conflict with China: Marching to Disaster.

Sponsored by the Peace Action Committee
Presented by Haig Hovaness, Ryan Swan

The prospect of a war with China looms increasingly large, and this war would bring much greater harm to the U.S. than prior military misadventures. The presentation will describe the negative economic, military, and political consequences of a large-scale war between the U.S. and China over the status of Taiwan.

2024 Candidate Forum: State Level Candidates

Sponsored by the Coordinated Campaign Committee
Presented by Andy Ellis

Followed by a Q&A, moderator Andy Ellis will lead discussion on these topics:

Tell us about your race, what are you running for;
What is your why? What made you decide to run as a green;
What is your how? How does your campaign address the issues that you identify;
How do you translate the national green party values and platform to a local context;
How do you work with local movements in coalitions;
What organizing goals do you have for after the election;
What advice do you have for other state and local Green Party candidates

2:00 – 3:15

Proposals for Strategic Protest Tactics of illegal Israeli Settlements

Presented by Asa Gordon

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish settlers are embracing today their own perverted version of divinely ordained settler colonization of indigenous land, an extreme contemporary Jewish tributary of that mighty river of Euro-Christian domination flowing from the infamous Christian Doctrine of Discovery that was finally rejected this year by the pope, a racist doctrine that justified European settler colonization of indigenous peoples' land during the so-called Age of Discovery. The Age of Discovery or the Age of Exploration, part of the early modern period and largely overlapping with the Age of Sail, was a period from approximately the 15th century to the 17th century, during which seafarers from a number of European countries explored, colonized, and conquered regions across the globe.This presentation will focus on specific proposals for strategic protest tactics to redress the legacy of Israeli's neo-Doctrine of Discovery aka Divinely Ordained Settler Colonization.

Powerpoint Presentation

Our Vision of the Climate Crisis: Past, Present and Future

Sponsored by the Green Party Elders
Presented by Jim Becklund and Panel

As Elders, we know that it is unlikely that we will see the worst of the heat waves and storms that are being baked into the climate today. That is the unfortunate legacy for the youth.We may see the end of the coral reefs, the tipping point pushing the Amazon from forest to scrubland, a world in which only billionaires have a say in the halls of government, continents on fire, and the catastrophic die-off of the oceans’ phytoplankton. It is these disastrous possibilities, more probable by the day, that compel us to speak out as clearly and forcefully as we can.

This workshop will focus on the content of a position paper on the climate crisis written by the Green Party Elders. Participants will engage in discussion around the content. Key points from the discussion will be generated into a list of actionable recommendations for organizing local actions to educate communities on the state of our climate and on the implementation of practices to confront the climate crisis.

Electoral Reforms for an Inclusive Multi-Party Democracy

Presented by Howie Hawkins, Mike Feinstein, Rob Richie, Lynne Serpe

A 63% Gallup Poll majority wants a third major party. But the prevailing US single-member-district, winner-take-all election system produces an exclusionary two-party system. The Green Party will never become a third major party until we have fair ballot access, ranked choice voting for executive offices, and proportional representation in legislative bodies. These reforms will eliminate the spoiler problem and give the Green Party its fair share of representation and power that is proportional to its voter support.

This workshop will present four election system reforms that Greens should support to create an Inclusive Multi-Party Democracy:

the Fair Election Act for federal standards of reasonable ballot access and retention,
the Ranked Choice Voting in Presidential Elections Act,
the Fair Representation Act for proportional ranked choice voting for Congress,
the defense of party primaries and party rights from party-disenfranchising top-X multi-partisan primaries.

These reforms are Local Actions with Global Impacts. Creating a multi-party democracy in the US will give the Green Party its rightful proportional share of representation and power in government, which will radically change the politics of the US with major global impacts on climate action, peace, justice, human rights, and democracy.

List of readings and resources about the topics of our presentations:

Legislation:

Fair Election Act for federal standards of reasonable ballot access and retention: Fair Election Act, H.R.1582, 101st Congress (1989-1990), https://www.congress.gov/bill/101st-congress/house-bill/1582/text

Ranked Choice Voting in Presidential Elections Act: Appendix 2 in Rob Richie et al., "Toward a More Perfect Union: Integrating Ranked Choice Voting with the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact,” Harvard Law and Policy Review, Winter 2020, https://journals.law.harvard.edu/lpr/wp-content/uploads/sites/89/2021/08/HLP106.pdf

Fair Representation Act for proportional ranked choice voting for Congress: Fair Representation Act, Fair Representation Act, H.R.7740, 118th Congress (2023-2024), https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/7740/text

Defense of party primaries and party rights against party-disenfranchising top-X all-candidates primaries: Green Party Platform - June 16, 2024 Amendment - Opposition to Top Two, https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=1198

Readings:

Howie Hawkins, "Voting Rights Should Include the Right to Vote for Who You Want," CounterPunch, July 2, 2021, https://www.counterpunch.org/2021/07/02/voting-rights-should-include-the-right-to-vote-for-who-you-want/

Rob Richie, "We're taking ranked-choice voting national for presidential elections,” Fulcrum, May 13, 2024, https://thefulcrum.us/electoral-reforms/ranked-choice-voting-2668213013

Lynne Serpe, “A Roadmap to Ranked Choice Voting in New York City,” Fair Vote, May 2008, https://archive.fairvote.org/nycroadmap.pdf

Mike Feinstein, "Why California Should Learn from Maine and Not Alaska on Electoral Reform,” Independent Voter News, August 14, 2022, https://ivn.us/posts/why-california-should-learn-from-maine-and-not-alaska-on-electoral-reform

Resources:

Fair Vote: https://fairvote.org

Rank the Vote: https://rankthevote.us

Fair Vote, Fair Representation Act, https://fairvote.org/our-reforms/fair-representation-act/

Social Mixer: Green Energy

This informal discussion is a chance for Greens to chat and mingle. How do you define Green energy? What counts as sustainable? What do you think about claims that nuclear energy is green energy? Let’s talk about it!

Hosted by Philena Farley from the Green Party of Ohio

3:45 – 5:00

Keeping Free Speech Free, Know Your Rights

Sponsored by the Latinx Caucus
Presented by Anita Rios, Terry Lodge

As may of us are raising our voices and taking action in opposition to genocide, we are being labeled as "anti Semitic" and sometimes coming under scrutiny from school administrators or the government.

Our government has always viewed leftist political activity as a threat and has taken measures to silence this activity. Sometimes those measures have been abusive and against the very laws that our government seeks to protect. By understanding our free speech rights we can help to protect those rights.

This workshop will provide an overview of our free speech rights.

Ecosocialist Organizing for a Green Future

Presented by Chris Blankenhorn, Howie Hawkins

The Green Party is largely a part of activists. While this may be one of our strengths, it has also meant that the party has long struggled to establish a coherent identity and politics. That is not because of a lack of clear transformational poliitcs in the party. There has always been a strong socialist current in the party, Murray Bookchin's social ecology came up alongside and inspired many early party members, and since 2016 the GPUS has been an explicitly ecosocialist party. As ecosocialists we seek to establish an "eco-socialist economy based on large-scale green public works, municipalization, and workplace and community democracy." But how did we get here, what does that mean in practical terms, and how does our ecosocialist orientation come into play in our local organizing?

This workshop will provide a history of the left lineage that led to and diverged into Green Socialist thought, look at some key ecosocialist policy pieces related to the Green Party's key values, the foundational differences between ecosocialist policy and that of progressive capitalists, and discuss how ecosocialist ideas and tactics intersect with our movements and can be deployed in our communities. Through this workshop, we hope to make the case for why the Green Party's ecosocialist orientation is not just a label, but a fundamentally transformative and liberatory foundation that permeates through to Green strategy, organizing, and policy, Whether on a global scale or in our own community.

Laboratories of Democracy: Enabling Multi-Party Representation in State Legislatures

Presented by Caledon Myers

Proportional Representation has long been seen as the "gold standard" of electoral systems; among many American electoral reform advocates, it's primary appeal is it's ability to foster multiparty democracy. However, there's no straightforward path to adopting ProRep nationally, and in response to that challenge, a new generation of advocates is dedicating their time and energy to advancing reform at the state level instead. This workshop will:

1) Provide a comprehensive overview of what proportional representation is and how it leads to multiparty democracy.

2) Discuss the challenges with adopting proportional representation nationally, and why focusing on state legislatures may be the most promising route to reform.

3) Take a deeper look into emerging state-level efforts with a particular focus on the Green Party's partnership with ProRep Coalition in California.

4) Share which tools and tactics have been most useful for generating awareness and coalition-building, and explore what other states might be able to mirror the growing momentum for ProRep seen in California.

Learn more about proportional representation with these resources:

ProRepCoalition.org

Sister Democracies' Share an Inherited Flaw, The Fulcrum:
https://thefulcrum.us/electoral-reforms/proportional-representation-2668780408

Social Mixer: Green Food

This informal discussion is a chance for Greens to chat and mingle. Let’s talk about recipes, restaurants, the ethics and politics of food, and all things related to Green eating. Just for fun! Hosted by Tamar Yagar from the Green Party of Virginia

Sunday, August 18

11:00 – 12:15

Elections Database

Presented by Mike Feinstein

What is the GPUS Elections Database, what are its purposes, how does it serve the Green Party?

Green Party election trends, reports and analysis

Next steps for state parties and the National Committee

We are asking people to please forward any questions for the Q & A to Mike Feinstein at [email protected] ahead of Sunday's session.

12:30 – 1:45

Ballot Access

The Ballot Access Committee of the Green Party of the United States will present an overview of the state of ballot access for the 2024 Presidential Year and beyond. We will feature a brief report back on our committee and what it does and a report from our recent ballot access legal victory in Nevada by Margery Hanson.

We will also include a presentation on our new Legal Legislative/Lobby Working Group by Andy Ellis as well as strategies for the future of ballot access for our party and independent candidates followed by a Q&A session. We welcome valuable input from state representatives during this time.

2:00 – 5:00

Presidential Nominee Strategy Session (tentative)

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david doonan published this page in 2024 Green Party ANM / PNC 2024-07-08 00:54:29 -0400