[ThinkSouth] Unifying the Progressive Agenda
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John Quinterno
Oct 28, 2005, 4:40:40 PM10/28/05
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"If the South does better," remarked the Center for a Better South's John Simpkins, "America will do better."
Simpkins offered this observation to some 180 individuals gathered in Raleigh for the conference "Progress NC 2005: Strategies for Unifying and Advancing a Progressive Agenda" held on October 27, 2005. Sponsored by the NC Justice Center and the A.J. Fletcher Foundation, the event gathered together progressives from across North Carolina to develop the collaborative efforts and skills needed to articulate and advance plausible progressive alternatives to current public policies.
Judge Tom Ross, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, opened the day by explaining how the current political climate values the pursuit of individual interest over the pursuit of the common good. A panel discussion then evaluated the impact that this shift has had on the nation, region and state. John Simpkins reflected on the state of the South; Joel Rogers of the Center on Wisconsin Strategies assessed the national condition; and Rep. Jennifer Weiss of the NC House of Representatives discussed the challenges specific to North Carolina.
The rest of the day was devoted to helping progressives develop the messages, coalitions, public policies and advocacy skills needed to champion policies that can help all North Carolinians prosper. For example, Elaine Mejia of the NC Budget and Tax Center mapped out the features of a tax system that would lead to fair, adequate and stable taxation.
The highlight of the day was the keynote address given by Rev. William Barber of Goldsboro, the newly elected president of the NC Conference of the NAACP.
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Posted by John Quinterno to ThinkSouth at 10/28/2005 03:29:00 PM
Simpkins offered this observation to some 180 individuals gathered in Raleigh for the conference "Progress NC 2005: Strategies for Unifying and Advancing a Progressive Agenda" held on October 27, 2005. Sponsored by the NC Justice Center and the A.J. Fletcher Foundation, the event gathered together progressives from across North Carolina to develop the collaborative efforts and skills needed to articulate and advance plausible progressive alternatives to current public policies.
Judge Tom Ross, executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation, opened the day by explaining how the current political climate values the pursuit of individual interest over the pursuit of the common good. A panel discussion then evaluated the impact that this shift has had on the nation, region and state. John Simpkins reflected on the state of the South; Joel Rogers of the Center on Wisconsin Strategies assessed the national condition; and Rep. Jennifer Weiss of the NC House of Representatives discussed the challenges specific to North Carolina.
The rest of the day was devoted to helping progressives develop the messages, coalitions, public policies and advocacy skills needed to champion policies that can help all North Carolinians prosper. For example, Elaine Mejia of the NC Budget and Tax Center mapped out the features of a tax system that would lead to fair, adequate and stable taxation.
The highlight of the day was the keynote address given by Rev. William Barber of Goldsboro, the newly elected president of the NC Conference of the NAACP.
"In every age, we need those who want to see justice at the center," Barber said. "We still need it today. We still need those who will object to the way things are. There must be those who say, 'Yes, we now have our beautiful cities with their towering skyscrapers and overarching coliseums. But underneath the shadows of these structures, there still lives another North Carolina and even another America."
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Posted by John Quinterno to ThinkSouth at 10/28/2005 03:29:00 PM
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