This session will explore the various manner in which hip hop generation journalists, writers, poets, performing artists, community organizers, filmmakers and television personalities have utilized Twitter's 140 characters and educated, informed, infuriated and organized thousands of persons in an online medium, with real-world application, thereby bringing 360 degrees of knowledge full circle, son!

Whether it's attacking immigrant rights, attempting to nullify health care reform, banning gay marriage or promoting anti-abortion policy, for decades the right wing has systematically used state legislation, resolutions and ballot initiatives to move their broader national political message. Meanwhile, the filibuster and compromises at the federal level have made national policy an increasingly inefficient vehicle for clear ideological messaging—especially for progressives. This panel will explore how progressive state legislators, issue advocates and the netroots can use state campaigns not only to frame policy and political battles in individual states, but also to drive a national progressive message by increasing coordination across state lines. It will highlight recent high-profile fights in the states around immigration and health care as well as progressive messaging successes on issues like tax and budget policy and unemployment insurance reform. State lawmakers will join advocates, activists and state bloggers to talk about how best to work together in 2010, 2011 and beyond to build the progressive movement and drive a national message through action in the states.

This panel will examine how progressives are working to move California from being a failed state to a progressive laboratory for change, consider the opportunities and possibilities for fixing what has become broken and assess the obstacles the state still faces as we seek to restore the California Dream. California's crisis continues, but we now have an opportunity to assess what needs to be done to provide solutions that meet the needs of all Californians. We'll bring together progressive leaders from across the state to talk about the budget crisis, jobs and economic recovery, immigration reform and how activists in the netroots can help build coalitions with other groups and elected officials to produce change.

The financial reform bill was but a first step. It created a consumer financial protection bureau, but left the big banks more concentrated than ever, with the financial casino open for gambling. The bankers are getting million dollar bonuses, but foreclosures continue at record levels, small businesses can't get loans, payday lenders are still gouging workers. We'll explore next round of citizen protests, criminal prosecutions, and congressional policy reforms needed to make Wall Street once more the servant, not the master of the real economy.

On May 10th, President Obama nominated Solicitor General Elena Kagan to the U.S. Supreme Court, his second opportunity to name a Justice to the High Court. This panel will examine a range of questions about her nomination, such as: What qualifications and experience will General Kagan bring to the Court? What impact will General Kagan have on the balance of the Court and future rulings? Panelists will also discuss how activists can help shed a spotlight on the Court’s repeated rulings in favor of big business at the expense of everyday.

Media consolidation, combined with the rise of digital media platforms, has created a huge void in the urban and hip-hop journalism space. While several of the biggest outlets serving the demographic have closed their doors, others have transformed from the generation's most critical voices into market-driven, fashion/male-focused publications that place little value on hard-hitting journalism or intellectual discourse. This panel will discuss ways to infuse the urban blogosphere with progressive values and a sense of civic stewardship.

We'll discuss how progressives can reshape the debate around Afghanistan and change our policies from unending war to returning Afghanistan to the Afghan people in a safe, secure, sustainable way.

In late January 2010, almost everyone thought health care reform and the public option was dead. Then Reps. Jared Polis (D-CO) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME) released a letter calling on the Senate to pass the public option through reconciliation—with Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO) doing the same in the same in the Senate. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Democracy for America and CREDO Mobile organized tens of thousands of activists on the outside while Polis, Pingree and Bennet worked the phones on the inside—leading to massive movement in the House and Senate for the public option, bringing it "back from the dead." Find out how this inside-outside strategy worked and how it can be replicated in the future. Also, hear about the new "P Street Project"—the progressive alternative to K Street.

This discussion of lessons learned in 2009 and 2010 about engaging with Congress to advance progressive policies will include emphasis on the Congressional Progressive Caucus and draw contrast with the Blue Dogs. We'll have a frank discussion of how House progressives choose issues to organize around; factors that increase or decrease the likelihood of successful organizing around an issue; the mechanics of moving policy through Congress, and where key leverage points for the Netroots are; case studies on healthcare reform and Afghanistan; House-Senate dynamics and what changes can be made to push progressive ideas more successfully onto the President's desk.

Reacting to draconian immigration laws proposed in 2006, Latinos and immigrants increased their political power by organizing, marching, becoming citizens in record numbers and voting for progressive candidates who promised to reform our broken immigration laws. Latino voters were credited with flipping four states for Obama in 2008. With this in mind, how do we sustain a progressive majority in 2010 and beyond? This session will examine the opportunities, demographics and political power of the Latino and immigrant vote and what is needed to sustain a progressive majority.