Netroots Inter(nation)al: Working Together Across the Pond for Progressive Change
Grassroots organizing has reached new levels not just in the U.S. but across the world, as activists work to counter conservative governments pushing austerity reforms across the board. Despite differing environments, cultures and experiences, we all face ugly and common enemies--corporate special interests with unending financial resources, procedural hurdles and a media climate that all too often rewards destructive politics. How are activists in other countries leveraging social media and other online tools for political action? What lessons can we share from each of our efforts? And how can we work together to support the work of our progressive allies across world?
Julielyn Gibbons has rapidly emerged as an internationally respected pioneer in social media and Internet strategies with over a decade of experience and winning results on both electoral and issue campaigns.
Originally from Michigan, Julielyn has led strategic communications & advocacy campaigns for the MI Democratic Party, Progress Michigan, various ballot initiatives and was the first blogger credentialed in the Michigan Capitol.
Nationally, Julielyn served as a senior fellow with the New Organizing Institute, targeted voter turnout among Latinos in Arizona following SB 1070, and worked with a variety of LGBT and labor organizations on various campaigns & initiatives. She continues to serve as a national trainer with Democracy For America.
Julielyn was a featured presenter and trainer at the first-ever Netroots UK in 2011 and served as a consultant to several groups & campaigns across the UK and Europe.
Currently, Julielyn serves as the New Media Director for We Are The People Michigan, a grassroots coalition fighting the statewide budget attacks on the working and middle class.
John Aravosis is a Washington, DC-based writer and political consultant, and the editor of the AMERICAblog family of sites, including AMERICAblog News (americablog.com), AMERICAblog Gay (gay.americablog.com) and AMERICAblog Elections: The Right's Field (elections.americablog.com). Since 1995, John has been one of the country’s top political Internet experts. He has a law degree and master in foreign service from Georgetown, and has worked in the US Senate, the World Bank, the Children’s Defense Fund, and as a stringer for the Economist. John speaks five languages and has advised international NGOs on Internet advocacy in Asia, Africa and Europe.
John has also done a good deal of gay rights advocacy for nearly two decades now, earning him a place among the “Out 100” and as one of the Advocate's fifty “most powerful gay men and women in America.” Among his other accomplishments, he stopped Dr. Laura, bought Wesley Clark’s cell phone records for $89 (which forced Congress to ban the practice), and he’s the reason the world knows that Mary Cheney is a lesbian and Jeff Gannon was a hooker. John lives in Washington, DC and can be reached at john@americablog.com or on Twitter: @aravosis @AMERICAblog @AMERICAblogGay @AblogElections
Editor of Liberal Conspiracy - the UK's most popular progressive-left blog. I've been blogging for six years and write regularly for Guardian.co.uk.
I co-organised Netroots UK and am interested in building a longer-term infrastructure for left activists in the UK, with links across the world of course.
Developed and organized "Netroots Sweden", a network with over 700 progressive bloggers, during 2006-2010. Editor and author of the book Netroots - a movement of progressive bloggers that sets the agenda (published 2010 in swedish, more information at http://boken.netroots.se).
Currently working as head of strategic advocacy through digital media at Unionen, the largest trade union in Sweden.
Matthew McGregor is a senior strategist for Blue State Digital, focusing on the company’s political, advocacy and international work, based in BSD's Washington DC office.
Matthew joined BSD in 2008 and was the London Director for two years. In this role he oversaw all UK and European client programs and local business development. He also served as BSD’s London-based spokesperson.
He has over ten years experience in political campaigns, both in party political and advocacy campaigning, including for trade unions and charities, in Europe and the United States. In 2007, Matthew managed MP Jon Cruddas’ campaign for the deputy leadership of the Labour Party, which won several accolades in the UK, including Channel 4’s Political Campaign of the Year.
