Netroots: Let's Write a Platform!
This year's Netroots Nation marks the launch of a bold experiment in participatory democracy: Together, the Netroots will craft their very own policy platform in advance of the Democratic Convention! Come join this working session, where we'll use MixedInk's web-based collaborative writing tool to begin putting our best ideas and language together. The effort will continue in the weeks following the conference - and the final, collectively written platform will be presented to the DNC before the convention in Denver. Come help kick off the process! Laptops encouraged (but not required).
An attorney, Steve Thibodeau is known as “wmtriallawyer” in the blogging world. In 2006, Steve was elected to the Maryland State Democratic Central Committee to represent Legislative District 33 of Anne Arundel County. He serves as treasurer for the Anne Arundel County Democratic Central Committee, as well as on the Rules Committee for the Maryland Democratic Party. He is also the former executive vice-president of Young Democrats of Maryland, and has prior work experience on Capitol Hill and as an editor for Jim Hightower, nationally-known progressive radio commentator. Steve currently resides in Annapolis with his wife, Jen, and cat, Ella.
David Stern is the co-founder of MixedInk, a web-based collaborative writing tool that empowers large groups of people to express collective opinions democratically. Previously, he was a consultant at a firm that helps small & medium enterprises and other institutions collaborate to promote local economic development. He was also a researcher at the Urban Institute, and he worked on community development issues at a small foundation. David holds a masters degree from the London School of Economics and an undergraduate degree from Cornell.
