Nevada leaders from a diverse array of partner organizations, including the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, TRENDz, Nevada Immigrant Coalition and PLAN, comprised an enthusiastic delegation to the Pushback Convening. Together, we are excited to report on the concrete nuts-and-bolts that occurred for our movement in the Silver State as a result of Pushback’s historic event in Nevada. Thanks to the workshops and conversations with our peers from across the country, the Nevada State Alliance is moving forward on creating a 501C4 and deepening our work in the census and redistricting process! [Read more]

As one of the newest Pushback State Alliances, members were eager to find out more about the national network and to build relationships with similar grassroots organizations across the country at the national convening. For many of us, it was the first time experiencing and understanding the Pushback Network. We set goals and talked about expectations before the trip to Vegas and affirmed that we wanted to strengthen our own alliance, learn new approaches to organizing, connect and collaborate with other organizations, build relationships, and to share the work we do at a national level. After a long streak of rain and very gloomy days in MA, I think we were all hoping to get re-energized, feel inspired and looked forward to the sunny weather as well!

We arrived in Las Vegas, 18 members strong representing 4 organizations and were quickly struck by the lights, activity on the strip, and of course, the warm weather. By the time we got the hotel, we had already begun to deepen existing relationships and build new relationships within the alliance.

The conference began with a wave of excitement and anticipation. [Read more]

Pushback Network wants all y’all to sit back, relax, and watch this slideshow of photos related to Pushing Back, Moving Forward: PBN’s 2009 National Convening.

The photos do a wonderful job at capturing this powerful experience! They also serve as a reminder as to why we did this in the first place: to build relationships with organizations and individuals from across the country and hold discussions on how to build a national movement that stems from local and state work. Looking at these pictures is a visual representation of our power and potential as a network.

Be on the lookout for more report backs from the states as well as staff in the upcoming week!

The SWOP crew returned safe and sound from 3 days in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday. We attended the Pushback Network’s 2nd National Convening, “Pushing Back, Moving Forward”. A group of 10 staff, board, and members came together with the SAGE Council to represent the New Mexico Pushback State Alliance. We taught, learned, shared, and strategized with other community organizers from around the country. [Read more]

Sixteen Kentuckians with KFTC and our allies at KY Jobs With Justice have been in Nevada for the last several days at a big convening of the PUSHBACK Network.  Over 160 members and staff from PUSHBACK ally organizations gathered to make connections between our various grassroots base-building organizations so we can learn from eachother, particularly around voter empowerment campaigns to educate and mobilize voters in our respective states.

It’s an honor and a privilege to be here and to share with this group.  It’s about meeting people and really coming together to build the world we want to see. – Tayna Fogle, Kenton County

Workshops included pieces on the US Census, inter-generational organizing, integrating voter work with issue work, fundraising, green jobs, voter list management, and tax and fiscal policy.  There was also a strong emphasis on peer-to-peer learning – making connections between organizations and members to lead to more exchanges and learning in the future. [Read more]

Supporters of a public option in health care reform legislation rallied in western Las Vegas on Saturday.

Demonstrators, who gathered at the intersection of Fort Apache and Russell roads, called on lawmakers to pass sweeping reforms of what they characterized as a broken and inefficient heath care system.

“Nevada has one of the highest rates of uninsured in the country and that affects every Nevadan. It’s a tremendous drain and its a tremendously inefficient waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Assemblywoman Peggy Pierce, D-Las Vegas. “Everyone should be insured and everyone should have access to health care.”

The rally spotlighted Democrat-backed efforts to pass a comprehensive health care reform bill. House Democrats this month introduced a bill that would establish a public health insurance program to compete with private plans, and Senate Democrats are considering similar proposals. [Read more]

170 Grassroots Community Leaders and Activists from 47 organizations in 15 states will attend Pushing Back, Moving Forward, the Pushback Network National Convening from June 26 through June 28 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The convening is a public declaration that PBN is building a vibrant and powerful national alliance that can implement a vision for an authentic participatory democracy that achieves social justice for all people. Participants will weave skill- building sessions, hear from speakers and guests who are engaged in local and national work, and explore a collective vision for the progressive movement. [Read more]

Jackson, MS – “An accurate census count in 2010 is essential to proper allocation of federal grant dollars to local communities and is critical to the creation of fair political districts to ensure people of color have accountable representation at all levels of government,” notes Echo Director Leroy Johnson as he explains Echo’s 5-year census and redistricting program of work. [Read more]

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, along with Save Our Cumberland Mountains, the Sierra Club, and Tennessee Clean Water Network achieved a great victory last week. They wrested power away from Appolo Fuels, Inc, a deleterious cola company that operated mountaintop removal coal mines without permits. Due to their impeccable organizing, Appolo Fuels, Inc will pay $120,000 for the unlawful mining.

To read more about this impressive achievement, please read the Press Release from the Sierra Club. [Read more]