News Release

Progressives Gather to Take Election Back From Corporate Super PACs

Take Back the American Dream Conference is June 18 to 20

Washington, DC -- Join progressive activists from across the country, five months before the critical 2012 elections, to energize the movement and take the election back from corporate super PACS at the "Take Back the American Dream” conference June 18 to 20 in Washington, DC.

Join Paul Krugman, Nobel Prize-winning economist and NY Times columnist; Rebuild the Dream’s Van Jones, Rep. Keith Ellison, Sen. Sherrod Brown, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, MSNBC’s Alex Wagner and Melissa Harris-Perry, Katrina Vanden Heuvel of the Nation, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter DeFazio, Rep. Chris Murphy, Rep. Barney Frank, and Rep. John Garamendi at the conference.

The Take Back the American Dream conference is at the Washington Hilton Hotel at 1919 Connecticut Ave. NW in Washington, DC.

For complete schedule go to http://www.ourfuture.org/conference/agenda

Conference highlights:
Monday June 18

10:30 2012 and Beyond: Victory Necessary, Not Sufficient

Robert L. Borosage, Campaign for America’s Future
Van Jones, Rebuild the Dream
Melissa Harris-Perry, host of MSNBC's "Melissa Harris-Perry”

1:45 An Agenda to Win in November and Prevent a Train Wreck
Rep. Jan Schakowsky
Molly Katchpole, Rebuild the Dream
Damon Silvers, AFL-CIO

3:15 98 to 2: Raising Taxes to Invest in America and Promote Fairness
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
Guy D. Molyneux, Partner & Senior VP, Peter D. Hart Research
Ellen Nissenbaum, Senior VP, Center on Budget & Policy Priorities

7:00PM Gala Dinner to Honor Progressive Champions:

A gala awards dinner will honor The Rev. Jesse Jackson, publisher Katrina vanden Heuvel of The Nation and the Occupy Wall Street movement. There will be presentations by noted progressive commentators Barbara Ehrenreich, Melissa Harris-Perry and Jim Hightower.

Tuesday June 19

8:30 AM 99 Elect: The 2012 Dream Candidates
Sen. Sherrod Brown
Gov. Howard Dean
Rep. Keith Ellison

10:00 Overturning Citizens United: A Movement Moment
Rep. Keith Ellison
MD State Senator Jamie Raskin

Inequality: Stopping the Cancer Eating at the American Dream
Algernon Austin, Economic Policy Institute
Vineeta Anand, AFL-CIO
Rep. Peter DeFazio

12:45PM LUNCHEON PLENARY:
Paul Krugman: End This Depression NOW!:
Interviewed by Chris Hayes, MSNBC TV host

2:00PM Cutting Pentagon Spending
Rep. Barney Frank

Making it in America
Rep. Chris Murphy
Rep. John Garamendi

3:30PM Taking on Wall Street
NY Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
Interviewed by Alex Wagner of MSNBC

4:30PM PLENARY: Fight Inequality, Revive Democracy and Prosperity
Sen. Bernie Sanders
Rep. Raul Grijalva

Wed. June 20

9:00AM PLENARY: Reversing the Right’s Offensive on Rights
Sandra Fluke
Barbara Arnwine

10:30- Polling: Talking American – And Winning
Drew Westen, Westen Strategies LLC
Alexis McGill Johnson

11:45AM Announce results of the Democracy Corps/Take Back the American Dream Straw Poll
Then: Van Jones
Fight to Win Power – With a Vision for Change

1:00 PM Program Concludes – Head out to action
1:30 PM Progressive activists to protest outside of Crossroads GPS -- Karl Rove’s Super PAC, 1401 New York Avenue NW in Washington, DC

The Campaign for America's Future (CAF) is a center for ideas and action that works to build an enduring majority for progressive change. The Campaign advances a progressive economic agenda and a vision of the future that works for the many, not simply the few. The Campaign is leading the fight for America's priorities – for good jobs and a sustainable economy, and for strengthening the safety net.

For more information or to register visit: www.ourfuture.org/takeback. Or register on site. One day registration is available on site.

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