In these tumultuous times, new forms of activism and political engagement are needed more than ever. Movements to expand the social safety net in response to the devastation of the coronavirus, along with the Black Lives Matter protests, are working both inside and outside of electoral politics, with on-the-ground activists often taking the lead. These new developments join long-standing efforts to reduce inequalities of all forms. In this urgent context, what kinds of coalitions are needed for broad-based change to occur, given the economic, political and social divides in the country? What are effective models—past and present—for pushing beyond traditional approaches? Learn from thinkers, scholars, politicians, and activists about ways to build coalitions across issues and lines of race, gender, class, and sexuality in order to create a more equal and democratic society.
Coalitional Politics for the Public Good: The Promising Road Ahead: commentary and additional resources from conference co-organizer Leslie McCall.
Presented with The Graduate Center, CUNY, and as part of The Promise and Perils of Democracy series supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Conference brochure and full panel descriptions.
PANEL 1 (1:30 – 2:45): THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF COALITIONS
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Moderator:
Dara Z. Strolovitch
Professor, Gender & Sexuality Studies
Princeton University
Panelists:
M. Allyn Brooks-LaSure
Executive Vice President for Communications
The Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
Alexander Hertel-Fernandez
Associate Professor, School for International and Public Affairs
Columbia University
Jennifer Richeson
Professor, Department of Psychology
Yale University
Sarah Smarsh
Journalist and author of Heartland
PANEL 2 (3:00 – 4:15): COALITIONS AND POLITICAL PARTIES
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Moderator:
John Mollenkopf
Professor, Department of Political Science
Director, Center for Urban Research
The Graduate Center, CUNY
Panelists:
Paul Frymer
Professor, Department of Politics
Director, Program in Law and Public Affairs
Princeton University
Andra Gillespie
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
Director, James Weldon Johnson Institute for the Study of Race and Difference
Emory University
Carlos Menchaca
New York City Council Member
Nelini Stamp
National Director of Strategy and Partnership
Working Families Party
PANEL 3 (4:30 – 5:45): COALITIONS AND SOCIAL MOVEMENTS
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Moderator:
Ruth Milkman
Professor, Department of Sociology and School of Labor and Urban Studies
The Graduate Center, CUNY
Panelists:
Hahrie Han
Professor, Department of Political Science
Director, The P3 Lab
Johns Hopkins University
Kelley Robinson
Vice President of Advocacy and Activism and Executive Director of the Action Fund
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Daniel Schlozman
Associate Professor, Department of Political Science
Johns Hopkins University
Reverend Liz Theoharis
Co-Chair, Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for a Moral Revival
Director, Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice
Union Theological Seminary