Building Movement for Racial Equity and Universal Health.
Soaring rates of uninsured, widening racial and ethnic disparities in health, and the possibility of new national leadership are new openings for universal health care. But who will be covered and how will we define health? We will explore how the Northeast can push the limits of the politically possible for racial equity and immigrant coverage in emerging state and national health plans.

For more info on the Health Care Track click here .

Voter Engagement Campaigns that Challenge the System.
Leaders will gather from across the region to share lessons and strategies for running grassroots civic engagement campaigns that advance a new vision and build strong communities for change. Going beyond traditional, episodic efforts that communicate with voters just before elections, this track will grapple with how we can work with fluctuating resources to build sustainable power on the ground for the long term.

For more info on the Voter Engagement Track click here .

Candidates of Color: Leadership for Change.

This track builds on themes that emerged from ongoing regional discussions and recent focus groups attended by aspiring candidates, community leaders and elected officials of color in MA, NH and RI. Leaders of color from across the region will gather to identify and share pro-active strategies and resources needed to address common barriers and challenges in running for and serving in elected office. Overwhelmingly, the two largest challenges identified in all three states were access to money and power and motivating infrequent voters to get to the polls. Other challenges include the need to bridge divisions within communities of color, work more effectively across race lines, devote more resources to cultivating leaders of color as trainers and campaign managers, and support candidates as they consider whether and when to run. The morning discussion will focus on sharing local and regional lessons from the field and identifying specific resources and strategies needed to build a strong and vibrant regional infrastructure. In the afternoon, proposals from the morning session will be carried forward. Leaders of color and white allies will join in a discussion of how we can work together more effectively to create the resources, programs and collaborations we need to strengthen our support for aspiring candidates of color. Participants will meet in the large group as well as by state and/or constituent groups to map out concrete action steps that will enhance our capacity to mentor, recruit, train, coach, support and sustain leaders of color in campaign, elected and appointed positions.

For more info on the Candidates of Color Track click here .