Nation's No. 1 Populist, Leading Radio Commentator to Headline Major Progressive Summit
Second annual event brings communities together to work toward major goals
LANSING -- Organizers for the second annual Michigan Policy Summit announced today that popular political activist and author Jim Hightower - dubbed the nation? No. 1 populist - and top author, journalist and radio commentator Amy Goodman will be the featured speakers at the summit on Saturday, May 10 in Lansing.
The event, which this year has the theme "Rebuilding Michigan," is being organized by Michigan's progressive community and will be held at the Lansing Center from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration begins at 8 a.m. The press and the public are invited to attend.
"Michigan's progressive community is honored to have speakers of Jim Hightower and Amy Goodman's caliber take part in our second annual summit," said Lynn Jondahl, Executive Director of the Michigan Prospect and former gubernatorial candidate. "We look forward to gaining insight from these extremely talented activists, thinkers and political commentators on ways to get Michigan and nation back on the right track and to make sure government is working for people and not just the powerful special interests."
The Michigan Policy Summit is an annual gathering of the state's progressive community aimed at bringing labor, environment, social justice and other progressive groups together to move Michigan forward. The summit will provide forums on key issues as well as opportunities for leaders and activists to network, plan and share best practices.
"I'm excited to be a part of this summit, which brings together the vast majority of the public who have been silenced and shut out of a democracy that is supposed to work for them, not the special interests and the corporate lobbyists," Hightower said, "I'm always excited to be with people who stand up to the Powers-that-be on behalf of the Powers-that-ought-to-be, and that's the everyday working families of this nation."
"Michigan's progressive community is truly Standing Up to the Madness - at the forefront nationally when it comes to grassroots organizing, on issues like health care, education and fighting pollution," Goodman said. "This progressive summit's collaboration among labor, environmental, education and many others shows that democracy is alive in Michigan. We need a media that covers gatherings like this, that highlight the work of ordinary heroes in these extraordinary times."
More on the speakers
Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, and author of the forthcoming book, "Swim Against The Current: Even A Dead Fish Can Go With The Flow."
Goodman is an author, tireless investigative journalist and radio commentator on Democracy Now!, the program reaches 30 million homes via satellite tv, and another 20 million homes plus via cable. She has exposed a wide range of injustices, crimes and wrongdoing both nationally and across the globe. She is also an author.
How to attend
Those wishing to attend the Michigan Progressive Policy Summit should contact Brandon White at 248-763-3385 or bqwhite@gmail.com to register online. Make checks payable to Michigan Prospect. Payments can be mailed to 2248 Mt. Hope Rd., Suite 101, Okemos, MI 48864 or fax it to 517.381.1964
Parking at the Lansing Center is $5 and directions can be found by clicking here.