GET C-SPAN2 NOW: Realizing the Promise (an event I'm involved with) IS ON

[wndycty]

I have been talking about this on DU for a few days.

This is the GRASSROOTS meeting with Congress and members of the Obama administration. Please tune in and tell others to tune in! Valerie Jarrett and Melody Barnes are participating. I will check in afterwards. PLEASE KEEP THIS KICKED!

"Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy"

Washington – On Thursday, December 4, 2008, at 3 p.m. EST, the Center for Community Change and the Gamaliel Foundation are helping give voice to the grassroots with "Realizing the Promise: A Forum on Community, Faith and Democracy," at the Washington Hilton. The forum will provide grassroots leaders, everyday people, members of the new administration and Congress an opportunity to sit down and discuss issues facing America and the solutions our communities need. Among those participating are: Valerie Jarrett, recently appointed White House senior adviser and assistant to the president for intergovernmental relations and public liaison; Melody Barnes, the next director of the Domestic Policy Council at the White House; Representatives Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Luis Gutierrez (D-IL), Donna Edwards (D-MD), and John Sarbanes (D-MD); Arlene Holt Baker, executive vice president of the AFL-CIO; Gerald Hudson, international executive vice president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU); William McNary, president of USAction; and Janet Murguía, president and CEO of the National Council of La Raza.

Watch it online here:

http://www.cspan.org/Watch/C-SPAN2_wm.aspx

and here:

http://www.realizingthepromise.org

[firedupdem]

1. This is change I can believe in! Thanks for the heads up....

I'm tuning in!

[firedupdem]

2. kick!

This is great! I hope others are watching!

[wndycty]

3. Kick from my iPhone

Melody Barnes is on the next panel. Chris Hayes from The Nation and Clarence Page from the Chicago Tribune are in the audience.

[Diamonique]

4. I'm at work now, but I hope to catch a re-airing later, or maybe on the weekend.

[Withywindle]

5. Thanks for the heads-up and thanks for your hard work!

Luis Gutierrez is my Rep!

[elkston]

6. Juan Williams is moderating. Interesting.

[firedupdem]

7. Valerie is on now...this is really good. n/t

[political_Dem]

8. I saw it, wndycty.

I can tell you that I feel inspired by what was discussed. There isn't a hint of negativity there. ;) I liked what many of the panelists had to say. The end was especially exhilarating.

All in all, it was a fruitful talk about what should be done to push policies that will actually help every day people. That's where the change in the country should be--not in the corporations' pockets.

I thank you for pointing us to the event.

The only thing that bothered me is that Juan Williams chaired the event (Remembering some of his questionable stances on FOX and NPR).

[wndycty]

9. Thanks for watching and commenting. . .

. . .it get's frustrating watching folks complain about the incoming Obama administration then, when they have an opportunity to watch grassroots engage them and members of Congress no one says a peep.

[firedupdem]

10. thanks again for the heads up...

it was great to hear people from his administration talk about not forgetting the promises of the campaign and talking about what we can do at the grass roots level to be a part of the change to come. I really hope it's on again...I will record it. It was really good.

[wndycty]

11. We have uploaded the webstream (in 2 parts) at www.realizingthepromise.org

:kick:

[firedupdem]

12. Great!! Thanks! n/t

[political_Dem]

13. No problem. This is exactly what I wanted to see.

I desperately want grassroots organizations and the progressive movement to have a voice because the times call for it. If they are shut out the system the same old thing happens. That's why I view things critically and watchfully to see if "change" will truly happen. After what happened during Election Day, I don't want America to slip back into its old cynical aura that was a cornerstone of the Bush Presidency. That's why every move has tto be viewed with a little caution.

This is one time I want to see the "little people" win--not the usual suspects.

So, what you've showed us is a clue that there is something in the works to help the people. And that makes me very enthused that things aren't going to be the same.

Again, I thank you for all you've done. You deserves a thumbs up.

[wndycty]

14. The forum doesn't even begin to tell part of the story

Prior to the forum we had over 500 people participate in a health care action and another 500 people participate in a immigration reform action. Additionally, we had over 100 congressional visits.

[ellacott]

15. Thanks for posting this

I couldn't watch it yesterday but I'm definately going to watch it when I get home from work.

I'm glad it went well. :)