WASHINGTON - January 7 - Progressive Democrats of America, recently named the country’s Most Valuable Political Group of 2008, will celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama by hosting its Annual Grassroots Leadership Conference at the University of the District of Columbia on Jan. 17 and 18.

The two-day conference will feature seminars and discussions involving PDA’s national leadership, allied organizations and elected officials. Sessions will focus on refining the group’s goals and objectives for 2009 and giving attendees organizing tools to use in working toward those goals in their local areas.

“We’re going to build on efforts and themes developed during our Progressive Central events at the Democratic Convention in Denver last August,” said PDA National Director Tim Carpenter, who will be moderating two panels, on how to improve PDA in 2009 and on building the PDA community. Also featured at the conference will be Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Barbara Lee, and Reps. Jim McGovern, Raul Grijalva and Eric Massa, along with PDA leaders and allies such as PDA board member Steve Cobble of the Institute for Policy Studies, Col. Anne Wright (ret.), Michael Lighty of the California Nurses Association, Katie Robbins of Healthcare NOW!, and many others.

Carpenter describes PDA's "inside/outside" strategy: "PDA works with peace and justice movements and organizations in the grass roots and with progressives in Congress to represent the Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party. We're working for solutions most Democrats and most Americans know we need, like ending the war and redirecting funding to provide for human needs.”

The Progressive Central events in Denver drew scores of activists and delegates as well as speakers who included the Rev. Jesse Jackson along with Reps. John Conyers, Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, Raul Grijalva, Dennis Kucinich, Robert Wexler, Jim McGovern, and Keith Ellison, plus Majority Leader Rep. Steny Hoyer. Also appearing were PDA board members Jim Hightower, Tom Hayden, Jim Zogby, Medea Benjamin, Jodie Evans, and Board Chair Mimi Kennedy.

PDA is gearing up for more growth and increased impact during 2009. Reviving the progressive tradition of the Democratic Party, PDA is working to advance peace, secure passage of single-payer healthcare for all, ensure clean and transparent elections, enforce environmental protection, and promote fair trade. A federal PAC, PDA plans to expand its support for progressive House and Senate candidates into the 2010 midterm election cycle.

Progressive Democrats of America is one of the nation’s fastest-growing grassroots political organizations; it has active chapters in 45 states. More information and conference registration are available at: http://pdamerica.org