WASHINGTON - June 18 - Five organizations have collaborated to organize a “progressive strategy dialogue” at the United States Social Forum in Detroit, Michigan. The dialogue will be one of 50 People’s Movement Assemblies during the USSF. It will take place on Thursday afternoon, June 24th, from 1 to 5:30 pm in Cobo Hall, room W2-67.

The dialogue was initiated by the Independent Progressive Politics Network, which has organized similar dialogues a number of times over the past decade. Co-sponsors are the Green Party of the United States, League of Revolutionaries for a New America, Progressive Democrats of America and the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy.

Three major issues will be addressed:

-what can be done to stimulate independent, grassroots activism around key issues like unemployment, the housing crisis, racial justice, the climate crisis, corporate control of elections, immigrant rights, war and empire and universal health care;

-an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party as far as the building of a popular progressive movement; and,

-how to develop a “united progressives” network that brings together Greens and other third party activists, progressive Democrats, and labor, community and issue-based organizers into an on-going, independent, progressive alternative to our corporate-dominated political system.

Among those participating in this dialogue:

-Tim Carpenter, executive director, Progressive Democrats of America

-David Cobb, leader of the Program on Corporations, Law and Democracy, Green Party 2004 Presidential candidate

-Sanda Everette, co-chair of the Green Party of the United States

-Ted Glick, co-founder of the Climate Crisis Coalition

-Kevin Gray, South Carolina community organizer and author

-Logan Martinez, leader of National Jobs for All

-Brent McMillan, executive director, Green Party of the United States

-Sandra Rivers, education activist, former Harlem, N.Y. school board member

-Jerome Scott, leader of the League of Revolutionaries for a New America

-Laura Wells, Green Party of California gubernatorial candidate

All USSF attendees are welcome to take part in this dialogue.