Last week, over 3,000 people from around the country and around the world came to Detroit to participate in Netroots Nation, the largest conference for progressive organizers in the world. Team Eclectablog was there to help, of course, but none so much as Anne Savage who was a staff photographer for the event. Anne took all of the photos for this piece (except for the one of her).
I was privileged to be the opening speaker for the conference, welcoming everyone to Michigan and to Detroit. I was, of course, contractually obligated to make reference to everyone’s built-in map of our state.
Before the conference got started, the Cheers and Jeers dinner took place at Vicente’s Cuban Cuisine. This annual dinner is hosted by Bill in Portland Maine, a front-page contributor at Daily Kos. It was organized by Neeta Lind (aka “Navajo”), shown here with Anne:
Following the Cheers and Jeers dinner, the Senate Democrats had a welcome party where a variety of my worlds collided. This photo includes, from left to right, Marcy Wheeler, former Ann Arborite, current Grand Rapidian, and super-talented blogger at Empty Wheel; Josh Pugh, Commmunications Director for the Michigan Democratic Party; Eclectablogger Amy Lynn Smith; Imani Gandy who I once wrote for at Angry Black Lady Chronicles; and Rachel Perrone, Communications Director RH Reality Check:
The next day the conference began, ending on Saturday. Here are photos taken throughout the three-day conference.
Senator Chuck Schumer
NEA president Lily Eskelsen García
Moral Mondays organizer and incredible speaker and activist Rev. William Barber
Karaoke is now a firmly-embedded Netroots Nation tradition. If you think you’ve seen karaoke, you haven’t really seen it unless you’ve been to Netroots Nation karaoke.
Shanelle Matthews from the ACLU of Northern California
My good friend Melissa Ryan of Emily’s List who knocked us all out of our seats with her performance of Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab”
Lead staff photographer Steve Stearns ready to hang himself with his own camera
Congressman and future U.S. Senator from Michigan Gary Peters
Elizabeth Warren who lit up the main stage and inspired a huge (and well-funded) effort during the conference to draft her to run for president
Elizabeth Warren and actor/activist Mark Ruffalo right before the Detroit water shut-offs protest march and rally
The beginning of the protest march and rally against water shut-offs in Detroit
Evan Sutton from the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
John Nichols from The Nation magazine at the Chairman’s Pub Quiz trivia contest
Writer and blogger David Dayen of Salon, The Financial Times, Firedoglake, and elsewhere
Michigan’s next governor, Democrat Mark Schauer
U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow from Michigan
Detroit activist and State Chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization Maureen D. Taylor
Rapper and community activist Jasiri X kicks off the Ignite keynote session
Hard working Netroots Nation staff photographers Ana Beatriz Cholo and Steve Stearns
Progressive media trainer and Netroots Nation Board member Joel Silberman
Comedian Lizz Winstead, emceeing the Ignite keynote session
Eclectablogger Amy Lynn Smith during her spellbinding Ignite speech
Feminist rock star Feminista Jones during her Ignite speech
Writer and activist Zerlina Maxwell during her Ignite presentation
Moi moderating a panel on the state takeover of public schools in Detroit
The all-star cast of our panel on the state takeover of public schools in Michigan. Left to right: Education activist and candidate for State House Sherry Gay Dagnogo, educator Brooke Harris, professor Tom Pedroni, and State House Representative and candidate for State Senate Ellen Lipton.
Educator and former EAA teacher Brooke Harris
Detroit from the 54th floor of the Renaissance Center
