2011 YEO National Convening

YEO Network National Convening: Unite, Rebuild, Inspire

YEO National Convening- June 2-5

The YEO Network 2011 National Convening was held in Washington, DC from June 2-5. Our biggest and most exciting National Convening to date, the weekend was filled with valuable in-depth sessions, top notch keynotes, and excellent skills building opportunities. It was a mentally and physically rejuvenating event aimed at helping young electeds network with like-minded colleagues, build in-depth personal and professional skills, and share innovative policy ideas, best practices, and resources…not to mention having a little fun in the process.

Here’s a brief recap of the 2011 National Convening:

The first day of the weekend was dedicated to pre-convening training opportunities so YEOs with specific interests could get additional support. Women had the opportunity to share a space dedicated to their specific needs at the Women’s Caucus Pre-Conference, while YEOs new to the Network attended an Orientation Pre-Conference to learn more about PFAW Foundation, the YEO Network, and millennial generation issues. Also, electeds that attended the Foreclosure and Neighborhood Stabilization Policy Academy earlier this year had a follow-up session with a strategic partner, the Center for Responsible Lending, at the Foreclosure Pre-Conference.

YEOs at National Convening The official Convening activities commenced with an Opening Reception and Awards Dinner, featuring keynote speakers Congressman Keith Ellison and Congressman Jared Polis. We also honored our YEOs throughout the evening, including the Barbara Jordan Leadership Award Nominees, Councilman Melvin Carter, who was the Barbara Jordan Honoree, and Wisconsin State Senator Chris Larson, who received the President’s Award of Distinction.

Over the rest of the weekend, the YEOs participated in three days of intense workshops and plenary sessions. Issue sessions ranged from strategies to build financial access and economic opportunity, analysis of crime and juvenile justice issues, discussions about state implementation of the Affordable Care Act, surveys of the immigration reform landscape, strategies to fend off attacks on women’s choice, to a roundtable discussion on filling the cracks in the education system. In addition, skills sessions helped YEOs develop strategies for new media usage, interview skills, coalition building, and fundraising for higher office. And with a focus on becoming the best elected officials possible, a plenary session on “leading from your progressive values” helped YEOs better identify their core values and how to incorporate them into their work.

The caliber of keynote speakers that came to meet with the young electeds confirmed the potential and power of the YEO Network. SEIU President Mary Kay Henry captivated the audience with her honesty and inspiration, and Lake Research Partners’ Celinda Lake gave the YEOs the tools they needed to go back to their communities with strong messaging and research behind them. Senior Obama Administration officials also lent their time to the YEOs, with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan sitting down for a Q&A and Senior Advisor to the President David Plouffe capping off his speech with an invitation for YEOs to attend a reception at the White House later in June.