DNC to Host Constituency Summit in Nevada

August 23, 2007

Starting tomorrow, the Democratic National Committee will host the first joint American Majority Partnership Summit August 23-25 at the Paris/Bally's Hotels in Las Vegas, Nevada. The summit will bring together the five caucuses of the DNC's American Majority Partnership: Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA), Black, Hispanic, LGBT and Women, for three days of training, panel discussions, and workshops on mobilizing the Democratic Party's key constituencies through a coordinated ground game ahead of the 2008 presidential election.

DNC APIA Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong, Black Caucus Chair Virgie Rollins, Hispanic Caucus Chair Ramona Martinez, LGBT Caucus Chair Rick Stafford, and Women's Caucus Chair Mame Reiley will lead their respective caucuses in individual sessions, and DNC Chairman Howard Dean will address a general session on Saturday, August 25th. Other participants will include DNC Vice-Chair and Congressman Mike Honda (D-CA), United States Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Congresswoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Nevada Democratic Party Chair Jill Derby, and others. Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, will deliver the keynote address on Friday. The American Majority Partnership was created by DNC Chairman Howard Dean to elevate the Democratic Party's outreach to its core constituencies, and to maximize the coordination of the DNC's outreach across all of its departments.

Among the topics to be covered at the summit are the DNC's Faith in Action Initiative, which is working to build on common ground and strengthen partnerhips with the faith community around our shared values and priorities, the DNC's table to the ticket program, which encourages minorities to run for political office, and the DNC's new nationwide election protection survey. The election protection survey, announced last month, is canvassing every county in all 50 states to prevent voter disenfranchisement, which too often targets minorities, and to ensure every eligible voter can exercise his or her right to vote and have that vote counted. In addition, participants will hear from experts on key women's issues and their impact on 2008 races, as well as the importance of having women run for office, and on strengthening LGBT outreach to young voters, transgender voters, and people of color. The summit will also highlight the Nevada Caucus, which in 2008 will join New Hampshire, Iowa, and South Carolina as one of the earliest contests for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Who: DNC Chairman Howard Dean, DNC Caucus Chairs, and Democrats from across the country.
What: 2007 DNC American Majority Partnership Joint Summit
Where: Paris/Bally's Hotels, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: August 23-25, 2007

* For press credentials contact Aaron Resnick at resnicka@dnc.org or 202-863-8148.

The following schedule for planning purposes only reflects the open press components of the three day summit:

Thursday, August 23rd, 2007

Women's Caucus

Skyview 5, Bally's North Tower, 26th FL


10:00 AM
Women's Caucus Business Meeting
Mame Reiley, DNC Women's Caucus Chair

Update on DNC's Women's Program
Sharon Grosfeld, WLF Executive Director


11:00 AM
Why we need to train women to run for office
Introduction of Speaker: Mame Reiley, DNC Women's Caucus Chair
Erin Bilbray-Kohn, Executive Director, emergeNevada


11:30 AM
Women As Candidates for Political Office
Introduction of Speaker: Mame Reiley, DNC Women's Caucus Chair
Alice Germond, Secretary, Democratic National Committee

Joint Program

5:00 PM
Welcoming Remarks, Skyview 5
Alice Germond, DNC Secretary


5:15 PM
Briefing on Delegate Selection Process, Skyview 5
Mona Pasquil, DNC Member, CA & Member DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee
Rick Boylan, Former Director, DNC Office of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection


6:00 PM
National Convention & DNC Debate Update, Skyview 5
Reverend Leah Daughtry, CEO, 2008 DNC Democratic Convention


6:30 PM
Joint Summit Welcome Reception, Champagne 2, Paris Hotel, Casino Level
Hosts: Nevada State Democratic Party & Democratic National Committee
Introduction: Mark Brewer, DNC Vice Chair and President, Association of State Democratic Chairs
Program by Nevada State Democratic Party

Friday, August 24th, 2007

Joint Program

8:30 AM
Opening, Welcome and Acknowledgments
Champagne Ballroom, Paris Hotel, Casino Level

Introduction: Mame Reiley, DNC Women's Caucus Chair
Recognition of Special Guest(s): Senator Mike Gravel
Welcoming Remarks: Jill Derby, Chair, Nevada State Democratic Party*


12:30 PM
Joint Luncheon
Grand Ballroom, Bally's North Tower, Casino Level

Introduction: Governor Howard Dean, M.D., DNC Chairman
Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie, Presiding Prelate of the Thirteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church


AAPI Caucus

Bally's South Tower, 3rd Floor, Las Vegas Ballrooms 1-7

10:15 AM
Welcoming Remarks and Opening Keynote
Bel Leong-Hong, DNC APIACaucus Chair
Congressman Mike Honda, DNC Vice Chair


10:50 AM
Lessons Learned in 2004 and 2006: Strategies for 2008
Moderator: Betsy Kim, Deputy Director, DNC American Majority Partnership

2004 APIA Report Vida Benavides, Partner, Leadership Advantage, LLC and
Political & Community Affairs Strategist

2006 APIA Pilot Project Chung Seto, Former Executive Director, NY Democratic Party and Democratic Strategist and Advisor

Black Caucus

Bally's South Tower, 3rd FL, Las Vegas Ballrooms 1-7

4:30 PM
Promote and Protect: Election Protection
Introduction: Vernon Watkins, DNC Black Caucus Western Regional Director

Panel: Anna Martinez, Deputy Political Director, Voter Protection
Greg Moore, Executive Director, NAACP National Voter Fund


5:30 PM
The Politics of the Youth Vote: Securing our Future in 2008 & Beyond
Introduction: Johnnie Patton, DNC Black Caucus Secretary

Moderator: LaToia Jones, Executive Director, College Democrats of America

Panel: Ashanti Fayshel Gholar, DNC Youth Council Vice Chair
Marlon Marshall
Kenya Pierce, Deputy Outreach Director for the Nevada State Democratic Party
Jamal Simmons, President of New Future Communications
Marvin Steel, Congressman Lacy Clay

Hispanic Caucus

Bally's South Tower, 3rd FL, Las Vegas Ballrooms 1-7

2:00 PM
Connecting the Dots: How to Engage the Latino Youth and Implementing Effective Field and Media Strategy
Introduction: Joelle Martinez-Prutch, Political Consultant and Former Western Region Director for Communities United

Organization: Nevada Democratic Party
Panelist : Andres Ramirez

Organization: DNC
Panelist: Josh McConaha, Internet Director

Organization: College Democrats of America
Panelists: Shamil Rodriguez, Chair, College Democrats Hispanic Caucus
Alicia McClintock, Communications Director, College Democrats Hispanic Caucus


4:00 PM
Panel: The Nevada Caucus
"Nevada Caucus Challenges"
The following informative panel will focus on the significance of the upcoming Nevada Caucus.

Introduction: Albert Morales, Deputy Director, DNC American Majority Partnership

Panelists: Andres Ramirez, Nevada State Democratic Party
Catherine Cortez-Masto, Nevada State Attorney General Assembly Member Ruben Kihuen, Nevada Assembly
Assembly Member MoDenis, Nevada Assembly


5:00 PM
Guest Speaker Address
Introduction: Linda Chavez-Thompson, DNC Vice Chair
Closing Remarks Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator, New Jersey

LGBT Caucus

Bally's South Tower, 3rd FL, Las Vegas Ballrooms 1-7

2:15 PM
LGBT Political Landscape 2007 & 2008 - How LGBT Americans and issues will matter.
Briefing on key issues of importance to the LGBT community, including the Presidential Election, Congressional and State Elections, and Federal and State Legislation.

Moderators: Claire Lucas, Chair DNC GLLC & Raymond Buckley, NH State Chair, DNC Member

Panel: Marty Rouse, National Field Director, HRC
Alexander Robinson, CEO, National Black Justice Coalition
Dave Noble, Director of Public Policy, NGLTF
Chuck Wolfe, CEO, Victory Fund


3:30 PM
Diversity In 2008 and Beyond
A dialogue to examine ways State Parties and the LGBT community can engage and motivate LGBT African Americans, Hispanics, APIA, Native Americans, Youth and Women to participate in the Democratic Party at all levels.

Moderators: Laurie McBride & Steve Driscoll, Co-Chairs National Stonewall Democrats

Panel: Earl Fowlkes, CEO, International Federation of Black Prides
Council Member Evan Low, Campbell City, CACouncil
Toby Quaranta, Youth Outreach Coordinator, HRC
Kathleen Padilla, Co-President, OutFront!
Eddy Morales, Deputy Director, Center for Community Change

4:30 PM
Making a Difference - LGBT elected & appointed officials
How LGBT elected officials at the city, county and legislative level are making a
difference not only in the lives of LGBT Americans but as representatives of our larger communities.

Moderator: Chuck Wolfe, CEO, Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund

Panel: Delegate Heather R. Mizeur, Maryland General Assembly, DNC Member
Council Member Evan Low, City of Campbell, CACouncil
Representative Al McAffrey, Oklahoma House of Representatives
Assembly Member Dave Parks, Nevada Assembly

Saturday, August 25th, 2007

All events in the Champagne Ballroom, Paris Casino Level, unless otherwise indicated.

9:00 AM
Welcome and Acknowledgements
Bel Leong-Hong, DNC APIACaucus Chair
Virgie M. Rollins, DNC Black Caucus Chair


Keynote Address
Introduction: Andrew Tobias, DNC Treasurer
Governor Howard Dean, M.D., DNC Chairman


1:00 PM
Luncheon
Grand Ballroom, Bally's North Tower, Casino Level

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