We’re kicking off our Chicago Conversations series with a discussion about building & wielding left political power.

Chicago’s robust left social movements have re-shaped what’s possible in our city – making way for big progressive wins like expanded housing protections, wage increases, expanding public mental health infrastructure, and taking racist surveillance tools away from the police department.

Now with a mayor supported by Chicago’s labor and racial justice movements and a more progressive City Council than ever before, what does it look like for movements outside of City Hall to press for transformative change? How should social movements like the movement for Black lives, like the climate justice movement, like the labor movement continue to engage in elections? How do we relate to leftists and progressives in government? And what does it mean to have “political power” in a system that has so systematically excluded those at the margins and upheld the status quo?

We’ll be joined by Kennedy Bartley (United Working Families), Jung Yoon (Grassroots Collaborative & the People’s Unity Platform), and Jeanette Taylor (Alderwoman of Chicago’s 20th Ward). These conversations will be moderated by Asha Ransby-Sporn.

***For the safety of our speakers we ask that all attendees be masked in the event space during the program. Following the program we will have some light refreshments and space for more informal conversations.***

If you cannot join us in person you can register to attend the virtual livestream.