A Bread Advocacy Summit in (Cyber) Space

During normal times, travel to Washington for Bread's national advocacy summit is costly and time-consuming. This means that only one or two (or in good years five) people attend the Bread event. But these are not normal times. The advocacy summit is taking place online on June 8-9, which means no need for air travel or lodging arrangements. So more of us can participate.

Lobby Day 2019

Sure, we'll miss interactions with Bread folks from California, Colorado, Pennsylvania, New York and other states. That is a bummer! And there won't be a Lobby Day reception at the Rayburn building with delicious ors d'oeuvres and chance to connect directly with congressional representatives from both parties. And that visit to the Smithsonian museums will have to wait until other trips.

However, this year's advocacy summit offers some worthwhile features. Workshops are still on the agenda, including pre-recorded and livestreamed sessions, as well as select opportunities to chat in real-time with workshop moderators and engage in virtual advocacy actions.

For us in New Mexico, we hope to connect with the offices of Reps. Deb Haaland, Xochitl Torres-Small and Ben Ray Lujan and Sens. Tom Udall and Martin Heinrich. We's love to have participation from all three New Mexico congressional districts.

Here is the schedule.

Monday, June 8

10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. (MT)
Opening Message
Introduction of Clergy
Reflection and Prayer

11 a.m. - 11:45 p.m. (MT)
Healing the Divide

12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. (MT)
Advocating Alone Together

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. (MT)
Latino Leaders Convening

5:30 p.m. - 6:28 p.m. (MT)
Pan African Consultation

6:30 p.m. (MT)
Closing Message

Tuesday, June 9

10 a.m. - 10:40 p.m. (MT)
Opening Message
Introduction of Clergy
Reflection and Prayer

11 a.m. - 12:45 a.m. (MT)
Legislative Briefing and Q&A

11:45 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (MT)
Closing Message/Send Off

12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (MT)
Virtual Congressional Advocacy Action

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (MT)
Rick Steves Documentary Screening

5:30 p.m. - 6:15 p.m. (MT)
Q&A with Rick Steves

Now that you have the schedule, I urge you to consider participating. As of Friday, May 29, only two of us had registered. Since then, I heard from three others who said they would participate. Would you join us so we can have at least a dozen New Mexicans at the advocacy summit?

 Register Here