MI Policy Summit An Unqualified Success

1. Whooooooooohooooooooo!
   
   After 10 months of planning and work, the Michigan Policy Summit was an unqualified success today. The diverse crowd came from every part of our state, from every background and from many different professions. Elected leaders mingled with business owners. Activists broke bread with health care professionals. Labor organizers strategized with teachers.
   
   Never before have such a broad cross section of the progressive community come together to work collectively on solving the problems faced by the State of Michigan. Our keynote speaker, Donna Brazile was overheard saying today that she was so impressed with the standing room only summit (we have 415 people show up) that she is going to encourage other states to do something just like it. There will be more press coming out on this Monday.
   
   Even though the main issues were education, health care and clean energy the place was filled with GLBT folks and our issues were unavoidably intertwined with the health of the state. It was wonderful. Triangle Foundation was a major sponsor and we were one of the original groups working to create this event back in December. I am so proud of what is happening with our statewide progressive movement.
   
   Here is just one recent article. And here are some highlights from Michigan Liberal.
   
   I am certain the event will be annual. Please stay tuned for more updates about the Summit.

Blazin' Brazile

I just finished Donna Brazile's book "Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics," and it reminded me why politics is so fascinating and frustrating at the same time.

I didn't know what to expect from the book. I knew it would have to do with the 2000 presidential campaign of Al Gore, which Brazile won, but it was more of an autobiography and a civics lesson all in one. I pretty much only read non-fiction. It is a bad habit but it is what interests me. I actually found myself on the edge of my seat, chewing my fingernails to the bone reading about election night in 2000 -- the night that changed politics for a generation.

The book was a simple, fast and interesting read. I never read books this fast, but I was enthralled. Reading the story of a young black woman who charted a course for herself and pursued it despite racism, condescension, ego, sexism and arrogance. I have encountered similar struggles as a young gay man and at times wonder where my activism will take me next. In the book, Brazile changed paths many times, choosing for herself who she would work for and on what terms. She didn't care about the exact salary or the exact location of the job. She just did it.

Sometimes I wonder if professional activists like myself have it in them to be nomads -- gypsies moving from campaign to campaign. I like to think of myself as nimble, maleable and open minded enough to take on anything, and then I remember the comfort of longevity, seniority and familiarity.

I just wanted to blog tonight after finishing her book because I was filled with a sense of rage at the way she was treated, and how poorly Democrats handled the Florida election and recount. I am mad at all the missed opportunities and countless people that have been pushed out of work they love because of bull-headedness and rigidity.

To accomplish what Donna Brazile did, as a black woman on the national level, leaves me in awe. I know no one is perfect and for every page of dazzling work I read about there were probably 2 pages of unwritten accounts of her temper. But I don't care tonight. Tonight I am inspired by what one person can do. Tonight I finished my journey with Donna and tucked her away on my shelf to visit later. I am certain we will hear more from her.

In fact, I learned today that Brazile will be the keynote speaker at the MI Policy Summit on Sept. 8th at the Lansing Center in Lansing, MI. I am so excited to meet her because she just seems like such a tortured and seasoned soul. I feel a kinship with her and would love to just pick her brain.

If you get a chance to read "Cooking with Grease" please do it. Never before has a story like this been told from a woman of color at that level in the war room. You will be glad she is a warrior for you and me. Her life goal of getting more people involved in voting, should be a task we all take on as well.