Upcoming Event

Defending the Public, Our Families, and Our Communities

John ConyersSaturday, April 9, 2011, 3:00–5:30pm
Chicago Temple
 77 West Washington, Chicago

Featuring:

  • U.S. Rep. John Conyers, Jr., (D-MI) - Sponsor of HR870, “Humphrey-Hawkins 21st Century Full Employment and Training Act"
    Jesus G. Garcia -     Cook County Commissioner (7th District)

Join progressive leaders and activists to discuss strategies for defending our rights to earn, learn, and live in dignity. In the wake of the all-out attack against workers’ rights and against programs that help our communities, it is more important than ever to come together across movements and push to realize a vision of FDR’s "Second Bill of Rights." Panelists will discuss a roadmap to fight back for progressive priorities including ending wars and militarism; promoting workers’ rights; and developing economic policies that promote jobs and communities instead of corporate profits. 

Find out More about the April 9, 2011 Event (including other panelists and event sponsors)



WPA Workers, Chicago, Illinois
by John Stenvall

About the New New Deal Project

In the aftermath of the 2008 Presidential elections and in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the great Depression, several other Chicago area organizations embarked on a series of events and meetings with the long-term goal of promoting a wide-ranging multi-issue discussion of progressive solutions to the economic crisis and its root causes. The goal of the New New Project is to help bring together groups and individuals who are engaged in struggles for peace, equality, social and economic justice in order to collectively build a grassroots movement for comprehensive change.

The title “A New New Deal” was to emphasize the most important lessons learned during the Great Depression and the New Deal era of 1930s. Then, as now, the election of a liberal and sympathetic administration was not enough to consolidate the gains of the progressive movement, nor was it enough to push through fundamental changes necessary to deal with the economic crisis. However, the political opening, combined with the heightened urgency for action to deal with the economic and social crises, helped cultivate a renaissance of labor and community organizing which led to deep reforms and big progressive changes.

For more information
please contact:

 Bill Barclay: 708-386-1371
Or email:
newnewdeal@gmail.com
 

Now, faced with an analogous situation, our job is to contribute to building a united, effective, and influential progressive popular movement. That requires each of us to work on strengthening our ties with other elements of the broader progressive movement, working to build long- term relationships and alliances. Only such alliances, mobilizing from below, can defend and extend whatever progressive inclinations might emerge from within the administration, and resist administration tendencies to capitulate to the center-right forces. Political events since the 2008 elections have highlighted the need for a united progressive movement that can give voice to the issues and concerns of the large majority of our people who are not represented by the right wing populism that has captured the media’s attention.
The Second Bill of Rights:

THE PEOPLE SHALL BE GUARANTEED THE RIGHT TO EARN, LEARN, AND LIVE

In his January 11, 1944, State of the Union address, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt called for a Second Bill of Rights “under which a new basis of security and prosperity can be established for all – regardless of station, race, or creed.” Sixty-six years later, this vision of a United States in which no member of society goes “ill-fed, ill-clothed, ill-housed and insecure” has yet to be realized. The New New Deal Project, believes that this updated version of the Second Bill of Rights provides the basis for broad unity among progressive movements and a vision of a more just and peaceful society.

Download the Second Bill of Rights

Past Events and Activities

February 20, 2010 Panel:  "Obama Year One - Taking Stock: Where Are We and Where Do We Go From Here?"

Panelists and Speakers:

  • Elce Redmond – South Austin Coalition Community Council and  Chicago Jobs with Justice

  • Amy B. Dean – Co-Author of the book A New New Deal: How Regional Activism Will Reshape the American Labor Movement (available for cash purchase or singing at the event)

  • Tom Balanoff – President of the Service Employees International Union Illinois Council

  • Judith LeBlanc – Field Organizer for Peace Action; Former National Co-Chair of United for Peace and Justice

  • Mel Rothenberg – Chicago Political Economy Group; Chicago Jobs with Justice

  • Dr. Anne Scheetz -- Physicians for a National Health Program

  • Cristobal Cavazos – Immigrant Solidarity DuPage

Find out More about the February 20 Event

 

The June 13, 2009 Organizing Conference

On June 13, 2009 the New New Deal Project brought together more than 100 politically committed individuals from more than 40 organizations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area. The conference was organized around four core issues: housing and foreclosures, labor organizing and the Employee Free Choice Act, health care and the single payer movement, and militarism and the federal budget. The goals of the conference were two-fold: first, to move beyond education about the current economic crisis to developing proposals for action and, second, by bringing together progressive activists working in the four different areas to explore possibilities of joint activities that would link these causes. The links below provide additional material about the conference, including the original call for participation, the conference report, report on action items proposed by the multi-issue breakout session, and videos of presentations during the conference (as well as related New New Deal events).

Watch this short TV program about the New New Deal Project and the June 13 event (28 mins).
A New New Deal - Creating a Progressive Movement for Change
http://vimeo.com/5077476

A New New Deal - Creating a Progressive Movement for Change
http://vimeo.com/5077476

"Public Perspective with Kevin McDermott (May 2009) - Interview with Bill Barclay from the Chicago Political Economy Group and Bamshad Mobasher from Oak Park Coalition for Truth and Justice. The interview covers joint efforts by Chicago area activists to build a movement from below responding to the economic crisis by addressing worker's rights, the right to health care, stemming foreclosures, ending the wars and diverting military spending to human needs. More information about the "New New Deal" project is available at: opctj.org/NewNewDeal "

Additional Resources and Related Events

Video / Resource Page for the January 2009 "New New Deal" Panel -  View video segments from this successful panel, held on Jan. 25, 2009 to discuss progressive solutions to the unprecedented domestic and global crises we all face. The panel was one of the first events that helped launch the New New Project.  Panelists discussed policy recommendations that can bring about real change. Topics included: the economy, green energy, health care, and foreign policy. The Panel was moderated by James Thindwa, Executive Director of Chicago Jobs with Justice, and featured Dr. Quentin Young, National Coordinator of Physicians for a National Health Program, Robin Rich, of the United Steel Workers, Bill Barclay, economist and member of the Chicago Political Economy Group; and Bamshad Mobasher, DePaul University professor and a national steering committee member of United for Peace and Justice. The following resources related to the panel are available.