Momentum Conference

The Momentum Conference is an "invitational forum" organized by the Tides Foundation "where some of the most creative minds in the progressive movement come together to challenge, inspire and energize each other."

July 2008 Conference

Speakers

Evening Presentations

• John Edwards, former U.S. senator and former vice-presidential candidate, in conversation with David Brancaccio, host of PBS's NOW

Neighborhood Plenary

• Maria Teresa Petersen, founder and executive director of Voto Latino
• Gihan Perera, co-founder and executive director of the Miami Workers Center and co-founder of the Right to the City
• Tanya Harris, lead organizer for New Orleans ACORN
• Angelica Salas, co-director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
• Peter Leyden, director of the New Politics Institute

Democracy Plenary

• Alex Gibney, Oscar-winning director and producer of Taxi to the Dark Side and No End in Sight
• Drew Westen, professor of psychology at Emory University and author of The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation
• Debra Bowen, California's 30th Secretary of State
• Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core
• Lawrence Lessig, founder of the Center for Internet and Society at Stanford Law School

Health Plenary

• Robert Ross, president and CEO of The California Endowment
• Jacob Hacker, Resident Fellow of the Institution for Social and Policy Studies at Yale University and a fellow at the New America Foundation
• Stephen Lewis, co-director of AIDS-Free World and former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
• Joel Solomon, president of Renewal Partners seed capital firm and the Endswell Foundation and founding board member of Tides Canada
• America Bracho, director and founder of Latino Health Access

Money Plenary

• Rob Johnson, former top portfolio manager for George Soros's Quantum Fund
• Melissa Lynn Bradley, president and founder of New Capitalist and a member of Tides Board of Directors
• Jon Hiatt, General Counsel of the AFL-CIO
• Tom Steyer, co-founder of the OneCalifornia Bank and Foundation
• Premal Shah, president of Kiva

Wars Plenary

• Kirk Johnson, founder of The List Project to Resettle Iraqi Allies
• Deborah Small, executive director and founder of Break the Chains
• Firoze Manji, co-director of pan-African social change advocacy group Fahamu
• Heidi Lehmann, senior technical advisor on gender-based violence of the International Rescue Committee
• Daniel Levy, Senior Fellow and Director of the Prospects for Peace Initiative at The Century Foundation and a Senior Fellow and Director of the Middle East Initiative at the New America Foundation

Media Plenary

• Robert 'Rosie' Rosenthal, executive director of the Center for Investigative Reporting
• Jennifer L. Pozner, widely published journalist, media critic and commentator and founder of Women in Media and News
• Markos 'Kos' Moulitsas, founder and main author of the Daily Kos weblog
• Robert Greenwald, founder of Brave New Films with Jim Miller, executive director of Brave New Foundation
• Colin Finlay, renowned documentary photographer and six-time Picture of the Year Award winner

The Earth Plenary

• Matthew Lewis, consultant for Design to Win
• Mary Anne Hitt, executive director of Appalachian Voices
• Ken Cook, co-founder of the Environmental Working Group
• Tzeporah Berman, co-founder of Forest Ethics
• Annie Leonard, creator of “Story of Stuff”
• Shivon Robinsong, co-founder of the Hollyhock Leadership Institute and co-director of socially engaged community ensemble Gettin’ Higher Choir

2006 Conference

The 2006 conference was sponsored by:

• Tides Foundation
• Changemakers
• Funding Exchange
• Resource Generation
• Third Wave Foundation
• Threshold Foundation
• Women Donors Network

Speakers

• Piper Anderson - Blackout Arts Collective
• Barbara Arnwine - Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Deepak Bhargava - Center for Community Change
• Stephen Bradberry - New Orleans ACORN
• David Brancaccio - NOW on PBS
• Mary Ann Burris - Ticah - Trust for Indigenous Culture and Health
• Alli Chagi-Starr - Reclaiming the Future project of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
• Laurie David - Stop Global Warming
• Antonio Diaz - PODER
• Mallika Dutt - Breakthrough
• Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins - Working Partnerships USA
• Kirstin Falk - New Progressive Coalition
• Allison Fine - Momentum: Explosion Social Change in the Connected Age
• David Foster - United Steelworkers District 11
• Marlene Fried - Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program at Hampshire College
• Omar Freilla - Green Worker Cooperatives
• Michel Gelobter - Redefining Progress
• Jason Negron Gonzales - Movement Generation
• Eric Gorovitz - Alliance for Justice
• Jean Hardisty - Political Research Associates
• Silvia Henriquez - National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health
• Alan Jenkins - Opportunity Agenda
• Greg Jobin-Leeds - Schott Foundation for Public Education
• Bill T. Jones - Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company
• Van Jones - Ella Baker Center for Human Rights
• Harold Katzmair - FAS.research
• Martin Kearns - Green Media Toolshed
• Daisy Khan - ASMA Society
• Kalpana Krishnamurthy - Western States Center
• Ann Leonard - GAIA
• Alicia Lueras Maldenado - Soltari, Inc.
• Bradley McCallum - Conjunction Arts
• Kisha Montgomery - Creative Soul
• Gus Newport - Vanguard Foundation
• Gihan Perera - Miami Workers Center
• Gibran Rivera - Public Policy Institute
• Dorothy Roberts - Northwestern University School of Law
• Alexia Salvatierra - Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice
• Eveline Shen - Asian Communities for Reproductive Justice
• Gina M. Solomon - Natural Resources Defense Council
• Paul Sonn - Brennan Center for Justice
• Chet Tchozewski - Global Greengrants Fund
• Maya Wiley - Center for Social Inclusion