Conference hosted by Lorain County Democratic Women’s Club in collaboration with State Representative Joe Miller (OH) and Democrats 101

Venue: Spitzer Conference Center - Lorain County Community College 1005 N Abbe road - Elyria OHIO 44035

PROGRAM

WELCOME

8:15

• Invocation by Charlesetta Brown

• Pledge of Allegiance by Avian Sharp

• Mistress of Ceremony address, Inez James, President, Lorain County Democratic Women’s Club

8:30-9   Opening speaker: J.M. Purvis, Author of Democrats 101 and The Creed

MORNING PANELS

9-9:45

• Main - Can you hear me now? Are rural counties relevant?

• Moderator: Paul Kendrick, author & Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising

• Panelists: 

• Joe Miller, Ohio State Representative

• Joe Rettof, RT Advisors

• Lorie Simpson, Chairwoman Miami County Democratic Party, Ohio

• Room 117 - Are religious values compatible with politics? 

• Moderator: Jacky Brown

• Panelists: 

• Bill Clinton, National leader, Unitarian Universalist Church, Pennsylvania

• Sue Lesch, former Norwalk Mayor and past Chair of the Huron County Democratic Party, Ohio

• Bishop Tony Minor, pastor and Manager Faith Communities Engagement at MetroHealth System

10-10:45

• Main  - What color is the Democratic Party?

• Moderator: Joel Arredondo, President of Lorain City Council

• Panelists: 

• Jordan Hawkins, Executive Director, Ohio House Democratic Caucus

• Paul Kendrick, Author & Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising

• Armando Telles, Founder Armando Telles Strategies

• Room 117 - Was Abe Lincoln a Democrat?: Where do we find our soul?

• Moderator: Ginger Packert, Senior Fellow, James Madison Memorial Fellowship Foundation

• Panelists:

• Paul Biber, History Professor

• Sean Brennan, Ohio State Representative

• Joe Miller, Ohio State Representative

11-11:45

• Main  - Democratic Values, MAGA, and Cultural War: Why do people vote?

• Moderator: Tony Giardini, former Chair of the Lorain County Democratic Party 

• Panelists: 

• Deb Ciamacca, Former Executive Director, Promote the vote PA

• Allison Russo, House Minority Leader, Ohio

• Kayla Lewis, Chief of Staff Innovation Ohio

• Room 117 - What do young people want? - Do young people really affect elections?

• Moderator: Bryan Watson, Michigan political activist

• Panelists: 

• Jordan Hawkins, Executive Director of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus

•  Sam Lawrence, Former Candidate, Ohio State Representative

• Nat Flanagan, United Rural Democrats

Check the profiles of the panelists and the moderators

LUNCH & KEYNOTE SPEAKER

12:00-1:00 - Keynote speaker - Allison Russo, House Minority Leader, Ohio

It will be followed by a ceremony recognizing the counties in Ohio that have adopted The Creed.

AFTERNOON PANELS

1:00-1:45

• Main - Is Ohio a red state?

• Moderator: Dennis Willard, President, Precision Media and Public Relations

• Panelists:

• Jeff Crossman, former Ohio State Representative and candidate for Attorney General for Ohio 

• David Pepper, former chair, Ohio Democratic Party and Author, Laboratories of Autocracy 

• Joe Rettoff, Partner, RT Advisors

• Room 117 - Are we more than a political party?

• Moderator: Paul Kendrick, Author & Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising

• Panelists: 

• Deb Ciamacca, Former Executive Director, Promote the vote PA

• J.M. Purvis, Author and Founder of Democrats 101

• Liz Walters, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party

2:00-2:45

• Main - 2022: A tale of three states: Ohio vs Michigan vs Pennsylvania

• Moderator: Dennis Willard, President, Precision Media and Public Relations

• Panelists: 

• Deb Ciamacca, Former Executive Director, Promote the vote PA

• Liz Walters, Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party

• Bryan Watson, Michigan political activist

• Room 117 - The Road to a Just society: what we need to get there

• Moderator: J.M. Purvis, Author and Founder of Democrats 101

• Panelists: 

• Paul Kendrick, Author & Executive Director of Rust Belt Rising

• Joe Rettof, Partner, RT Advisors

• Allison Russo, House Minority Leader, Ohio

CLOSING SPEAKER

3:00 - Main - Joe Miller, Ohio State Representative