Netroots Nation, after a delaying bringing its conference to Providence by one year to show support for The Westin Providence workers in their now-resolved labor dispute, will be in town from June 7 to 10 next year.
Netroots Nation expects to draw 3,000 visitors to Providence next summer for its seventh annual conference of liberal bloggers and activists.
Past conferences have drawn high-profile speakers including Democratic legislators and presidential candidates. Early-bird tickets are already available for the 2012 event at $195 each.
Raven Brooks, executive director of Netroots Nation, reflects on the local feel of each conference and how the event stays on top of technological trends.
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PBN: What plans are underway for Netroots Nation 2012?
BROOKS: Right now we’re assessing feedback from Netroots Nation 2011 and beginning a strategic planning process for the coming year. Later this month some of the team will be heading to Providence for a scouting trip. We’ll tour the facilities to make planning notes, check out local attractions and nightlife for social events and meet some of the local organizers.
PBN: How does the conference adapt each year to keep up with changing technology and new trends?
BROOKS: We’re digital natives so it’s pretty easy to adapt. The challenge is picking tools and technologies that will enhance the experience of attendees and those following from home. For example, in 2011 we added a mobile application to help people create personalized schedules and exchange contact information with other attendees. However, we’ve often turned away flashy new products because they didn’t clearly enhance the experience for attendees.
PBN: How is each year’s conference influenced by its location?
BROOKS: The influence is considerable. Each year our panels weave in local and regional issues as well as local voices. Elected officials from the region are generally featured in programming as much as possible. We try and seek out the best culture the city has to offer for social events around the convention (we’re particularly excited about WaterFire). And finally, a large number of attendees come from the convention city and the surrounding region. That directly influences the conversations had in the hallways with attendees from around the world.
PBN: Netroots Nation included noncompete clauses in its contracts with the Rhode Island Convention Center and two Providence hotels, the Westin and the Biltmore, to prevent conservative conference RightOnline from holding its event in the same location at the same time. How will this affect next year’s conference?
BROOKS: We try to create the best experience possible for our attendees, and taking reasonable measures like avoiding hostile confrontations in hotel and convention center common spaces is prudent. Netroots Nation provides a needed recharge for progressive activists. There are 361 other days of the year for partisan bickering.
PBN: What role will Netroots Nation and online activists play in the 2012 elections?
BROOKS: While Netroots Nation doesn’t have a direct role in elections, we hope activists will be working hard locally and regionally to elect candidates that support their values and influence the media narrative in their communities. But more importantly we all have a lot of work to do in building an independent movement that supports progressive values and the progress made in the 20th century.
