FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 27, 2022
Contact: Will Pregman, [email protected], 702.752.0656
Battle Born Progress Energizes Activists, Community Leaders for Midterm Election Year at Progressive Summit
NEVADA – Over the weekend, Nevada-based communications firm Battle Born Progress held it’s 8th annual Progressive Summit virtually, on Remo. The event was headlined with keynote speeches from President of the Nevada Education Association, Becky Pringle, President of Brady, Kris Brown, and Nevada author and freelance journalist John L. Smith.
Several hundred Nevada progressive activists of all ages registered, attended, and participated in the virtual conference throughout the weekend, which featured panel discussions, training sessions, and workshops on various policy issues, communications tactics, and digital and media literacy. Members of Nevada’s congressional delegation and constitutional offices who also delivered remarks during the event included: Senator Jacky Rosen, Congresswoman Dina Titus, Congresswoman Susie Lee, Congressman Steven Horsford, Nevada Lieutenant Governor Lisa Cano Burkhead, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford, Mayor Daniel Corona, City of West Wendover.
“We are proud to be hosting the Progressive Summit once again to engage with Nevadans about the critical issues facing our state ahead of this important midterm election year,” said Annette Magus, Executive Director of Battle Born Progress. “We’d like to thank every single person who attended this year’s Summit, every single sponsor who made this event possible, our panelists who put on some amazing sessions, and the members of Nevada’s delegation and constitutional offices who took the time to visit with us. We thank National Education Association President, Becky Pringle, for her sobering and passionate remarks in support of all students having access to a quality public education, delivered by educators who are properly appreciated for their hard work and dedication. We also thank Brady President, Kris Brown, for her keynote address about the importance of gun violence prevention amidst this era of uncertainty, which sadly was very timely, due to the shooting at Manny’s Glo Afterdark Hookah Lounge just before our Summit kicked off. And, finally, we thank author and freelancer John L. Smith for speaking with our Summit about the nature of journalism in this age of political division and weaponized disinformation targeting vulnerable communities and our public institutions.”
“Throughout this year’s Summit, a common theme of our discussions included the increasing radicalization of the far right, and the threat it poses to marginalized groups in our community. Connected with this, is the rapid spread of misinformation and disinformation by foreign governments, such as Russia, and regurgitated by useful idiots in the MAGA militant faction to delegitimize our elections, harass community and elected leaders, and undermine confidence in our public goods and services. After this Summit, we feel confident that our network of partner organizations, volunteers, and supporters are now better equipped to stand firmly on the side of protecting our freedom to vote, dispelling false narratives inspired by lies, and holding every candidate for every office accountable to the constituents they intend to serve. If the past two years have shown us anything, it is that we and our partners in the community are ready to roll together, having each other’s back in the face of lies and hatred, through this immensely consequential year and beyond.”
Keynote Speaker Bios:
NEA president Becky Pringle is a fierce social justice warrior, defender of educator rights, an unrelenting advocate for all students and communities of color, and a valued and respected voice in the education arena. A middle school science teacher with 31 years of classroom experience, Becky is singularly focused on using her intellect, passion, and purpose to unite the members of the largest labor union with the entire nation, and using that collective power to fulfill the promise of public education. Becky was elected in 2020 as COVID-19 ravaged Black, Brown, and indigenous communities nationwide. Before assuming NEA’s top post, Becky served as NEA vice president and before that as NEA secretary-treasurer. She directed NEA’s work to combat institutional racism, and spotlight systemic patterns of racism and educational injustice that impact students.
A veteran of gun violence prevention work, Kris Brown started her career on Capitol Hill working for Rep. Jim Moran, advocating for the bill that would eventually become the groundbreaking Brady Bill requiring background checks on federally licensed gun sales. At Brady, she has helped shape the conversation on gun violence as a national health care crisis, launched the organization’s groundbreaking safe storage campaign to End Family Fire, and formed Brady’s Team Enough youth initiative after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School massacre in Parkland, FL.
In 2021, John L. Smith published Saints, Sinners and Sovereign Citizens: The Endless War over the West’s Public Lands, and added two new additions to his children’s Nevada history series called Fields of Silver and Gold, Anne Martin: The March for Suffrage and Ben Palmer: Black Pioneers on the Frontier. He is currently working with former US Sen. and Nevada Gov. Richard Bryan on an autobiography.
Spokespeople in Spanish or English are available for individual interviews.
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About Battle Born Progress: Battle Born Progress, through strategic communication efforts, empowers, engages and mobilizes Nevada voters to build a state where everyone has a fair opportunity to succeed. We support, engage, and mobilize the progressive community through bold leadership, strategic communications, accountability, and education. We are on the cutting edge of new media and are the go-to source for progressive issues and advocacy for traditional media. Learn more at https://battlebornprogress.org/.
