Opportunities for Further Involvement

Health Policy Study Group (HPSG): Message from Leana Wen
At the first Progressive Generation Conference, we discussed the idea of starting a Health Policy Strategy Group (HPSG). This group would consist of 10-20 individuals who wish to discuss health care policy with each other and engage the communities around us to come up with tangible solutions to domestic health problems. Participating in the group ranges from being on an email list on which we post interesting articles and talk about new ideas, to attending bi-monthly meetings in a central location (i.e. London) to discuss topical issues in healthcare reform and strategize on a platform for change. The HPSG would culminate in an interdisciplinary annual meeting of health policy experts recruited from our respective universities to discuss research and respond to topics; this meeting would specifically be coordinated with the Progressive Generation.

If you are interested in being part of the HPSG, please contact Leana Wen at leana.wen@merton.ox.ac.uk. We look forward to having you as part of this exciting new group of progressive future leaders! A first meeting is planned for the summer; let us know if you are around London in early August.

Join the 2009 Progressive Generation Conference Executive Committee: Message from Kate Brandt
We would like to invite all members to become a part of next year's executive committee. If you are interested in working on the planning and organizing of next year's conference, please email Kate Brandt at brandt.kate@gmail.com. There will be opportunities to spearhead fundraising, speaker recruitment, and event planning.

Recap of First Annual Conference

The Progressive Generation

Statement of Purpose

Every year hundreds of Americans flock to the United Kingdom to pursue graduate study. While students choose to do so for a variety of reasons, many view their time in the UK as a chance to gain a wider perspective on the United States, the world, and their ability to effect change. We hope to take advantage of this formative time by hosting an annual conference that will bring together politically engaged and progressive American scholars. As a group, we aim to reflect on the main policy challenges that we will face in our lifetimes and to consider how our time abroad will impact our future as progressive leaders.

First Annual Conference
May 24, 2008
University of Cambridge

Matthew Taylor Addresses the Scholars

The day began with a keynote address by Matthew Taylor, a leading light of the UK progressive movement. Mr. Taylor identified two main issues with which the Progressive Generation must grapple in the years to come. First, Progressives must support individual development not only by providing basic services such as healthcare and education, but also by fostering personal resilience and empathy. Second, Progressives must encourage collaborative efforts to solve problems. As Mr. Taylor so aptly stated: participation is optimistic, spectatorship is pessimistic. The speaker concluded with a discussion of what he referred to as the “New Collectivism.” This model is founded upon flat, spontaneous organizations that foster personal growth through participation. For Taylor, the internet is a key aspect of this new form of collaboration, particularly the use of cyberspace to bridge social capital.

The Scholars Discuss Progressive Policy and Values

Following Mr. Taylor’s address, the conference broke into small group discussions. Each two-hour discussion group focused on one of three important topics: education, climate/energy, and healthcare policy. We then came together as a large group to identify the major policy issues in all three areas. This discussion was followed by a look at what the group found to be the key values and goals that inform the Progressive policy agenda.

In the area of education policy, the group addressed ways to recruit and retain qualified teachers and looked at whether merit pay could help to create the best possible cadre of instructors. Further, the problem of inequality and disadvantage was analyzed in light of the obligation of schools to help develop good citizens.

The healthcare discussion focused on the issues of access, cost, and quality of care. The group also examined the power of both the framing of the health care debate and the influence of special interests. Universal versus state-led solutions were also considered.

The groups looking at climate change addressed the bottom-up versus top-down model of climate policy, as well as the value of tax incentives. The discussion also turned to the broader issues of the role of the citizen and collective responsibility. The role of U.S. leadership and the impact of international tensions between the developing and developed world were also considered.

Following these policy discussions, the scholars identified four major values of the Progressive Generation: maintaining optimism, driving change, reframing perceptions, and interconnecting issues.

The day concluded with two final speeches from young progressive leaders working in the United States, Daniel Kilduff, Washington D.C. Chair for the New Leadership Council and Shaunna Thomas, program director for Young People For. Dan and Shaunna spoke to the group about the work of their organizations, especially leadership training and grassroots organizing. They both invited scholars to join their networks when they return to the U.S.

What’s Next

Thanks to the overwhelming enthusiasm of this year’s attendees, we plan to work towards making the conference an annual event. Our website will be launched soon, and we look forward to keeping you informed of our plans. In the meantime, please stay in touch with us via email at theprogressivegeneration@gmail.com.