14th Annual Leaders Conference

Washington, D.C. | Nov. 20 – 22

OverviewLeader AttendeesSpeakers

Wednesday, November 20, 2024 – Friday, November 22, 2024
Location provided upon RSVP

Please contact mario@newdealleaders.org or casey@newdealleaders.org with questions.

Gathering in Washington, D.C. soon after November’s historic election, the 14th Annual Leaders Conference will reflect on the lessons of the 2024 general election including what they portend for public policy in 2024 and beyond, both short and long term challenges and opportunities for Democrats, and how to move forward with an agenda that appeals to the broadest cross-section of Americans. Whatever the outcome of voting this fall, we know state and local leaders will remain at the forefront of solving our country’s biggest challenges. More than 70 policymakers will gather with partners, strategists, journalists, and policy experts to discuss solutions to major policy issues and opportunities to make government work better and expand access to economic opportunity. During keynote remarks, expert panels, and in-depth policy breakout sessions, we will assess the results of the election and pay special attention to how state and local leaders can tell success stories across a range of issues to rebuild trust in government.

Stay tuned for details and view the highlights from last year’s conference here. 

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Leader Attendees

Lanae Erickson

Senior Vice President for Social Policy, Education & Politics | Third Way

Lanae spends her days helping policymakers and advocates to better understand the complexities of how voters in the middle approach topics that are often perceived politically as black and white, including hot button issues like immigration, crime, abortion, and guns. Working closely with leaders in the LGBT movement, she spearheaded Third Way’s Commitment Campaign, which mobilized moderate Americans to support marriage for gay couples by changing the conversation from legal rights and benefits to the importance of making a lifetime commitment in front of family and friends.

Lanae served as a member of President Obama’s third White House Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Her commentary has been featured in a variety of news outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Politico, The New Yorker, and PBS News Hour. She has also appeared on MSNBC, NPR, Fox News, CSPAN’s Washington Journal, CNN, Bloomberg Television, Air America, and her home state’s Minnesota Public Radio.

Jennifer Pahlka

Founder | Code for America

Jennifer Pahlka is the author of Recoding America: Why Government is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better. She founded Code for America in 2010 and led the organization for ten years. In 2013, she took a leave of absence to serve as U.S. Deputy Chief Technology Officer under President Obama and helped found the United States Digital Service. She served on the Defense Innovation Board under Presidents Obama and Trump. At the start of the pandemic, she also co-founded United States Digital Response, which helps government meet the needs of the public with volunteer tech support. She received the Skoll Award for Social Entrepreneurship, and was named by Wired as one of the 25 people who has most shaped the past 25 years. Jennifer is a graduate of Yale University.

Jim Townsend

NewDEAL Alumnus and Director | The Levin Center for Oversight and Democracy

James H. (Jim) Townsend, a former member of the Michigan legislature, was named director of the Levin Center at Wayne Law in November 2019. Previously, Townsend practiced law in the Detroit office of Butzel as a member of its Corporate and Real Estate Practice Group. Prior to joining the firm, he represented the 26th District in the Michigan House of Representatives. He serves on the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s advisory council of the Redevelopment Ready Communities® program.

Before his career in law, Townsend was legislative director in the office of U.S. Representative Nita M. Lowey and worked for U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg. Townsend’s private sector experience includes working as a brand manager at Ford Motor Company, founding and directing the Michigan Suburbs Alliance, and leading economic development at the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Townsend graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with Highest Honors in History, earned an M.B.A. and Master of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and earned his J.D. (cum laude) at Wayne Law where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.

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