SiX National Conference 2024: Full Schedule

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4:30pm EST

Navigating New Terrains of Governing Power

Wednesday December 11, 2024 4:30pm - 5:15pm EST

Do you serve in a chamber where control will soon flip from one party to another? Do you have experience serving in a chamber that was recently flipped? Come join this networking space to connect with colleagues across the country to exchange experiences, ideas, and strategies for navigating new terrains of governing power heading into the 2025 legislative session.

Speakers

Hudson McCormick

SiX Staff Session Lead

Tom Lenard

Michigan State Director, SiX

Tom Lenard is the Michigan State Director for SiX and serves as the lead SiX staff for the Progressive Governance Academy. Prior to joining SiX, Tom served for years as Senior Advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Jim Ananich of Flint, Michigan. As such, he worked to help respond... Read More →

Wednesday December 11, 2024 4:30pm - 5:15pm EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout, Breakout Block A

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange
Media Closed to Media

10:30am EST

Beyond Borders: What We Can Learn about Using the Human Rights Framework in Policy from the Global Reproductive Rights Movement

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am EST

International 6 Breakout

The global fight for abortion access, pregnancy decriminalization and reproductive justice is gaining momentum, fueled by movements like Latin America's Green Wave. In this session, participants will have the unique opportunity to learn from the countries leading the way. Since 2019, SiX has brought lawmakers to Latin America (El Salvador, Mexico, Dominican Republic) to witness how a human rights framework is driving policy change and empowering communities. Participants will learn from legislators who are integrating these powerful strategies into state policy and learn from leaders at the forefront of the Green Wave movement to discover the power of international solidarity. Join us for an inspiring conversation and explore what's possible when we align with a global movement for change!

Speakers

Asm. Amanda Septimo

State Assemblymember, New York-84

Born and raised in the South Bronx, Amanda Septimo has a long, rich history of service to the community. Over the years Amanda has worked with local community organizations, in the labor movement, and in government to advance an agenda of inclusive, sustainable, and responsible growth... Read More →

Melissa Madera

SiX Staff Session Lead

Laura Hernandez

SiX Staff Session Lead, State Innovation Exchange

As the Senior Policy Associate of Reproductive Rights, Laura provides strategic support to over 600 state legislators in the SiX RFLC network on reproductive rights and justice. Previously, she served as Director of Policy for Planned Parenthood in Florida, where she successfully... Read More →

Rep. Julie von Haefen

State Representative, North Carolina-36

Paula Ávila-Guillen

Executive Director, Women’s Equality Center (WEC)

Paula Ávila-Guillen is a Green Wave movement leader, international human rights lawyer, and Executive Director at the Women's Equality Center (WEC). She has helped lead the fight to decriminalize abortion in her home country of Colombia, and has supported the efforts that led to... Read More →

Pilar Herrero

Senior Staff Attorney, Center for Reproductive Rights

Pilar Herrero is a Senior Staff Attorney in the US Human Rights unit at the Center for Reproductive Rights. She uses international human rights law to hold the US accountable for reproductive rights violations and to strengthen domestic policy advocacy and litigation.

Thursday December 12, 2024 10:30am - 11:45am EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout, Breakout Block B

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange
Media Closed to Media

12:00pm EST

Huddle Room

Thursday December 12, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST

International 6 Breakout

Do you need space to debrief with colleagues from your state? Need somewhere quiet to regroup with people that you’ve just met at the conference? Want to self-organize a meet up with other attendees from the same region or around a particular topic in the app? Meet up in the huddle room to connect and get organized!

Thursday December 12, 2024 12:00pm - 1:00pm EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout Over Lunch, Breakout Block C

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange

1:15pm EST

Criminalization of the Body and the Surveillance State

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST

International 6 Breakout

The U.S. has the highest incarceration rate of any independent democracy on earth—worse, every single state incarcerates more people per capita than most nations. In the global context, even “progressive” U.S. states like New York and Massachusetts appear as extreme as Louisiana and Mississippi in their use of prisons and jails. The impact and policy choices of incarceration span from broken families, housing implications, workforce, education, and more. Attendees will learn from experts about the intersections of drug policy, abortion access, LGBTQ+ justice, family separation caused by the child welfare system, immigrant rights, labor, and agriculture. This session will look at what policy solutions are available and how state lawmakers can respond to this crisis of incarceration in their communities.

Speakers

Cristina I. Ramirez

Criminal Defense Lead, Sissy Farenthold Reproductive Justice Defense Project

Cristina I. Ramirez is the criminal defense lead of the Sissy Farenthold Reproductive Justice Defense Project at the Rapoport Center for Human Rights and Justice at Texas Law. Prior to this role, Cristina served as a public defender in the Travis County Public Defender’s Office... Read More →

Jennifer Driver

SiX Staff Session Lead

Rosann Mariappuram

Senior Policy Counsel, Reproductive Rights, SiX

Rosann Mariappuram, J.D. M.A. (she/her) is a lawyer and advocate who has been part of the movements for reproductive health, rights and justice for over a decade. She is the former executive director of Jane’s Due Process, a nonprofit that fights for young people’s bodily autonomy... Read More →

Karen D. Thompson

Legal Director, Pregnancy Justice

Karen Thompson is the Legal Director of Pregnancy Justice where she leads a team of attorneys in defending women and all those with the capacity to become pregnant from being criminalized because of their pregnancies or pregnancy outcomes. Karen oversees the strategic litigation and... Read More →

Denise Tomasini-Joshi

Co-Executive Director, If/When/How

Denise Tomasini-Joshi is an advocate whose work has touched upon issues of mental health, health policy, criminal legal reform, women’s rights, economic development, and marginalized populations. She is a former Chief of Staff at the Innocence Project, and previously held a series... Read More →

Thursday December 12, 2024 1:15pm - 2:30pm EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout, Breakout Block D

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange
Media Closed to Media

2:45pm EST

Creating An Irresistible Future for Reproductive Health, Rights, and Justice: Looking to 2025

Thursday December 12, 2024 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST

International 6 Breakout

How do we not only defeat threats and move proactive policy, but also create the big tent needed for state legislators to work alongside each other for reproductive health, rights, and justice in its most expansive form while we are doing it? The SiX Reproductive Rights Team will provide a brief overview of expected challenges and opportunities in the states and facilitate an engaging discussion with the state legislators and advocates in the room on 1) concrete policy, caucus, and movement building strategies, 2) current litigation efforts and how they interact with legislative strategy, and 3) tailored resource recommendations for state legislators to respond to whatever is coming their way. In our current patchwork of reproductive health policies, we know that what happens in one state impacts, informs, or inspires another and welcome all to attend, share, and build out your network of support across state lines.

Speakers

Fran Linkin

Director of Research, Reproductive Rights, SiX

Fran’s eighteen year career in reproductive rights and health spans the fields of public health, policy, and advocacy. Since 2019, Fran has worked to create unique spaces and opportunities for the state legislators in SiX's Reproductive Freedom Leadership Council to connect with... Read More →

Rosann Mariappuram

Senior Policy Counsel, Reproductive Rights, SiX

Thursday December 12, 2024 2:45pm - 4:00pm EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout, Breakout Block E

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange
Media Closed to Media

10:30am EST

Legislative Leadership Space

Friday December 13, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am EST

International 6 Breakout

Come to build community with other legislative leaders by sharing strategies, discussing challenges, and identifying opportunities for the legislative sessions ahead.

Please note this session is only open to those with formal legislative leadership roles (e.g., Speaker, President, Majority/Minority Leader, Whip, Caucus Chair).

Speakers

Jessie Ulibarri

Co-Executive Director, State Innovation Exchange (SiX)

Hon. Jessie Ulibarri is SiX’s Co-Executive Director. As a queer person of color, as a parent, and as someone who grew up in a trailer park, Jessie viscerally understands the demands the progressive movement makes of our elected officials for radical, transformative change. As a... Read More →

Friday December 13, 2024 10:30am - 11:20am EST
International 6 Breakout

Breakout, Breakout Block F

Host Organization State Innovation Exchange
Media Closed to Media