Progressive Central

Open to the public. Progressive Democrats of America and The Nation magazine are teaming up to host "Progressive Central," a five-day gathering for activists, journalists and

The five-day lineup of more than 20 panel discussions, with topics ranging from health care and election reform to the future of progressive politics, will feature such prominent speakers as Democratic Congressional Representatives Barbara Lee, Calif., John Conyers, Mich., Lynn Woolsey, Calif., and Robert Wexler, Fl., plus such other well-known activists as Katrina vanden Heuvel, Tom Hayden, Jim Zogby, Medea Benjamin and Jim Hightower.

"Progressive Central will be a progressive oasis, where like-minded people will meet to network, share ideas, learn from the country's foremost progressives, and help build the progressive movement," said Tim Carpenter, national director of Progressive Democrats of America, a Political Action Committee that is not formally affiliated with the Democratic Party.

After the Sunday night 8 p.m.-10 p.m. opening panel, the Monday-Thursday daytime schedule will include visiting time with fellow progressives, 10 a.m.-11 a.m.; admission-free panels hosted by The Nation, 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.; lunch, 12:30 p.m.-1 p.m.; and two PDA-hosted panels, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

A complete schedule of events and speakers is available at the PDA website, http://pdamerica.org. A week-long pass (suggested donation $125) and tickets for individual PDA events (suggested donation $10 per day), as well as $12.50 box-lunch reservations, may be purchased in advance on the website or on-site before the various events, space permitting. During Convention week, PDA volunteers and staffers will be visiting hotels hosting DNC delegates to personally invite them to visit Progressive Central.