Joy. Hope. Fired up.
These are just a few words to encapsulate our time together from July 10-12, 2025.
To those of you who were in Chicago and those who were there in spirit – thank you for being a part of Local Progress’ 2025 National Convening: Organize Together, Govern for All!
We showed up bolder and bigger to meet this moment – with more than 500 of you joining us from across the country to take part in strategic sessions on topics ranging from our path forward for immigrant justice to fighting big tech and AI to true public safety; inspiring plenaries featuring New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Congresswoman Delia Ramirez; and healing and joyful spaces for us to reconnect, recharge, and reignite our fight for our communities.
Our largest Convening yet brought together more than 350 local elected officials, providing electeds from across 36 states and Puerto Rico a haven to unpack the difficulties of governing in the midst of a hostile federal administration and a learning space for members to strategize and organize together to face the challenges ahead with a renewed resolve and courage.
We are especially grateful for our host committee members in Chicago, including Chicago Alderwoman and Board Member Maria Hadden, Chicago Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez, Chicago Alderman Andre Vasquez, Chicago Alderwoman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, and Chicago Alderman Desmon Yancy.
We’re also thankful for the partnership of local partners and members, including Albany Park Defense Network, Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez and his office, Alderman Anthony Quezada and his office, Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Chicago Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, Chicago Park District, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago United for Equity, Global Gardens Chicago, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, Logan Square Redesign Project, Lucy Parsons Apartments, Milwaukee Avenue Streetscape, National Museum of Mexican Art, Palenque LSNA, Pilsen Housing Cooperative, Puerto Rican Cultural Center, SEIU IL State Council, Southside Together, UNITE HERE Local 1.
Look through our time together in our photo album on Facebook, read through our recaps on social media to relive some of our most powerful and thought provoking moments at the LP 2025 Convening.
Together with our LP Board Member and Chicago Alderwoman, Maria Hadden, we opened up our space by grounding ourselves in the history of Chicago’s roots in the labor movement as well as the spaces of liberation and joy found in house music’s roots in the city. Brandon Johnson, the Mayor of Chicago helped open up our space with inspiring remarks and our partners in Chicago further helped ground us in this great city.
“We are united in the belief that when we work together, fight together, and organize together – we can build a future where all families regardless of immigration status can stay together, where all of us can afford a roof over our heads, where all students can succeed, and where all of us truly feel safe.” – Ivan Luevanos-Elms, Executive Director, Local Progress + Local Progress Impact Lab
“Everything dope comes from Chicago and I’m proud to be a representative of a city that has birthed so many great social movements.” – Maria Hadden, Chicago Alderwoman and LP Board Member
“Our collective strength sustains us and it is now more important than ever.” – Brandon Johnson, Mayor of Chicago
“You’re in this room because you want to make things happen. Organizing together and governing for all is how we get things done. Local wins build over time to make new things possible for our people.” – Lawrence Benito, Executive Director at the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights
Our plenaries reinvigorated our fight against fascism and our call to protect our communities.
“As leaders, even knowing the risk, we still have to do it because every day counts and every day matters.” – Vanessa Fuentes, Mayor Pro Tem, Austin, TX
“They are coming for us because we are effective. When we fight back in broad coalition movements, we help stop the anticipatory obedience – tearing down the authoritarian playbook.” – Teresa Mosqueda, King County Councilmember, WA
“Fear will be there. Organize anyway. Build relationships anyway. Take the risk anyway. And I hope when workers who are organizing for the union ask you for support, you’ll be there for them.” – Latonia Marshall, Secretary of the UNITE HERE Local 1 Executive Board
“We are called upon to approach politics as a team sport. Unfortunately, most elected officials don’t see it that way. Knocking all those doors, making all those calls in your own name – it demands a level of ego that so often leads in bad directions. But here’s the paradox: it wasn’t until I recognized that it wasn’t about me that people could see the kind of leadership I wanted to show them. At Local Progress: Solidarity is our superpower. Even in this time of emergency, we must combine the fighting against fascism with the governing to deliver the concrete things that give dignity and meaning to people’s lives: A home they can afford. In a neighborhood they love and feel safe. With great schools and parks where their kids can learn and play. That’s our secret sauce.” – Brad Lander, Comptroller, New York City
“Fear is contagious but so is courage. And we in this room, Local Progress, we are courageous people. Let me tell you, fascism is afraid of us and they should be. You remember why you’re in this fight. You remember who your ancestors are because you have been chosen to lead for such a time such as this. ‘By the people, for the people.’ ‘Por el pueblo y para el pueblo.’ We will not concede the power of the people.” – Rep. Delia Ramirez, Illinois 3rd District
We learned and strategized on local issues, including: breaking down the last six months on immigration, fighting the cost of living crises with living wages; to co-governance for healthy, green schools; getting creative with revenue generation for your office; and making polluters pay through corporate accountability; and so so much more.
We also took time to intentionally explore the city of Chicago through our site visits from a walking tour through Humboldt Park, a neighborhood at the heart of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community and a frontline in the fight against gentrification to visiting Chicago’s Chinatown, one of the only growing Chinatown neighborhoods in the country. Our site visits also offered spaces of inspiration – from the tour of the Dyett High School, which included its history rooted in organizing that allowed for the thriving community it is today to learning about immigrant justice in action in Albany Park. We also held healing justice spaces at the hotel for attendees who needed more physical and emotional restoration through breath work and stillness.
Our time together was a profound reminder that when we join together, hope together and organize together – we can forge a future where there is abundance, joy and thriving for all of us. Even in the face of authoritarianism, we were energized by the power and purpose that each and every one of you brings to our incredible network. We are fighters and we will win because our love for one another is greater than fear.
“It reminded me how much power there is in community. I also enjoyed the final activity of creating a slogan, such a great way to close out the convening. ‘We are strong. We belong. In this fight, we carry on.’”
“I loved the balance of case studies and collaboration around local level progressive actions and a call to rise together against authoritarianism.”
“Finally was able to have the conversations about policy and community in a way I have been needing as an elected official.”
“Timely topics, great speakers. You take such intentional care for us.”
– 2025 National Convening participants
Together we created and cultivated this space of safety, healing, liberation, and joy. Our charge is clear: together and united, we stand firm, we organize, and we govern for all of our people – our families, neighbors, and communities – until we realize a transformed country and world to honor our ancestors and for the generations to come.
