Oakland's Populist Revolt And Why It Matters for Nashville
Nashville is a place we are all fortunate to call home, a city that embodies both the promise and the contradictions of modern America. As the world hurdles forward, grappling with rapid and complex challenges, one truth remains clear: it is the resilience, commitment and character of our local community that shapes the quality of our daily lives.
The future of Nashville is dependent on the quality of its leadership. Fresh off an election that ushered in a seismic shift in our local politics, it's worth understanding what kind of damage unaccountable activists, NGO’s and politicians can do if left unchecked without robust civic engagement from ordinary citizens.
Oakland, California, a city that suffered extreme levels of dysfunction in the wake of a full fledged activist takeover, serves as a valuable case study. And our guest, Seneca Scott, a former labor organizer turned community advocate/political strategist, spent nearly a decade in the trenches there battling against these very organizations and their harmful ideas, building a diverse coalition of concerned and caring Neighbors who led a highly successful populist insurgency against Bay Area dysfunction.
Just last year, Scott successfully led the historic recall of Oakland mayor Sheng Tao, now facing 95 years in prison on federal corruption charges, and the extremist District Attorney Pamela Price.
Join us to learn about how he did it and what lessons Nashville residents can learn from his success in building a grassroots coalition to fight entrenched corruption and mismanagement, how to hold elected officials accountable and, very importantly, make local politics exciting.
A small, free buffet will be provided at the event for attendees. Please RSVP, so we can get an accurate headcount.