On February 15, 16, and 17, LeftRoots is holding its first national congress. Members from across the country are gathering to identify, discuss, and debate the key features of the current moment, the strategic implications of those conditions, and how LeftRoots and its members can continue to develop and grow to make decisive interventions to push the moment closer to 21st century socialism.

After each day of the congress, a few LeftRoots cadres will blog about their experiences that day in hopes of giving those interested a peek at what we’re doing in California and why we’re so excited about it.

Jonel, Miami Florida:

The day began with a breakfast that you have to write about. Pancakes, potatoes, and frittatas. It was the last day and the food crew held us down!

Shortly after the opening we moved into one of the most exciting parts of the day for me, the Strategy Get Down Session where we got to explore the different strategy labs. I attended the Electoral Lab. The Electoral Lab takes a stab at Phase One of the Strategy. It’s exciting to be moving towards doing actually Leftroots work. Especially when the work is so aligned with work that is already moving in Florida.

Then there was branch meeting time. Finally! As a member of the Fannie Lou Hamer Branch, where we’re constantly looking at each other through a computer screen, being in person together was really special. I learned a little more about my branch members and got a glimpse of who they were and where they were coming from. It also left me hungry for more space with the branch and even more excited about starting an in-person branch.

The closing of congress was beautiful, moving, and truly representative of what it means and feels like to be in Leftroots. Steve led us out of the main room into the sanctuary. The way that we knew it was time to move from the main room was by the generation that we came into the movement. Starting from the 60s and going into the 2010s where I entered the movement. Coming into the sanctuary we were greeted by each generation with joy, love, and community. And of course we closed out in song: I’m a socialist, I’m a feminist!