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Hello John,
 Netroots Nation just celebrated its 20th anniversary—a huge milestone that wouldn’t have happened without the support of this community. And while I’m so proud of the history we’ve made together, I’m even more excited about what lies ahead.
If you don’t know me, my name is Anthony Robinson, and as of tomorrow I’ll be the new executive director of Netroots Nation.
I first got involved with Netroots Nation in 2017 when a progressive national security and foreign policy organization I worked for had a communications training accepted for the conference that year in Atlanta. I have to be honest, I had no idea what Netroots Nation was or even if this was the right community for me.
It didn’t take long to change my opinion. After seeing the trainings, panels and occasional protest that would pop up in front of the main stage. I got the sense that the people in this community weren’t just about talking action, they were about taking action.
A few years passed before my next engagement with Netroots, but I always remembered what my first experience meant to me. After spending some time abroad and continuing to work in the national security and foreign policy field, I had the opportunity to work with Netroots Nation in several capacities, as a panel evaluator and volunteer. I eventually was asked to serve as a Board Member.
I took every opportunity to ask how I could help this community be as great as I believed it could be. I have scored session applications, organized training and panel logistics, welcomed keynote speakers, and designed a security plan to keep attendees safe at the conference.
One of my highlights was having the chance to welcome new attendees at the First-Timers Caucus over the past few years. That meant so much to me because I was once that person wondering “what is this event, and do I fit in here?”
I say all of this because this community has a place for you. We’re a small staff, and so much of our success over the past 20 years has been because someone stepped up—as a volunteer, a speaker, or even just to welcome a new attendee.
As I get ready to think about our next 20 years, I hope you’ll jump in as I did. Our next conference is next June 4-6 in Philadelphia—and registration is already open. Register to attend, sign up to volunteer, and consider submitting a session idea when the process opens in January.
Here’s to the next 20 years!
Anthony Robinson
Executive Director
Netroots Nation
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