The Bay Area law school chapters of the American Constitution Society for Law and Policy (ACS) are planning our second annual conference for student leaders. Our extraordinarily successful first conference focused on generating a richer understanding of how media and messaging affect public attitudes about the courts and constitutional law. The conference attracted over 100 law students from eight law schools, as well as lawyers, activists, and interested community members from the Bay Area and beyond. The conference speakers represented a wide range of progressive and liberal figures, ranging from Congressman Xavier Becerra, to Lizz Winstead, comedienne and creator of The Daily Show, to Judge Stephen Reinhardt of the Ninth Circuit. The conference programming reached well beyond law and academia, inspiring robust, substantive conversation about how progressives can become more adept communicators. This forum provided an unprecedented opportunity for our student leaders to network amongst themselves and with the speakers. Caroline Fredrickson, President of the ACS’s national organization, lauded Winning Hearts and Minds and has worked to replicate the model in other U.S. regions.

With Winning Hearts and Minds Part II, we seek to repeat the accomplishments and expand on the aims of our initial effort. Our substantive focus has shifted: this time, the conference will focus on defining the core progressive values that bring our organization together and the strategies we can use to move these values forward. Specifically, we want to highlight, define, and distinguish between the avenues where we might negotiate and compromise to make incremental change, and those where we must hold a hard line to defend the principles we believe in.

We hope you can join us this year.