National Public Radio Interview with SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod

In a recent interview with National Public Radio, SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod sat down to discuss SiX’s work and how state lawmakers can lead the progressive resistance to President-elect Trump and his conservative allies in Congress.

“Let’s have some debates about policies and see where things shake out,” said Rathod during the interview. “I mean, I grew up in Nebraska, and when I talk with my conservative friends there, we’re pretty close on a lot of the issues. But the thing is that we just haven’t ever really sat down and talked to people about what it – what equal pay actually means. You know, do you care whether your daughter gets paid the same as your son? I think most people would say yeah. Do you care that people have a living wage, that people who are playing by the rules, working hard, I think people would say yes to that. Let’s have those conversations locally, and let’s shake out who is actually fighting for those things.”

You can listen to the full interview here.

SiX Hosts Regional Climate Academy in Denver for 40 Western State Legislators

In partnership with Conservation Colorado, Sierra Club, NRDC, and other environmental groups, SiX brought together 40 Western state legislators for a day-long Regional Climate Academy in Denver, Colorado.

During the academy, legislators had the opportunity to network with other state lawmakers in their region, learn more about effective communications and targeted messaging, and expand their knowledge around climate change, clean energy policy, and climate justice.

Learn more about SiX’s focus on climate change here.

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SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod Joins AM Joy on MSNBC to Discuss How States Can Lead Resistance to Trump

SiX Executive Director Nick Rathod recently appeared on AM Joy on MSNBC to discuss the North Carolina governor’s race, Rev. Barber’s Moral Monday movement, and how progressives can resist President-elect Trump’s agenda by organizing at the state and local level. “You can win back people’s hearts and minds by focusing and being where they are,” said Rathod during the segment.

Watch the clip here.

SiX Hosts 2016 National Legislator Conference, Bringing Together More Than 400 State Lawmakers from Across the Nation

From December 4-6, 2016, SiX hosted its national legislator conference in Washington, D.C. – bringing together more than 400 state lawmakers from across the nation. The conference was the first major gathering of state legislators, members of Congress, and progressive movement leaders since the 2016 election. Attendees discussed how to advance a positive vision of progressive governance and the vital role that states can play in contrast to what President-elect Trump and a conservative-controlled Congress will attempt to put forward from D.C.

Featured keynote speakers included U.S. House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Cory Booker, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, Reverend Dr. William J. Barber II, and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha.

Following the conference, SiX released a special edition of Six from SiX featuring key highlights throughout the event – including video and audio clips of keynote remarks, SiX’s press conference on the final day of the event, photos, and top media coverage. You can check it out here.

A roundup of press clips generated from the conference is available here.

SiX Welcomes Two New Staff Members: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes

As the SiX staff continues to grow, we are thrilled to announce two new members of the team: Press Secretary Margaret Ann Morgan and Deputy Director of Strategic Engagement Mandela Barnes.

Barnes most recently served in the Wisconsin State Assembly. During his tenure there, he authored legislation to protect voting rights, provide small businesses with tax relief, safeguard children’s health, enhance public safety, encourage responsible gun ownership, and ban employment discrimination – along with a number of other policies. He served on the Committees on Corrections, Education, Jobs & the Economy, and Small Business Development and was also chairman of the legislature’s Black and Latino Caucus. Barnes is active in a number of organizations serving the Milwaukee area and has been recognized by NewDEAL as one of America’s top pro-growth progressive leaders.

Prior to joining SiX, Morgan served as press secretary for Correct The Record, a strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from baseless attacks. There, she placed top surrogates on national networks during the 2016 campaign and assisted with rapid response communication. Morgan moved to Washington, D.C. after her time as a journalist in her home state of Mississippi, where she was the state’s top television reporter at WDAM in Hattiesburg, covering local and state politics and education policy.

Check out this POLITICO write-up on Morgan joining the SiX team.