CPD and PICO National Network co-convened the first-ever Economic Justice Strategy Meeting in Washington, DC from November 16-18th. This three-day strategy meeting included both CPD and PICO Executive Directors and Campaign Managers from New York Communities for Change (NYCC), Organizers in the Land of Enchantment (OLE), the Center for Public Integrity, Wisconsin Jobs Now, Minnesota Neighborhoods Organizing for Change (NOC), Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Living United for Change in Arizona (LUCHA), Working Washington, Action United, Spaces, Good Jobs Now, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste, Working Families Party-DC and the corresponding PICO in-state affiliate, as well as PICO affiliates from Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and  Colorado. Collectively, this group represents the potential to organize for pay raises for around 11 million workers and for paid sick days for 3.5 million workers.

During the convening, partners developed a multi-state, multi-year collective agenda with an intention to lead with a sharp racial and gender focus.

This collaboration is a part of a broader strategy centered around 2016 minimum wage and paid sick day campaigns. We aim to succeed on 5 core fronts:
To deliver concrete, material gains to a broad constituency;
To organize workers into powerful independent political organizations;
To build stronger independent state power and infrastructure for future wins;
To engage women and people of color as leaders and critical voting constituencies; and
To advance a pro-worker, racial and gender justice narrative.