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WELCOME
FROM OUR
E XECUTIVE D IRECTOR
Dear SSDP Members and Friends: Since I started as executive director last June, I’ve been awed by students all over the world. The energy and drive I’ve seen is inspiring, not to mention humbling. In the midst of so many positive developments for our movement, it’s easy to forget that our activists sometimes face tremendous challenges at the local level. Our students start chapters in cities where talking about legalizing marijuana or ending student drug testing invites uncomfortable responses with the average town resident or college administrator. When students from the University of Arkansas SSDP chapter succeeded in passing a policy that equalized marijuana and alcohol penalties, the school posted the new policy in residence halls. Administrators even added the new policy to the student handbook. But then just as quickly as they had changed the policy for the better, the administrators reversed themselves. !"#$%&#"%'#&()#**+,#-(./&)'#&()')0#&()#/%12-3#4%516#(.7)#$)7)'#8))$#/.99)6#2$#&()#:'9&# place. But when school administrators reneged on the policy, the students held them accountable. We’re here to honor that sort of commitment and persistence and to offer tools and concepts that will enhance your efforts. ;<-2&2$=#&(2$=9#.')#(.//)$2$=#.&#**+,>##?)#@59&#%/)$)6#.#$)4#%":-)#2$#A)<2-%#B2&3>## We added more than 100,000 supporters to our email list in 2010, and we ran a -.C/.2=$#&%#&5'$#%5&#&()#3%5&(#7%&)#2$#B.12"%'$2.#"%'#C.'2@5.$.#1)=.12D.&2%$>##?)#(.7)# some tremendous opportunities to amplify our message of drug policy reform ahead. June will mark the 40th anniversary of President Nixon declaring the “war on drugs,” which will invite more media scrutiny and discussion about the failure of the drug war. We speak truth to power and we bring people together. We create a safe space for students of all political stripes to have honest conversations. We know that the status quo doesn’t work and that we’re at the brink of a historic shift, and we’re not afraid to talk about it. Thank you for being here. I can’t wait to end the drug war with you! Sincerely, Aaron Houston Executive Director
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CONTENTS welcome message
2
ataglance schedule
4
detailed conference agenda
5
presenter biographies
8
area map
11
emergency contact numbers and reference
11
SPONSORED BY
DRUG POLICY ALLIANCE
November 25, 2011 Westin Bonaventure Los Angeles, CA
Join your colleagues in the drug policy reform movement to learn, network, and strategize. Together, we can ad vance drug policies based on science, compassion, health and human rights.
F O R M O R E I N F O R M AT I O N V I S I T:
REFORMCONFERENCE.ORG
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AT - A - G L A N C E S C H E D U L E
W EDNES DAY
S ATU R DAY
E ARLY A RRIVAL
A DVOCACY S KILLS T RAINING D AY
7:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Registration (Clarion Inn)
8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration (Ballroom) 9:00 a.m. 9:30 p.m. Breakfast (Ballroom)
TH URSDAY S PEAKERS & M EETUP D AY 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration (Ballroom) 9:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m. Coffee, & light breakfast served 11:00 a.m. 5:15 p.m. Tech Station (Ballroom) 11:00 a.m. 12:30 p.m. Breakout Workshops Sessions I
Option 1 Ask a Campaign Pro (Jiminez) Option 2 Lobby Meeting Basics (Brent) Option 3 Chapter Management (Carroll)
9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Exhibitor Booths (Carroll) 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Opening Remarks (Ballroom) 10:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Breakout Workshops Sessions I
Option 1 Chapter Management (Jiminez) Option 2 Creative Outreach: Using Art for Activism (Brent)
Option 3 “On the Record” Project (Banneker) 11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Breakout Workshops Session II
Option 1 Event Planning (Jiminez) Option 2 Online Organizing
12:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m. Lunch : State of SSDP Staff Panel
(Beginners & Intermediate) (Brent)
2:15 p.m. 3:30 p.m. Region Meetups
Option 3 Organizing Tactics (Banneker)
Option 1 West Coast, South, & Mountain Plains (Ballroom) Option 2 MidAtlanic (Jiminez) Option 3 Northeast (Brent) Option 4 Midwest (Carroll)
1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Lunch & Back to Our Roots: SSDP Timeline
3:45 p.m. 5:15 p.m. Breakout Workshops Sessions II
Option 1 Just Say Now (Jiminez) Option 2 Lobby Meeting Basics (Brent) Option 3 “On the Record” Project (Carroll)
2:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Breakout Workshops Sessions III
Option 1 “On the Record” Project (Jiminez) Option 2 Online Organizing (Advanced) (Brent) Option 3 Organizing Tactics (Banneker) 4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Breakout Workshops IV
(Colony Ballroom)
Option 1 “Chapter Management” (Jiminez) Option 2 Event Planning (Brent) Option 3 Ask the Alumni (Banneker)
7:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m. Meet & Greet Reception (Clarion Inn)
5:45 p.m. 6:15 p.m. Closing Remarks
5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. Congressman Jared Polis (DCO)
FRIDAY
8:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m. Awards Ceremony and $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$035347$8,59317$:$;%17.$(Clarion Inn)
L OBBY D AY 7:00 a.m. 8:00 a.m. Registration & Coffee (Clarion Inn) !"##$%&'&$($)"*#$%&'&$+,--.$/%.$0123456$(Clarion Inn Shuttle buses from hotel to Metro Station; Travel by Metro to Capitol Hill
10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Lobby Meetings (Capitol Hill) 4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Group Picture
Picture will be taken in front of U.S. Capitol Building
8:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m. Alumni Reunion Dinner Ledo’s Pizza, College Park
SEE PAGE 5 FOR SESSION DESCRIPTIONS AND PRESENTERS
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D E TA I L E D C O N F E R E N C E AG E N DA B(./&)'#A.$.=)C)$&
WEDNESDAY 3/16 EAR LY ARRI VA L 7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Early Registration Clarion Inn 8601 Baltimore Avenue College Park, MD 20740
Carroll
A must for all chapter leaders and members, this workshop will provide participants with practical training in building strong and active chapters. Learn about organizing and managing educational campaigns, building a team, working with volunteers, and most importantly, recruiting new people to the cause! Stacia Cosner SSDP Staff Brandon Levey UMD SSDP
12:45 p.m. 2:00 p.m.
THURSDAY 3/17 SPEAKERS & MEETUP DAY 8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration Colony Ballroom
9:00 a.m. 10:45 a.m.
Lunch and State of SSDP Discussion Colony Ballroom
Curious about the future of SSDP? Grab a bite to eat and join us for a panel discussion on the state of SSDP. SSDP’s staff members will highlight some of our accomplishments over the past year including chapter growth, successful campaigns, new resources and much more!
3:45 p.m. 5:15 p.m. “On the Record” Project Carroll
Participants will learn about SSDP’s “On the Record” project and how to effectively elicit 13CD,5C3C$H1,'$3E3973?$,H492%EC$%-,G7$?1G6$ policy at public events like town hall meetings. This will teach students how to formulate effective questions, work as a team, and to IG29JE.$D1,?G93$%5?$GDE,%?$K2?3,C$,H$,H492%EC$ speaking about drug policies. Jonathan Perri SSDP Staff
Just Say Now: Beyond Prop. 19 Jiminez
SSDP recently partnered with the progressive organizing powerhouse Firedoglake to form the Just Say Now Campaign aimed at building massive support for sensible marijuana legislation and initiatives around the country. Learn about Just Say Now and get details on how students utilized our online phone banking tool and collected petition signatures during the fall campaign.
B%""))#.$6#E').F".9&
Aaron Houston SSDP Staff Jonathan Perri SSDP Staff Stacia Cosner SSDP Staff
11:00 a.m. 5:15 p.m.
2:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m.
Technology Station
Regional Meet Ups
Lobby Meeting Basics
Various Rooms
Brent
Chapters from each region will meet together to discuss ways to increase communication with one another and develop strong relationships that @2EE$25FG3593$9%'D%265C$%5?$A3ED$CD13%?$>>/;$ to nearby college campuses.
This workshop will provide participants with best practices techniques for educating lawmakers. These include meeting preparation, communication strategies, conveying your message, and understanding federal and state laws regarding lobbying practices.
Colony Ballroom
Colony Ballroom
Sign up to preview a demo of the SSDP 8<=$:$8=>$037%$%5?$'337$@27A$>>/;BC$61%DA29$ designer and webmaster. Learn more about solidifying your chapter’s online presence, making the most of social networks, and managing data with an endless list of advanced tools and resources. You will also be given the opportunity to submit your ideas on how to better streamline your organization. Garret Overstreet SSDP Staff
11:00 a.m. 12:15 p.m. G9F#.#B.C/.2=$#,'%
Northeast Brent Jason Ortiz, Katharine Celentano, Evan Nison, Marc Pottak
MidAtlantic Jiminez
Jiminez
Devon Tackels, Irina Alexander, Stefan Reed
Participants will hear from experienced campaign operatives with diverse campaign tactics and styles. Presenters will answer questions from the audience about winning drug policy reform campaigns.
Midwest
RJ Bee Hattaway Communications Jill Harris Drug Policy Alliance
Lobby Meeting Basics Brent
This workshop will provide participants with best practices techniques for educating lawmakers. These include meeting preparation, communication strategies, conveying your message, and understanding federal and state laws regarding lobbying practices. Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
Carroll Angelica Gagliardi, Emily Basham, Jeremy Orbach
Southern Ballroom David Aarons, Rob Pfountz
Mountain Plains Colony Ballroom Christopher Pezza
?)9&#B%.9& Colony Ballroom Alex Woon
Jane Hamsher Firedoglake Michael Whitney Just Say Now Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
Jasmine Tyler Drug Policy Alliance
5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. B1%92$=#H)C.'F9 Colony Ballroom
Congressman Jared Polis (DCO) is one of the strongest allies of drug policy reform on Capitol Hill. Jared won statewide election in 2000 to the Colorado Board of Education. During his sixyear tenure, he was a strong advocate for school reform and enhancing educational opportunities. In 2008, Jared was elected to the United States Congress to represent the second Congressional district of Colorado. He has the distinction ,H$-3256$7A3$41C7$,D35E.$6%.$'%5$3E3973?$7,$ Congress as a nonincumbent. Congressman Jared Polis (DCO)
7:00 p.m. 11 p.m. Fundome Meet & Greet Fundome Clarion Inn
L27A$7A3$41C7$?%.$,H$@,1JCA,DC$-3A25?$GCM$27BC$ time to mingle! Join us at the Clarion Inn for a meet and greet reception with food and cash bar. Don’t forget your business cards! Ethan Nadelmann of Drug Policy Alliance will speak. Ethan Nadelmann Drug Policy Alliance
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D E TA I L E D C O N F E R E N C E AG E N DA 9:30 a.m. 10:00 a.m.
FRIDAY 3/18 7:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m. Breakfast and PreLobbying Pep Talk
Banneker
Participants will learn about SSDP’s “On the Record” project and how to effectively 3E2927$13CD,5C3C$H1,'$3E3973?$,H492%EC$%-,G7$ drug policy at public events like town hall meetings. This will teach students how to formulate effective questions, work as a team, and to quickly produce and upload K2?3,C$,H$,H492%EC$CD3%J256$%-,G7$?1G6$ policies.
>35%73$N$O,GC3$PH493$0G2E?256C
Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
10:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. B(./&)'#A.$.=)C)$& Jiminez
A must for all chapter leaders and members, this workshop will provide participants with practical training in building strong and active chapters. Learn about organizing and managing educational campaigns, building a team, working with volunteers, and most importantly, recruiting new people to the cause!
4:45 p.m. 5:00 p.m. Group Photo
U.S. Capitol Hill Building
Meet in front of the U.S. Capitol Hill -G2E?256$H,1$%$61,GD$DA,7,&$>D39249%EE.M$@3$ @2EE$'337$%7$7A3$C'%EE$71%H49$9219E3$53%1$7A3$ intersections of First St. SW, First St. NW & Maryland Ave SW meet.
Jonathan Perri SSDP Staff
8:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.
B').&27)#K5&').-(L Using Art in Activism
Alumni Reunion Dinner Ledo’s Pizza
Brent
On Friday evening, SSDP alumni are invited to Ledo’s in downtown College Park (7308 Yale Ave College Park, MD 20740) for dinner and drinks. Come out, swap stories and celebrate accomplishments. This annual tradition always proves to be a huge SSDP love fest, so don’t miss it!
Are you a talented graphic designer or a future rock star? Art and activism have always gone hand in hand and utilizing your artistic talents is a fun and effective way to promote your chapter, events and campaigns. See examples of SSDP’s best D,C731C$%5?$F.31C$?3C2653?$-.$9A%D731$ leaders (and learn how to make your own) and get a lesson on SSDP’s AMPLIFY Project which links our chapters up with live music artists!
SATURDAY 3/19 ADVOC ACY SKILLS TRAINING DAY
Chris Wallis SSDP AMPLIFY Project Coordinator Stefan Reed NVCC SSDP Garret Overstreet SSDP Staff
8:00 a.m. 4:30 p.m. Registration Colony Ballroom
9:00 a.m. 9:30 a.m. Colony Ballroom
Chances are good that 20112012 will bring opportunities for your chapter to work on local, state or national drug policy reform campaigns don’t be caught off guard! Join some of SSDP’s most experienced chapter leaders as they lead students through this handson workshop during which they will develop actionable plans for determining and executing effective educational campaigns.
“On the Record” Project
I'.7)1#&%#B./2&%1#J211#.$6# Lobby Meetings
Breakfast
After you’ve gotten some breakfast and coffee, SSDP staff members Jonathan Perri and Stacia Cosner will kick off the day!
10:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m.
9:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Travel by Metro to Union Station, see maps for details. Shuttle service is available from the Clarion Inn to the College Park Metro station. Lobby meetings will occur at various times throughout the day.
Organizing Tactics
Stacia Cosner SSDP Staff Jonathan Perri SSDP Staff
Clarion Inn
You can’t lobby on an empty stomach. That’s why we’ve reserved the breakfast area at the Clarion Inn to ensure you get all the nutrients needed to bring common sense to our nation’s drug policies. You’ll also get lastminute lobbying tips and a peptalk from one of the movement’s most experienced lobbyists.
Opening Remarks Colony Ballroom
LOBBY DAY
10:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. Banneker
Jason Ortiz UConn SSDP
11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Event Planning Jiminez
Successful events are a key component of any SSDP chapter. Events help to increase your chapter’s visibility, recruit new members, and educate communities about your campaigns. Participants will learn the basics of event promotion, managing volunteers, working with speakers, and much more. Brian Wallace MAPS
11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. Online Organizing (Beginning & Intermediate) Brent
Bring your computer and you’ll leave this session with several online organizing tools that will make your life as a student organizer in 2011 much easier. Session leaders will explain the basic principles behind the importance of information management then walk students through Q'%2EM$CA%13?$?,9G'357C:4E3C:9%E35?%1CM$ email lists, and Facebook groups & pages. Stacia Cosner SSDP Staff Drew Stromberg WVU SSDP
11:45 a.m. 1:00 p.m. “On The Record” Project Banneker
Participants will learn about SSDP’s “On the Record” project and how to effectively 3E2927$13CD,5C3C$H1,'$3E3973?$,H492%EC$%-,G7$ drug policy at public events like town hall meetings. This will teach students how to formulate effective questions, work as a team, and to quickly produce and upload K2?3,C$,H$,H492%EC$CD3%J256$%-,G7$?1G6$ policies. Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
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D E TA I L E D C O N F E R E N C E AG E N DA SATURDAY CONTINUED 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Lunch & Back to Our Roots: SSDP Timeline Colony Ballroom
This exciting luncheon will provide conference attendees with a visual timeline of SSDP’s history, going all the way back to 1996 and right up to today! SSDP’s founders, former executive directors, staff members and board members will lead this panel, each representing a different era of SSDP. Shawn Heller Former SSDP Executive Director Eric Sterling SSDP Board Member Amber Langston Former SSDP Staff Member Dan Goldman Former SSDP Staff Member
2:45 p.m. 4:15 p.m. “On The Record” Project Jiminez
Participants will learn about SSDP’s “On the Record” project and how to effectively 3E2927$13CD,5C3C$H1,'$3E3973?$,H492%EC$%-,G7$ drug policy at public events like town hall meetings. This will teach students how to formulate effective questions, work as a team, and to quickly produce and upload K2?3,C$,H$,H492%EC$CD3%J256$%-,G7$?1G6$ policies. Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
2:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Online Organizing (Advanced) Brent
For a deeper look inside the inner workings of tools for organizing online, join this expert panel for a discussion on what has @,1J3?:H%2E3?$25$7A3$D%C7$%5?$@A%7$@3$ should expect in the future of using new media for social change. Garret Overstreet SSDP Staff Michael Whitney Just Say Now
2:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Organizing Tactics Banneker
Chances are good that 20112012 will bring opportunities for your chapter to work on local, state or national drug policy reform campaigns don’t be caught off guard! Join some of SSDP’s most experienced chapter leaders as they lead students through this handson workshop
during which they will develop actionable plans for determining and executing effective educational campaigns. Jason Ortiz UConn SSDP
4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. B(./&)'#A.$.=)C)$& Jiminez
A must for all chapter leaders and members, this workshop will provide participants with practical training in building strong and active chapters. Learn about organizing and managing educational campaigns, building a team, working with volunteers, and most importantly, recruiting new people to the cause! Stacia Cosner SSDP Staff
4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Event Planning Brent
Successful events are a key component of any SSDP chapter. Events help to increase your chapter’s visibility, recruit new members, and educate communities about your campaigns. Participants will learn the basics of event promotion, managing volunteers, working with speakers, and much more. Jonathan Perri SSDP Staff Brian Wallace MAPS
4:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. Ask the Alumni Banneker
Do you have general questions about SSDP? Ever wonder how SSDP looks on your resume? Concerned that your chapter might not last after you graduate? We’ve assembled a panel of some of SSDP’s best alumni who will answer your questions and provide you with advice to help build active and long lasting chapters. Mischa Steiner SSDP Alum, Brown University Victor Pinho SSDP Alum, University of Maryland College Park Jason Matthys SSDP Alum, Northern Virginia Community College Amanda Stauble SSDP Alum, University of Connecticut
5:45 p.m. 6:15 p.m. B1%92$=#H)C.'F9 Colony Ballroom
SSDP’s executive director will conclude 7A3$3K357$@27A$%$H3@$45%E$7A,G6A7C&$$L27A$ highlights over the last year and a look at things to come, be sure to join us as we draw a close to our largest conference yet. Aaron Houston SSDP Staff
8:00 p.m. 2:00 a.m. G4.'690#B)')C%$30#E)$):&# B%$-)'&M,.'&3 Clarion Inn
RA3$S#TT$>>/;$035347$8,59317$N$U@%1?C$ Dinner is where we celebrate the incredible work of some of our best chapters and activists from around the country. It’s also a raging party with live music from SSDP AMPLIFY artist Roots of Creation! Be sure to come hungry because we’ll have lots of delicious food. Cash bar.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AT THE
2011 SSDP TRAINING CONFERENCE
&
LOBBY
DAY SEE YOU
NEXT YEAR!
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T RAINING C ONFERENCE & L OBBY D AY | L EARN . T RAIN . A CT . ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS
David Aarons is a freshman at Florida Atlantic University. He currently leads the FAU chapter of SSDP/NORML. He enjoys creating positive social change and being a thorn in the side of his university’s administration. He’s not easily discouraged by much. Irina Alexander is chair of Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s board of directors. This past summer, she worked as an outreach intern at Helping Individual Prostitutes Survive (HIPS) in Washington, DC and graduated magna cum laude in December 2010 at the University of Maryland as a criminology & criminal justice major with a minor in black women’s studies. Emily Basham is a junior at the University of Michigan in the Environmental Studies program. She is currently the Executive Director for the chapter there and has enjoyed being Assistant Executive Director and Secretary for the chapter in the past two years. Katharine Celentano studies neuroscience and economics at Columbia University with the intention of eventually working in policy development. A November SSDP Chapter Leader of the Week, she also coordinates the undergraduate chapter of the interschool Columbia University Harm Reduction Outreach Network (CUHRON) and serves on the Young Professionals Board (YPB) of the Washington Heights CORNER Project (WHCP), a New York City syringe exchange. Stacia Cosner is an associate director with SSDP. Stacia served as President of the University of Maryland SSDP chapter from 20062008. Under her leadership, the chapter received SSDP’s “Outstanding Chapter Award” in 2006 and led successful campaigns to reduce sanctions for marijuana violations and adopt a Good Samaritan policy. She served a twoyear term on SSDP’s board of directors and was
given SSDP’s “Rising Star Award” in 2006, and “Outstanding Student Activist Award” in 2007. Angelica Gagliardi cofounded the SSDP chapter at Kent State University in the Fall of 2008. Since, she has served on the board as Vice President and Treasurer and helped the chapter pass a Good Samaritan Policy on campus. She is currently in her last semester at Kent and serving as SSDP’s Ohio State Coordinator. Dan Goldman served on SSDP’s staff as Director of Outreach and Alumni from August 2005 to May 2006. Prior to joining the staff, he served on the Board of Directors as both a student in 2000 and a nonstudent from 2001 to 2003. In December 2007, he was honored with SSDP’s “Lifetime Achievement Award” and currently he is pursuing a master’s degree in secondary social studies education at The City College of New York. Jane Hamsher is the founder of !"#$%&'()#*+%,-.(.'#($/0&.1"%&"#22/3#. blog. Her work has appeared on The Daily Beat, AlterNet, The Nation and The American Prospect. She has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, PBS and the BBC and is the author of the best selling book Killer Instinct. Jane and FDL partnered with SSDP to launch the Just Say Now Project in 2010. Jill Harris is an advocacy and campaign professional in the greater New York City area. She received an undergrad degree at Harvard University then went on to New York University where she received her law degree. Most recently serving as the Ohio Early Vote director at the Barack Obama Campaign for Change. But most importantly she is the Managing Director for Public Policy at the Drug Policy Alliance Network. Shawn A. Heller is a founder of Students for Sensible Drug Policy,
who also served as SSDP’s Executive Director from 2000 through 2003. Shawn is a member of SSDP’s Counsel of Advisers. Currently, Shawn resides in Miami, FL, and works as a civil rights attorney for the Florida Justice Institute. Aaron Houston is executive director of Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Named a “Rising Star of Politics” by Campaigns & Elections’ Politics Magazine in 2008, Aaron is a nationally recognized expert on drug policy, having played a key role in pushing the Department of Justice to formally issue written guidelines on medical marijuana state laws in October 2009. Aaron has appeared on NBC’s Today show, The Colbert Report, FOX News, CNN, and NPR, and his efforts on Capitol Hill were chronicled in a 2007 Showtime original documentary, In Pot We Trust. Amber Iris Langston is a former student leader, board member, national outreach director and international spokesperson for Students for Sensible Drug Policy. Amber recently worked (2.(.!#'$.+%024'5(05.6%".7,#"/+(02. for Safe Access in Oakland, CA, and as media liaison for Proposition 19, the Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 in California. Amber is currently moving to Kansas City, Missouri, where she will be working fulltime in her home state on local marijuana policy and property rights. Brandon Levey is currently a Junior studying history, philosophy, and Israel Studies at the University of Maryland, and is the CoPresident of the SSDP chapter there. Before college, Brandon volunteered and studied in Israel for 8.,%0592.(0$.:(2.(.!#'$.%"&(0/;#". staffer for the Democratic Party in New Hampshire before the election in 2008. Jason Matthys is an alumni of Northern Virginia Community College where he founded an SSDP chapter in 2009. In his 2 years as SSDP Chapter President he helped build one of the most active chapters in
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ABOUT OUR PRESENTERS the country and organized numerous events including the DC Marijuana March. He has served SSDP as an intern in Washington DC and also as the AMPLIFY Project Coordinator. Currently Jason works as a medical cannabis patient advisor for Harborside Health Center in Oakland, California. Dr. Ethan Nadelmann is the founder and executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance. As one of the most respected critics of US and international drug control policies, his /0<4#05/('."%'#.:(2.0%5#$.=>.?%''/0&. Stone Magazine, which called him “the point man” for drugpolicyreform efforts. Dr. Nadelmann received his BA, JD and PhD from Harvard, a master’s degree in international relations from the London School of Economics, and taught politics and public affairs at Princeton University from 1987 to 1994. Evan Nison is a junior business major at Ithaca College where he serves are President the school’s SSDP chapter. He also cofounded NY Cannabis Alliance, is the Ballot Initiative Coordinator for NORML NJ, worked in California for the Yes on 19 campaign as the Statewide Campus Organizer, and was High Times’ “Freedom Fighter of the Month” in their April 2011 issue.
rallies and acts of civil disobedience. Ortiz has worked on many issues %59#".59(0.$"4&.1%'/+>.24+9.(2.!&95/0&. tuition hikes, antiwar protests, pushing 6%".40/3#"2('.9#('59+("#-.!&95/0&.5%. preserve student free speech rights, and many others. Garret Overstreet is the webmaster and graphic designer for Students for Sensible Drug Policy and several other drug law reform organizations, coast tocoast. Garret is also the founder and President of Tulsa NORML, working to reform marijuana laws in the state of Oklahoma. He has worked on several campaigns across the nation since 2005 and was High Times’ “Freedom Fighter of the Month” in June 2010. Jonathan Perri currently serves as associate director with SSDP and is based in San Francisco, CA. Jon earned his B.A. in Psychology from Franklin Pierce University, where he founded an SSDP chapter. He was given SSDP’s Outstanding Activist Award in 2006. Before joining SSDP’s staff, he worked as a college coordinator for LEAP and also as a substance abuse counselor for teens in a residential treatment program with Phoenix House, one of the largest treatment providers in the country.
Jeremy Orbach founded the Northern Illinois University chapter of SSDP in March, 2010, and was President until this semester. Jeremy worked with the SSDP Board of Directors and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) to force the administration to reinstate the chapter /0.(++%"$(0+#.:/59.59#.!"25.(,#0$,#05. following SSDP being banned from NIU’s campus.
Chris Pezza is currently SSDP’s Colorado State Coordinator, opening communication channels and providing support to chapters around the state. Chris has founded and led two SSDP chapters in Colorado and is currently pursuing a degree in business administration and computer information systems at the University of Northern Colorado.
Jason Ortiz is a member of the SSDP board of directors and the current chair of the Outreach, Recruitment, Diversity committee. Jason has worked on numerous campaigns from running for state representative in 2010 to organizing conferences, concerts,
RJ Bee is a Director at Hattaway Communications, and has 10 years of experience in policy research, political communications and media relations. He has conducted research, developed messages, and designed communications campaigns for a wide
range of clients, including the U.S. Agency for International Development, Connect To Learn, U.S Composting Council, and the New England Clean Energy Council. Before joining Hattaway, RJ worked at Schwartz Communications and Hill & Knowlton, executing communications plans for companies large and small, including HP and Borrego Solar. Rob Pfountz is the former President of the University of Arkansas SSDP chapter, Rob was awarded SAFER’s 2010 Outstanding Student Activism Award for leading a successful initiative campaign to equalize student penalties for marijuana and alcohol on campus. He has taken on his new role as Arkansas SSDP State Coordinator by starting up new chapters, and assisting Arkansans for Compassionate Care’s effort to place medical marijuana on the Arkansas ballot in 2012. Victor Pinho has been actively involved in drug policy reform since cofounding the NORML and SSDP chapters at the University of Maryland in 2004. Currently serving as the SSDP’s New Jersey Chapter Coordinator, he provides guidance and assistance to chapters in the Garden State and coordinates statewide initiatives. Victor is also a Community Organizer with Coalition for Medical Marijuana of New Jersey. Marc Pottak is in his third year at SUNY New Paltz, where he is Co President of SUNY New Paltz SSDP. He is originally from Farmingdale, NY on Long Island, he got involved with SSDP his freshman year, and hopes to work with them for quite a while. Stefan Reed is the chapter president of SSDP at Northern Virginia Community College (SSDP NOVA). He’s been involved with SSDP since the Fall of 2009. He’s an art education major and plans to minor /0.0%0@1"%!5.,(0(&#,#05*..A0$#".9/2. leadership, the NOVA SSDP chapter has consistently been toward one
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T RAINING C ONFERENCE & L OBBY D AY | L EARN . T RAIN . A CT .
of the leading schools the Just Say Now campus challenge by collecting thousands of signatures. Amanda Catherine Stauble graduated from the University of Connecticut in 2009 with a degree in Political Science and a love for community organizing and activism thanks to her involvement with SSDP, Human Rights organizations, and the Women’s Center. She now coowns and operates a freedom focused, tech cafe in New Paltz, NY called Slash Root Technology Collective where clients can sip on organic coffee in a relaxed environment :9/'#.59#/".+%,145#"./2.=#/0&.!B#$.%". their website is being designed. Eric E. Sterling is a member of SSDP’s board of directors and is the President of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation. He has organized, or participated in, almost every kind of nonviolent protest action and political (+5/3/5>-.#B+#15."400/0&.6%".%6!+#*. A former criminal defense lawyer, and counsel to the House Judiciary Committee (19791989), he has been an advocate for sensible drug policies in many arenas for 35 years. Drew Stromberg is the founder and president of the West Virginia University chapter of SSDP. A longtime advocate of social media, Drew started the WVU chapter almost entirely on Facebook. He was the Technology C05#"0.(5.DDEFG2.0(5/%0('.%6!+#.'(25. summer and now he works as Social Media Manager for a consulting company in Morgantown.
Devon Tackels is founder and President of Students for Sensible Drug Policy at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Devon worked as an outreach intern 6%".59#.0(5/%0('.DDEF.%6!+#.59/2.1(25. summer, and was awarded the SSDP “Rising Star” activist award at our international conference last March.
Jasmine Tyler works as a federal lobbyist with the Drug Policy Alliance. She has worked directly on increasing access to substance abuse treatment, eliminating both the Washington, DC, and federal bans on syringe exchange funding, equalizing the penalties for crack and powder cocaine, eliminating mandatory minimum sentencing, and repealing laws that amount to collateral sanctions for felony drug convictions such as the loss of voting rights and public assistance. She received a B.S. in sociology from James Madison University and an M.A. in sociology from Brown University.
Brian Wallace is the Director of Development for The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Brian studied neuroscience, philosophy, and medical sociology at Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz, where he founded the school’s Students for Sensible Drug Policy chapter and served as President from 20072009. Brian coordinates individual donations of assets and income, special event production and sponsorship opportunities, volunteer recruitment and training, and various educational and outreachoriented endeavors.
Mischa Steiner began his journey into drug policy reform in an unusual way: he grew up in Mendocino County, California, where cannabis makes up a larger part of the economy than the top three legal industries combined. He then left California for four years to study Political Science at Brown University, where he served as the president of his SSDP chapter, and interned at the Rhode Island Patient Advocacy Coalition, where he taught patients how to cultivate their own medicine. Upon graduation, he moved back to California to work in the cannabis industry. Mischa currently resides in Oakland, works for the H(:.I6!+#2.%6.J(,#2.7059%0>.(0$. Harborside Health Center, and it the vice chair of SSDP’s national board of directors.
Chris Wallis is SSDP’s AMPLIFY Project Coordinator and cofounder of Kent State SSDP. When he is not helping to end the Drug War through music, he engages in photo storytelling, plays music, and is a senior photojournalism major at Kent State University.
Congressman Jared Polis represents Colorado’s second congressional district. He currently serves on the House Rules Committee and the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee and is a Democratic Caucus Regional Whip. He is a charter member and vicechair of the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition, the Chair of the Immigration taskforce of the Progressive Caucus, and an honorary CoChair of Third Way. Polis is also a successful innovator and entrepreneur, having founded several successful internet companies.
Michael Whitney directs the digital strategy of Firedoglake.com and Just Say Now. He previously managed online campaigns with the Service Employees International Union on '#&/2'(5/3#.(0$.!0(0+/('."#6%",./224#2*. Michael got his start in online politics as the founder of Generation Dean, the youth organizing arm of Howard Dean’s 2004 presidential campaign. Alexander Woon founded the San Jose State SSDP chapter in 2008, and has since worked with various drug policy reform organizations such as Americans for Safe Access and the Oakland Civil Liberties Alliance in the Bay Area. In November 2010, he also assisted with the Proposition 19 campaign, which increased public opinion to the tipping point in favor of Marijuana Legalization. He currently serves on the SSDP Board of Directors, and will continue to support SSDP chapter growth & Marijuana Legalization initiatives in the West Coast Region.
T RAINING C ONFERENCE & L OBBY D AY | L EARN . T RAIN . A CT .
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LOBBY DAY LOCATIONS Group Photo (4:45pm)
in front of the U.S. Capitol building, specifically at the circle where First St. SW & Maryland Ave SW meet First St. SW
Metro Station: Union Station
Senate Office Buildings
Metro Station: Union Station
House Office Buildings
Senate Office Buildings Co
Independence Ave. SW
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UMD: STAMP STUDENT UNION
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Metro Station: L’Enfant Plaza Station
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New
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2nd St. NE
Group Photo
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UMD: AREA MAP
Clarion Inn & Fundome 8601 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740
1. Marshall 2. Brent 3. Colony Ballroom 4. Carroll 5. Banneker 6. Jiménez
UMD STAMP Student Union 1220 Stamp Student Union College Park, MD 20740
Metro: College Park: U of MD Station
EMERGENCY CONTACTS AND REFERENCE NUMBERS Lost? Need help? >>/;$SV:W$O3EDE253"$XS#SY$Z)[(>>/;$XWW*WY Shuttle Pickup Clarion Inn, UMD Campus, & College Park
18004421644 or 3014742800 For Live Updates mobile.ssdp.org | conference.ssdp.org Follow @SSDP and use #ssdp11 hashtag
Send us your photos & videos of the event! >35?$4E3C$%5?$E25JC$7,$DA,7,C\CC?D&,16
STUDENTS FOR SENSIBLE DRUG POLICY EAST COAST OFFICE 1623 Connecticut Avenue NW; Suite 300 Washington, DC 20009 Phone: (202) 293-4414
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