“State and local policymaking is more important for shaping people’s economic conditions than it has ever been. Whether it’s establishing key worker protections that the federal government has abandoned, setting labor standards that Congress has failed to update, or rebuilding vital programs that are actively being dismantled by an administration hostile to equity and economic justice, state and local governments must be a bulwark for workers’ rights and examples of the progress that is possible.”
— Heidi Shierholz, President, Economic Policy Institute
A VITAL TOUCHPOINT FOR RACIAL, GENDER, & ECONOMIC JUSTICE MOVEMENTS IN THE STATES
For over 25 years, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) has hosted EARNCon, our annual conference. It brings together members of the Economic Analysis and Research Network (EARN)—a tight-knit community of researchers, analysts, labor groups, and grassroots organizers from across the country—with other allies in the movement for economic, racial, and gender justice. We gather to learn from each other, strategize together, and develop plans to advance state and local policies that will build a more equitable economy.
EARNCon is a place for:
→ Connecting Theory and Action.
At EARNCon, attendees engage in dialogue with national experts and on-the-ground practitioners on questions and ideas related to research, policy design, advocacy strategy, communications and messaging, and coalition building. These conversations build knowledge and relationships that become the glue for transformative state policy campaigns across the country.
→ Centering Worker, Racial, and Gender Justice.
Hosted in partnership with EPI’s Program on Race, Ethnicity, and the Economy (PREE), EARNCon intentionally brings a worker, racial, and gender justice lens to every conference discussion on a broad range of issues including child labor, minimum wage, access to quality child care, gig workers, and school vouchers.
→ Prioritizing Workers, Families, and Communities in Economic Policymaking.
EARNCon sessions demystify arcane aspects of public policy and economic research, bringing everything back to what really matters—quality of life for workers, children, families, and communities.
→ Bringing Together Diverse Perspectives.
Achieving meaningful state and local policy change requires intentional partnerships among , organized labor, national think tanks and advocacy groups, funders, academics, and state and locally based policy groups. EARNCon uniquely brings stakeholders from all these spheres into one space to formulate and advance a shared vision for state and local policy.
→ Highlighting Place-Based Stories, Successes, and Strategies.
Hosted in a different city each year, EARNCon grounds attendees in the unique economic, racial, and gender justice history of the site. We spotlight the work of our host EARN group and their partners, and feature lessons from local victories and campaigns in progress. Attendees often join local actions during the conference.
→ Lifting Up State and Local Priorities.
EARN groups and partners help design the conference’s content. This ensures that sessions and speakers cover the most pressing issues for advocates on the ground across a wide diversity of geographies and political contexts.
CONNECTIONS LEADING TO ACTION
EARNCon isn’t just about the opportunity to hear inspiring plenary speakers or expert workshop panelists. It is the practitioner-led exchange of ideas, best practices, and cautionary tales; the solidarity built between activists and researchers; the hands-on technical, organizing, communications, and fundraising skills brought home; and the concrete plans that emerge to drive state and local policy change in the years ahead.
EARNCon has been instrumental in:
→ Creating a Hub for Action in the South.
In meetings at EARNCon, Southern EARN groups identified a need for more tailored, regionally focused support—sentiments that led to the creation of the EARN in the South program. It has since become a leading multi-state hub for coordination among research, organizing, and advocacy partners advancing policies to make the South a place where all workers and families thrive, while pioneering novel grantmaking strategies centered on project co-creation with Black- and brown-led grassroots organizations.
→ Taking Concrete Steps Toward Racial Equity.
EARNCon has inspired and guided EARN groups to contribute to dozens of racial equity policy campaigns in their states. Recent examples include the racial impact assessment requirement enacted for legislation in Maine, baby bonds proposals being explored in New Jersey, and a reparations initiative underway in Colorado.
→ Building Multiracial Worker Power in the States.
The role of worker power in the economy has long been central to EARNCon, where speakers and case studies illustrate why unions and pro-worker policies are essential to advancing economic, racial, and gender justice. Past EARNCon sessions gave birth to our now robust EARN Worker Power Project that has since funded multi-year projects in 17 states—ensuring network groups are equipped to drive analysis of union density, job quality, wages, and inequality in their states; advance key state labor policy priorities; actively support new waves of organizing, strikes, and state struggles to defend and expand pathways to unionization especially for Black and brown workers; and now to help the public quickly respond to intense, escalating federal threats to labor rights.
→ Establishing a Powerful Minimum Wage Infrastructure.
Over the years, EARNCon has hosted numerous, iterative conversations deepening participants’ understanding of minimum wage research and policy design. These discussions have helped EARN groups cement deep expertise on the issue, forming a nationwide infrastructure that has analyzed, informed, and helped drive over 60 successful state and local minimum wage campaigns over the past 20 years.
SPONSORSHIP LEVELS
Join us in building the foundation to win state and local policies that advance racial, economic, and gender justice. Commit to becoming an EARNCon sponsor today!
Attendance Scholarship: $2,000 each
- Each attendance scholarship will cover the ticket cost and a travel stipend for one EARNCon attendee. Scholarships will be made available to staff at EARN member groups and their in-state grassroots and community partners with limited travel resources.
Workshop Sponsor: $5,000
- Recognition on EARNCon website, event emails, and conference program
- Conference registration for two members of your organization*
Plenary Sponsor: $10,000
All the benefits of a Workshop Sponsor plus:
- Additional signage and recognition during the plenary session
- Conference registration for two additional members of your organization (4 total)*
Reception Sponsor: $25,000
All the benefits of a Plenary Sponsor plus:
- Signage at registration and recognition during the conference reception
- Conference registration for an additional four members of your organization (8 total)*
- Complimentary tickets for all attending members of your organization to the Thursday evening group activities
Conference Sponsor: $50,000
All the benefits of a Reception Sponsor plus:
- Conference registration for an additional eight members of your organization (16 )*
- Invitation for all attending members of your organization to a dinner with EPI President Heidi Shierholz and Executive Vice President Naomi
*Sponsors may transfer any of their registrations to partners or grantees or donate those registrations for use by EARN members and grassroots partners with limited travel resources.