The 2012 Right Left UnConvention: A Conversation on Innovation between the Right and Left will be held on October 2-3, 2012 at the Cipriani Wall Street Convention Center on Wall Street in New York City.  Future 500 and Corporate Responsibility (CR) Magazine will bring together world-renowned political allies and adversaries concerned about a gridlocked Congress and bitter partisan divide, to help frame transpartisan priorities for the next administration.

Called the “Right Left UnConvention,” this event brings together leading conservatives, progressives, and libertarians from business, government, and civil society, including many who consider themselves arch adversaries (See: www.unconvention2012.com).  The objective of the Right Left UnConvention: begin to find common ground on core issues in order to hold the next Congress and administration accountable, to rise above partisan gridlock and do what is best for America.

The Right Left UnConvention is part of the annual COMMIT!Forum, hosted by CR Magazine held October 2-3, 2012, which is one of the nation’s largest gatherings of business, government, and NGO leaders, drawing people from all sides of the economic and political divide for an unconventional dialogue. Commit!Forum Unconvention is a joint initiative of CR Magazine and Future 500.

Former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz will open the UnConvention via teleconference. President Reagan’s former budget director, David Stockman, will discuss how “crony capitalism” helps drive political corruption and out-of-control spending.  Co-founder of MoveOn.org and MomsRising, Joan Blades discuss the opportunity and demand that exists for creating change. President Clinton’s former chief economic advisor, Robert Shapiro and Public Policy Professor at Harvard Kennedy School, Elaine Karmark will explore tax, spending, and policy reform that can meet the imperatives of both the right and left.  Professor of Entrepreneurship & Finance at University of Chicago, Luigi Zingales and Former Senator Paul Sarbanes will discuss the continuing need for finance sector reform. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Retired Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn will propose how the nation can secure the domestic energy to help restore domestic manufacturing jobs and keep the nation secure. 

(See agenda: www.commitforum.com/index.php/2012-agenda/)

“The purpose of the Commit!Forum UnConvention is to help break the gridlock that divides America on our most important issues,” says Bill Shireman, CEO of the Future 500.  “Ideologues on both the left and right each enforce a litmus test on their followers – what they are allowed to believe and say.  The UnConvention will probably break every rule of political correctness, on both sides.  It is for people who are fed up with being told what to believe, people who want to listen, even to ideas they vehemently disagree with, and search for understanding and common ground.”

"Unlike the national conventions of the two political parties, the Commit!Forum UnConvention will produce results beyond political fanfare,” says Richard J. Crespin, Chairman of the COMMIT!Forum.  “America’s leading companies will make game-changing commitments at the forum, to advance corporate responsibility and sustainable prosperity.  Principled and dedicated people can disagree on a host of issues, but still find common ground, and act on it.  That's what the UnConvention is all about."

“Even the venue is unconventional,” says Nick Sorrentino, Event Director Future 500.  “At the Cipriani, the site of the former Mercantile Exchange and a fixture of Wall Street, we invite everyone across the spectrum to join us – statesmen and stateswomen from the right and left, business leaders, along with Tea Party conservatives, Ron Paul libertarians, Sierra Club environmentalists, corporate executives, community leaders.  We even want Occupy Wall Street engaged, but inside this time. We want to talk about difficult issues at the height of the election season, in a rational and respectful way.”

Registration is open to the public with limited seating available, so early registration is encouraged.  Registration ranges from $375 for students to $1,695, to assure a vibrant mix of people and ideas. To register: www.commitforum.com/index.php/register/.   Early registration discounts are available. For more information, visit www.unconvention2012.org.

BIOGRAPHIES

The Future 500 is an international non-profit organization, launched in 1995, that builds alliances between adversarial stakeholders – liberals and conservatives, corporations and activists, free marketers and progressives by cultivating and leveraging an extensive stakeholder network. Founded in 1995 and with office in the U.S., China, and Japan, and affiliates in every area where business, civil society groups, and other stakeholders must engage, Future 500 focuses on a host of sustainability issues that fall under four broad categories: Energy & Climate, Water & Agriculture, Materials Stewardship, and Technological Empowerment.  www.future500.org/

CR Magazine is the leading magazine on issues of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, and sponsors of The Commit!Forum that hosts the Right Left UnConvention. It is their mission to provide senior executives with unparalleled learning, meeting, and networking experiences on corporate responsibility, human resources and financial management. www.thecro.com/       

EVENT FACTS

What:                      The 2012 Right Left Unconvention:
                                A Conversation on Innovation between the Right and Left            

When:                     October 2-3, 2012
                                Part of the two day Commit!Forum beginning October 2, 2012

Where:                     Cipriani Wall Street Convention Center on Wall Street, New York City
                                55 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005          

Featured
Speakers:                 Former U.S. Secretary of State, George Shultz
                                 Former U.S. Senator & Co-Author of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, Paul Sarbanes
                                 Former Vice Admiral, U.S. Navy, Dennis McGinn
                                 Professor of Entrepreneurship & Finance at University of Chicago, Luigi Zingales
                                 President Reagan’s Budget Director, David Stockman
                                 President Clinton’s Chief Economic Advisor, Dr. Robert Shapiro
                                 Public Policy Professor, Harvard Kennedy School, Elaine Kamarck
                                 Co-Founder of MoveOn.org & MomsRising, Joan Blades
                                 Environmentalist, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.

Event
Agenda:                   http://www.unconvention2012.com/agenda

Hosts:                      Future 500 www.future500.org/
                               CR Magazine www.thecro.com/

Price:                       Range in registration price from $375 for students to $1,695

Registration
And Info:                www.commitforum.com/index.php/register/

Sponsorship:       Commit!Forum Sponsorship opportunities are available. Please visit,
                            http://www.commitforum.com/index.php/sponsorship-program/
                            or contact, Richard.Crespin@sharedxpertise.com for more information.

Press
Contact:                 Nick Sorrentino, (434) 825-2051
                              nsorrentino@future500.org

                             Risa De Ferrari, (415) 250-3017
                             rdeferrari@future500.org

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