I think that David Sirota is somene you should definitley try to get as a speaker.

The following is from his webstie : www.davidsirota.com

I am the co-chairperson of the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) - a position I took after finishing a stint as a fellow at the Center for American Progress. I am also a Senior Editor at the In These Times magazine, and a writer for Working Assets, and a twice-a-week guest on the Al Franken Show. I have just completed a book for Random House's Crown Publishers entitled "Hostile Takeover" - it will be released Spring 2006. I also write a bi-weekly section for the Nation Magazine called Permanent Minority vs. Towards the Majority about Democrats failures and successes. For more on what I do, see this Washington Post story about my blog, this Molly Ivins column about my work, or this Newsweek profile about me. Feel free to email me at david@davidsirota.com with any thoughts/criticism. Note: this online publication represents my personal views, and not the official views of the organizations I work with.

I need to find something a bit more concrete

Post Story, I'm confused. Do you mean more concrete than Jason's reasons for recommending Sirota or more concrete direction in what we are looking for in an awardee?

First up is Gwen Moore, the first African-American the people of Wisconsin have ever sent to DC on their behalf. A single mom who got through college on welfare, she's lived the ideals DMI champions. From a recent Nation article:

If you want progressive politics, Moore has the whole package. She fought for women's reproductive rights as a state senator. She battled former governor Tommy Thompson over his welfare "reform" experiments and still gets worked up when she talks about it: "Ten thousand women got kicked out of college and technical college!" ... She's a big supporter of labor. She's also, perhaps surprisingly, a star candidate for EMILY's List...

You don't have to go far for the second suggestion: Rep. John Conyers fought like hell over the Ohio vote in 2004. He's carrying on the civil rights struggle that the DMI's forebearers waged 40 years ago.

Neither of these 'nominees' is from NYC, and both are elected officials, and not grassroots; it could be more profitable for the DMI to turn the spotlight on someone else. But both deserve recognition for their efforts.

Thanks Nicholas! It sounds like Congresswoman Moore understands what our fellow Maureen Lane has been fighting for-- protecting education access for people on welfare.

Obviously Conyers is a superhero. As a blogger I love how he's demonstrated that blogs can impact policy and force the media to do their job. His work on the Downing Street memo was amazing.