Dozens of dedicated members and affiliates of the Center for Political Innovation convened in Kansas between June 22-26 for the Linn Valley Training School. Attendees participated in an inspiring programme of lectures, music, networking and movement-building for real American socialists.

CPI Director Caleb Maupin and the event’s attendees beamed with an infectious enthusiasm, erupting in spirited chants of “Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win,” “Out of the Movement, into the Masses!” as well as other slogans adopted by the group in their efforts to promulgate the City-Building Tendency. Chants of “Let’s Go Brandon!” and “Slava Donbassu” would have left a passing observer with no doubts about pervading criticism of the Democrats and their propaganda war against those fighting for freedom in secessionist Donbass.

Thursday, June 23rd began with the first session of classes, conducted by CPI members and drawn from Maupin’s 2021 “Saxton Lectures” which aim to present a comprehensive introduction to the organization’s political line. Robert Laurence spoke about the social scientific findings of Karl Marx before Nick Maniace went on to explain how the contradictions of imperialism gave rise to Bolshevism in Russia. Max Reed gave a presentation on the Comintern and the Communist Party USA. Keaten Mansfield traced the roots of the revolutionary intelligentsia. Elizabeth Pekin spoke about Trotsky and Trotskyism. Tristan Dickison explained how the CIA created the Synthetic Left to confound the anticapitalist struggle in the West. Lily Goldklang spoke on the City Building Tendency and the prospects for socialism in the 21st century.

Friday was dedicated to the study of Caleb Maupin’s newest lecture, composed specifically for the Linn Valley training school. It involved case studies in the class struggle centered around William Z Foster (of the Communist Party USA) and Sam Marcy (of Workers World Party). Maupin also spoke about the hidden war within the ruling class, as well as the origins of CPI and burning questions of the moment that informs the tasks ahead.

Saturday began with a complex lecture on how capitalist economy and its dynamics work by Dr Mohamad Shaaf, professor of economics emeritus, prompting significant engagement and interest from attendees.. Afterwards, Rebecca Parsons, a Congressional candidate in the state of Washington, spoke about the crippling debt facing too many American students, as well as the country’s rampant income disparity. Finally, Daniel Burke, former Senate candidate and member of the Schiller Institute, presented the LaRouche Organization’s proposal for a massive irrigation project, dubbed “NAWAPA,” which aims to banish the specter of devastating droughts from the US.

On Sunday, the last day of the programme, Ryan Cotten gave an in-depth lecture on the rise of multilateralism and the growing relationship between China and Russia before Maupin’s closing address, which was concerned with the future of CPI and the organization’s immediate goals.

Attendees also enjoyed the opportunity to participate in creative and informative skits, beautiful music, poetry, and performances of all kinds, headlined by acclaimed anticapitalist folk singer David Rovics.

In the current year, no one pushes harder than CPI to bend the arc of justice toward freedom. Events like the Linn Valley Training School are what will revitalize the dynamic, homegrown revolutionary politics that is the essence of America’s tradition.