Social justice conferences let you meet other passionate advocates for equality. You'll feel recharged after attending one of these events and seeing the successes happening in the struggle for social justice across the country. Whether you're a student researcher, a devout Christian or a public school teacher, you can find conferences about social justice designed just for your needs.
The Justice Conference
To help modern-day Christians embrace the commandment to love their neighbors, the Justice Conference brings together faith leaders and committed social justice activists. The four themes for 2017 are Women and Children, Refugees and Immigration, Race and Systematic Injustice and Chasing Justice Together. Keynote speakers will cover each of these topics, and you can attend break-out sessions to further your understanding of them. By using a Biblical framework, the founders of the Justice Conference hope to spread Christ's love throughout the world and build a community of justice-oriented Christians. Justice 17 will be held in Chicago on June 9 and 10.
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The 9th Annual Northwest Conference on Teaching for Social Justice
Educators are an important part of the fight for social equality, and this one-day event in Portland, OR, seeks to give teachers the tools they need to promote justice in their classrooms. With workshops centered around reaching specific student demographics, integrating STEM subjects with social justice and managing inequality in the classroom, you can find the perfect fit for your needs. You can earn one hour of college credit through Lewis & Clark College or seven hours of continuing education credits through the Heritage Institute. This gathering will take place on Saturday, October 29.
The 6th National Conference on Community and Restorative Justice
This conference delivers five separate tracks for attendees. Calling Forth Our Future is for youth leaders, Explorers is for attendees new to restorative justice, Deep Divers is for long-term practitioners of social justice, Movement Builders is for political activists and Practice to Research is for evidence-based interventions to disrupt structural oppression. You can attend this conference in Oakland, CA, from June 16-18; the next gathering will not be until 2019.
National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) 2017
This five-day conference at the University of Oklahoma features hands-on presentations led by social justice, racial reconciliation and diversity experts. These workshops include social media conversations, experiential sessions, research methodology and so much more. Pre-conference workshops offer 7 to 10 hours of expert training and continuing education credits. Demographic-specific caucus groups offer a unique networking and healing space for participants wishing to discuss their experiences in a more intimate setting. Students are also welcome to attend NCORE 2017, and some scholarships are available. Pre-conference trainings will take place on May 30 and 31; the official conference will be held June 1-3.
Engaged Scholarship & Social Justice Undergraduate Research Conference
Designed specifically to encourage undergraduate researchers focused on social justice issues, this Harvard-led symposium is open to students from all universities. You can gain experience presenting your research in an oral session or poster format and compete for cash awards. Conference registration is free for the academic community, so this is a rare chance to attend a social justice conference without paying hefty registration fees. You'll see Cambridge, MA, on April 8 for this event, but you can take a long weekend and enjoy Boston afterwards.
These 5 conferences about social justice demonstrate the many options available to you as a political advocate. They are a safe space to practice speaking your mind – even if your voice shakes.