Register for GARE Membership Meeting*
The GARE Membership Meeting is a multi-day, in-person meeting for racial equity practitioners and racial justice thought leaders from GARE member jurisdictions. Through general sessions, plenaries, and breakout sessions participants from across the network will connect and exchange strategies and promising approaches for advancing a just, multi-racial democracy. As GARE’s largest member convening, the meeting is member-informed and increasingly member-led, creating space for building shared learning and momentum that practitioners can carry back into their local racial equity work.
GARE is hosting the Membership Meeting at Facing Race because racial equity work in government does not sit apart from the broader racial justice ecosystem. It is shaped by movement-building, narrative change, law, culture, and organizing - and it shapes those forces in return. In 2024, GARE convened its Membership Meeting at Facing Race in St. Louis, Missouri, situating government practitioners within that broader framework.
This year in Raleigh, GARE Network practitioners will again have the opportunity to participate in two complementary events. The GARE conference will take place on November 12, held alongside Facing Race preconference programming. On November 13 and 14, attendees can engage in government-focused sessions within the Facing Race agenda, including select breakouts reserved exclusively for government practitioners.
Learn more at the GARE Membership Meeting site*
* GARE Online Community log-in required.
2026 GARE Membership Meeting FAQs
Please review Facing Race’s FAQs for general event questions. For GARE-specific inquiries, please see below.
How do I register for the Membership Meeting?
You need a password to register for the 2026 GARE Annual Membership at Facing Race. You can find the password on right panel of the Membership Meeting website. To access this website, you must be logged into the GARE Online Community. Click the "Buy Tickets" link and enter the password.
If you do not already have a GARE Online Community account, you can register for one here using your government email address. If you have trouble logging in, please contact [email protected] for technical assistance.
What is the deadline to purchase a ticket?
Registration for the 2026 GARE Membership Meeting closes on Monday, October 12 at 11:59 PM PT. There are no exceptions to this deadline, as it is necessary to ensure appropriate planning, coordination, and capacity for the meeting.
Does my GARE membership include complimentary tickets to the Membership Meeting?
No. GARE membership does not include complimentary tickets to the Membership Meeting. All attendees are required to register and purchase a ticket.
Registration fees directly support the planning, facilitation, and delivery of the Membership Meeting, including curated content for government practitioners, convening space within Facing Race, and the operational costs required to host a high-quality, in-person experience.
Are you offering a one-day ticket for the GARE event only?
Tickets for the 2026 GARE Annual Membership Meeting include the pricing to attend Facing Race. If you are unable to attend all 3 days of the convening, Facing Race offers a one-day ticket option. This ticket tier admits only on the selected day and does not include admission to the entire Facing Race Conference. You can register for the day that best suits your availability here.
Can a registration be shared between two people in my jurisdiction if a person is only able to attend for certain days?
No. Registrations for the 2026 GARE Membership Meeting at Facing Race are issued to individual participants and cannot be split or shared between multiple people. This policy helps us to accurately track participation and to provide a consistent, relational experience for all attendees.
Who should attend the 2026 GARE Membership Meeting at Facing Race?
The Membership Meeting is a space by and for government practitioners from GARE member jurisdictions, and is embedded within Facing Race’s broader movement ecosystem, which centers the unique role of government and supports practitioners who are navigating these realities while working to institutionalize racial equity. It brings together racial equity practitioners working in local, regional, and state government who are focused on advancing racial equity through the everyday mechanics of government. Participants will gather to foster critical connections, engage in shared learning, and build the skills, influence, and capacity needed to create conditions where all families and communities can live long, healthy lives, no matter their race, class, or ZIP code.
Can anyone attend the 2026 GARE Annual Membership Meeting?
No. The 2026 GARE Membership Meeting is designed and curated for racial equity practitioners from GARE member jurisdictions, who work in local, regional, and state government and are engaged in advancing racial equity within the structures, policies, and daily operations of government.
How do I register my jurisdiction for the Membership Meeting?
To register a group of staff, complete this group registration form. For more information on group sales, please click here. If you encounter any issues during registration, please contact our team at [email protected] with the subject line “2026 GAMM Registration Support.”
Do I need to create a Whova login to register?
Yes. To fully access and interact with an event hosted on the platform, you need to create a Whova account, although the registration process and app login are separate steps. You must sign up using the same email address you used to purchase tickets or register for the event to access specialized attendee features.
What are my payment options?
After completing your online registration, you may pay immediately via credit card.
If you would like to pay by invoice, for both individual and group tickets, you can do so by completing this form. Be sure to include your jurisdiction’s billing information. Our finance team will issue an invoice to the email address provided via Paystand within 48 hours of your form submission. Once payment is confirmed*, a GARE staff member to reach out with your/group’s registration instructions and code within 48 business hours.
*Payment within 30 days of the invoice date is strongly preferred to support planning and administrative processing.
If you have any issues with registration or the invoice payment process, please contact us at [email protected].
Can I register for another person?
Yes, you can register for another person during the online registration process. Please note that you will be asked for demographic information that may be best for the individual attending to complete. If you register for another person, please confirm you are doing so with their consent.
Can I transfer my Membership Meeting ticket to someone else?
Yes, you can transfer a purchased ticket to another person at anytime, and no money is refunded. To begin the process, please forward the Membership Meeting Ticket Transfer Form to the person who will be using your ticket. Be sure to provide them with:
- Your full name (as it appears on your registration)
- Your registration confirmation number
- Your government email address
The new attendee must complete the form so we can update the registration in our system. Once the form is submitted, please allow up to 48 business hours for the transfer to be processed. After the update is complete, we will send a confirmation email to the new attendee. If you have any questions, email us at [email protected].
What is your refund policy?
A full refund is possible through Thursday, November 19 at 11:59 PM PST. If you are registered and can no longer attend the GARE Annual Membership Meeting, please contact our team at [email protected].
How can I submit a GARE-curated Breakout Session Proposal?
Facing Race will provide attendees with tools to dismantle systemic racism in their communities. We are seeking breakout sessions that align with this emphasis. We are soliciting proposals for interactive 90-minute breakout sessions in varied formats, e.g., film screening, panel discussion, hands-on art project, or skill-building. GARE practitioners are encouraged, but not required to submit for the following breakout track:
Transforming Institutions to Shift Power: Sessions highlighting the work of social justice organizations, philanthropy, and government agencies that advance racial equity by systematically changing institutions, policies, and practices to center racial justice. This track lifts strategies from government, the broader public sector, philanthropy, and cross-sector partners that influence government to change policy, practice, culture, and decision-making. Sessions in this track will emphasize operationalizing racial equity within institutions, including navigating political and legal constraints, responding to backlash, and building durable internal capacity to sustain equity work.
If selected as a presenter for an in-person session, will GARE cover my travel and hotel accommodations?
For Facing Race 2026, Race Forward will offer a discount on registration. Please be advised that presenters will be responsible for their own lodging, travel ground transportation and flight costs. Presenter Registration includes:
• Admission to all sessions, including plenaries, keynote talks, breakout sessions, performances, and the exhibitor hall.
• Event merchandise and other exciting takeaways.
• Complimentary continental breakfast and lunch on designated conference days.
Is there a justification letter I can provide my employer to approve my attendance at the Membership Meeting?
Yes. You can find an example justification letter for the GARE Annual Membership Meeting here. You must be logged into the GARE Online Community to access this page.
If you do not already have an Online Community account, please complete this registration form with your government email address.
My jurisdiction requires that I submit an agenda for approval before registering for a conference. Is there one available?
Please visit the ‘Schedule’ tab of the Membership Meeting site for the most current agenda information. You must be logged into the GARE Online Community to access this site.
If you do not already have an Online Community account, please complete this registration form with your government email address.
Will the GARE Annual Membership Meeting be hybrid this year?
The GARE pre-conference day, Thursday, November 12, will be held exclusively in-person. The remainder of Facing Race will be hybrid, and the virtual component will be announced at a later time.
Will childcare be available at the conference?
No, childcare will not be available at this year’s GARE Membership Meeting.