2024 Program: general

The 2024 Presidential elections have concluded—now what? Join us for an inspiring discussion with leading voices in political organizing and movement building. This plenary will highlight the opportunities for progress stemming from the election results, and how we can collectively navigate potential challenges. We will focus on strategies for fostering community resilience, ensuring safety, and advancing towards a hopeful, just, and multi-racial democracy over the next four years.

August 9th, 2024, commemorated the 10th anniversary of Michael Brown Jr.’s tragic death at the hands of a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri. This event ignited widespread protests, galvanized a movement for justice, and catalyzed calls for systemic reform across the nation. Join us for an engaging dialogue featuring leaders in the fight for justice as we examine the enduring impact of Ferguson and its continuing influence on today’s social and political dynamics. Reflecting on the changes made and the challenges that persist, we will discuss what the next decade might hold for justice reform and racial equity, envisioning a future shaped by the lessons learned from Ferguson.

Join us for From Hope to Action: Building Multiracial Solidarity, this closing plenary will address the critical role of solidarity in today’s world, shaped by both global and local conflicts and rapid demographic changes. As forces of inequality leverage these tensions to stall progress on racial justice, true multiracial solidarity requires more than affirming each community’s priorities—it demands active collaborative leadership to address and bridge tensions before they become tools of division.

This session will explore the practical strategies for resilience, unity, and engagement across differences that are essential for strengthening bonds within and between communities and their leadership. Through impactful stories, real-world examples, and tools from leaders experienced in conflict resolution, attendees will gain actionable insights to help leaders, organizations, and institutions of governance to thrive together through the most challenging of times.

More than just a discussion, this plenary is an invitation to imagine and build a future where solidarity itself becomes our most powerful shared purpose against forces undermining the advancement of racial justice in the United States.