Ignite social justice and leadership conference

The Education & Social Change office, as part of the Center for Inclusion & Social Change, is preparing to host our annual leadership and social justice conference. The Ignite Conference is an annual one-day conference-style social justice program that is designed for CU Boulder students to learn, have dialogue, network and engage in a brave space together. 

The 2023 theme is Unsticking Your Stuck: Navigating Your Journey of Change. This theme recognizes students are starting or continuing their leadership, activism and change journeys at different places. Engaging in this experience will allow students to cultivate joy and skills to forge a path for their journeys ahead as they learn about leadership and social justice through workshops and keynote addresses. Students who attend this conference will ignite their journey of change through Moving, Shaking and Activating. The conference will be held in-person on Saturday, February 25, 2023 in Kittredge Central.

Download Conference Program 

Questions or concerns? Please contact Ysatiz Piñero or Nicole Laverty. Thank you for your continued support.

Objectives

  1. Social justice education
  2. Leadership techniques
  3. Community & cultural engagement
  4. Resiliency & persistence
  5. Intersectional identity development

Goals

  1. To create transformative educational opportunities on diversity and social justice topics for students informed by the intersectional framework.
  2. To encourage mutual respect, empathy and curiosity while engaging in intergroup dialogue.
  3. Through restorative justice practices students will cultivate a community of care while participating in crucial conversations.
  4. To develop civically conscious students by encouraging them to interact with communities through service, advocacy and activism.

  • Check In: 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. 
  • Opening: 9:30 to 10:00 a.m. 
  • Session I (Moving): 10 to 11 a.m.
  • Session II (Shaking): 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
  • Lunch: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
  • Session III (Activating): 1:45 to 2:45 p.m.
  • Closing & Keynote: 3:00 to 4:30 p.m.

The proposal period is now closed.
We are seeking faculty, staff and student organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to student success to submit program proposals for the Ignite Conference. We are requesting proposals in the following areas:

  • Moving: When we look at moving, we think about the journey of change and the experiences that go with it. Sessions that are submitted under the Moving category should focus on topics that ask questions such as: What does positive action look like? How do we use our past to inform our present and future? How do social movements influence our societies?
    • Workshop topic ideas: History of Social Movements; Allyship vs. Accomplice; Intersectionality; Current Social Movements: They’re Important, Burnout: What Is It, etc.
  • Shaking: When we look at shaking things up, we think about concepts of challenging the status quo, challenging the process, developing stronger thought spaces. Sessions that are submitted under the Shaking category should focus on topics that educate and motivate attendees on ways they can begin changemaker work.
    • Workshop topic ideas: Challenging the Space, Activism, Barrier Interventions/Overcoming Barriers, etc. 
  • Activating: When we look at activating, we think about starting your journey of change, concepts of tangible next steps, personifying passions, examples of existing initiatives/programs and creating plans of action. Sessions that are submitted under Activating should focus on topics that educate and motivate attendees on how to make plans and ideas into actionable steps. 
    • Workshop topic ideas: Goal Setting, Strategic Planning, Examples of Events and Initiatives, Let’s Identify Where and How to Start, etc.

Ignite Conference Resource Guide:

Please CLICK HERE to review the helpful information regarding the conference and program proposal submission guidelines. All programs will be offered in 60-minute sessions (50-minute program, 5 minutes for questions, and 5 minutes for session evaluation).

Please feel free to forward this form to anyone who may be interested in presenting at this exciting conference. All program proposals should be submitted by Friday, January 27, 2023 at 5:00 pm MT. The Ignite Conference committee will review program submissions and notify faculty and staff by Friday, February 3, 2023. Selected programs will be based on the relevancy of the presentation, the conference theme and the needs of conference attendees.

Questions or concerns? Please contact Ysatiz Piñero or Nicole Laverty. Thank you for your continued support.

Past Conferences

2022 Ignite Conference