Baltimore Civil Rights Week: Call for Presenters

 

SUBMIT A PROPOSAL! This year, the Baltimore City Office of Equity and Civil Rights is excited to be hosting the 5th annual Civil Rights Week (October 6th - October 12th) here in Baltimore as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the historic signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Civil Rights Week is a series of FREE events over seven days which bring together academics, policy makers, service providers, activists, grassroots leaders, and members of all types of communities in our city together. In many respects, Baltimore, is one of the true homes of the civil rights movement. From the founding of the Baltimore City Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 1956 to the establishment of the Police Accountability Board in 2022, Baltimore and the beautifully diverse people that make up our communities have fearlessly stood at the front lines of this fight. The City of Baltimore and the Office of Equity and Civil Rights are honored to be the beneficiaries of that work and the guardians of that legacy.  Governor Moore has declared 2024 to be "The Year of Civil Rights". With the same energy and spirit, we are happy to share that our theme for Civil Rights Week 2024 will be "From Protest to Progress!". Put yourself in a reflective and prospective mindset as we dissect false and systemic barriers and take the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the people and ideas that have made Baltimore a more equitable place to live. You can follow the links below to learn more about the different divisions that make up OECR and how your proposal can tie into some of the amazing work they do: -Police Accountability Division -Wage Commission -Women's Commission -Commission on Disabilities -Equity Division -Community Relations Commission Proposals for programs are now open and will be accepted until May 31st, 2024, at 11:59 PM.   To submit a proposal, please complete this online form: https://forms.office.com/g/39LGUWHxtE  If you require accommodations or other assistance to submit a proposal, please contact Jumel Howard at jumel.howard@baltimorecity.gov for further assistance.   Guidelines for Proposals:   Proposal topics should be relevant to the main theme of the week, "From Protest to Progress" Proposals should be focused on the local Baltimore (City and/or County) area and how equity, civil rights, and inclusion in process have evolved in Baltimore between the signing of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and today.  Activists, service providers, policy makers, scholars, clients, artists, and other Baltimore-based change-makers are all welcome as potential panelists!  When writing the proposal description be sure to include a title and brief (roughly 100 words) description of your proposed panel, workshop, or other interactive formats. Proposed presenters must have already agreed to participate BEFORE proposal submission.  No incomplete proposals will be considered. This means all participants must be identified and their contact information provided, and all aspects of the associated program and costs are included in the proposal. Proposals with any associated costs must include a plan to cover those costs.    Individuals and organizations who have presented in prior years are more than welcome to submit proposals for this year! However, please be sure that the proposal presents different material than has been presented in the past.  We do not include panels that are solicitations or advertisements for businesses or personal services.  Preference will be given to proposals that incorporate the voices of minority, immigrant/refugee, low-income, or LGBTQIA+ communities. We will also give consideration to proposals that include presenters in multiple roles and/or from more than one organization/institution. For example: (a service provider, scholar, and client from one organization, or representatives from two or more organizations working in collaboration.) Submission Timeline:   May 31, 11:59pm (EST): Deadline for proposal submission.   May 15: Notification of acceptances.  June 28: Participant and OECR Introduction/Q&A Session. August 1: General registration opens. August 1st - 15th: Venue walk-throughs. Sunday, October 6th - Saturday, October 12: Baltimore City Civil Rights  Week!