Beyond the Bars - Towards Freedom: Violence, Safety and Abolition in 2021, March 18-21

This year marks the 11th annual Beyond the Bars Conference, coming one year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in which multiple crises have unfolded, and the growth of social movements struggling for a more just and safe world have increased significantly.  Given this, we hope to create deep and thoughtful conversations about the many forms of violence that our society has experienced; to surface and examine the ways in which movements are pushing for community and public safety in ways that do not reenforce the carceral state; and to explore why abolition has become so prevalent in the conversations, strategies and demands in the work of transforming approaches to justice and safety. In addition, we will take time to honor and celebrate the leadership of women impacted by incarceration, and the leadership of Black women, and all that we have and can learn from their work.  And we will spend time building and amplifying the work of grassroots organizing.

This year's conference will be virtual and we are delighted to partner with Haymarket Books to bring the conference to you in this virtual world.

***Register through Eventbrite to receive a link to join the conference sessions a few days before the event. This event will also be recorded and have live captioning and ASL interpretation. ***

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 

THURSDAY NIGHT MARCH 18th - Women Transcending: Building Collective Leadership (starts at 6:30pm)

Join us as we celebrate the collective leadership of Women Transcending featuring the Women Transcending Collective Leadership Institute.  Hosted by Fox Rich.

FRIDAY NIGHT MARCH 19th -  Celebrating Black Women's Leadership, Then & Now (starts at 6:30pm)

Join us for two conversations featuring Angela Davis, Barbara Ransby, Andrea James, LaTosha Brown, M Adams, Roberta Meyers Douglas, Fallon McClure, Fenika Miller and Tiffany Roberts. Perfomance by Aja Monet.  Hosted by Nkechi Taifa.

SATURDAY MARCH 20th- Uprooting Violence, Building Safe Communities (11:00-3:00pm)

Join us for three panels featuring Keenga-Yamahtta Taylor, Danielle Sered, Sonya Shah, Jose Saldana, Joo-Hyun Kang, Gina Dent, Dean Spade, Dawn Harrington, Ivan Calaff, Ash-Lee Henderson, Jonel Beauvais and Lex Steppling. Performance by the Peace Poets. Hosted by Nkechi Taifa. More information forthcoming.

SUNDAY MARCH 21st- Towards Freedom: Building the Grassroots - Organizing Workshops (11:00-3:00pm)

Join us for workshops from grassroots organizers. More information forthcoming.

Important Information about the Conference

ACCESS: We want to create an inclusive conference. We will have live captioning ASL interpretation. If you have other specific needs please email [email protected] and we will do our best to meet them.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions? -- Please email [email protected] with any questions.