We'll explore the challenges and threats facing our communities and examine the shared experiences of systemic oppression that shape our collective struggles. Our organization will also present its frameworks on understanding and combating structural and gendered Islamophobia, divestment and reinvestment narratives, community and economic defense, and community-driven demands for systems change.

Expose the interconnected web of state-sanctioned violence and oppression, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between the expansion of authoritarianism, Islamophobia, militarism, mass surveillance, immigration enforcement, policing, prisons, transnational repression, and the War on Terror. Moreover, we will dissect the role of structural Islamophobia as a key tool used by the Right and White Christian nationalists to consolidate power. Furthermore, we'll share language and frameworks for understanding the importance of building connections between Islamophobia, anti-Palestinian racism and other forms of structural violence with the goal of building a united front against these forms of oppression through meaningful solidarity and collective action within and across communities. 

What is power? What is our community’s relationship to power? What are methods of powerbuilding? What strategies and tactics can help us build long-term power with an emphasis upon base-building? How do we position ourselves in relationship to demographic shifts that will materialize in 2050 and beyond? What are the complexities and implications of being a minority community in the United States, yet part of a rising global majority? What is abolition and how can our communities use it as a tool for visioning just futures? How can we harness our collective strength and resilience to build a more just future?

Learn about existing and tested models of community and economic defense, including skills and tools that support us in building people power. We will explore the existing infrastructure and gaps in providing collective care, mutual aid, solidarity economies, legal defense, community participatory defense, and community models of safety. We will also spend time discussing the specific challenges faced by BAMEMSA/SWANA communities and strategize to overcome them in today’s hostile political environment.

Attendees will acquire critical tools, sharpen skills and connect with other changemakers across various sectors dedicated to building long-term power, community and economic defense infrastructure as we move into the next four years.