It’s been less than a year since January’s inspiring Women’s March became the largest single-day protest in American history, and what the organizers have planned next promises to be no less inspiring. The inaugural Women’s Convention will take place in Detroit, MI, from Oct. 27 through 29, and will comprise panels, workshops, film screenings, a social justice concert, and other events to help women and femmes take their activism to the next level — something that’s been deeply needed in the wake of the election. Earlier today, the organizers announced who will be speaking at the Women’s Convention, and if you have the ability to get to Detroit for the event, you’re definitely not going to want to miss out.
True to the Women’s Convention’s official theme — “Reclaiming Our Time” — the list of recently announced speakers includes Rep. Maxine Waters. The California Democrat has gotten praise for her progressive policies and, of course, for her immortal shut-down of Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin earlier this summer. The addition of the representative to the Women’s Convention lineup came in an email announcing the program for the Women’s Convention, further details of which are still forthcoming in advance of the three-day event.
Other speakers announced today include Stacey Abrams, candidate for Georgia Governor, Nina Turner, President of the PAC Our Revolution, Symone Sanders, who served as press secretary for Bernie Sanders’ campaign, and political analyst Angela Rye. The newly-announced speaker list also includes actor and author Amber Tamblyn (whom you may know from Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants fame, or any of the gazillion amazing things she’s done since). “The speakers cut a wide swath across racial justice, reproductive rights, immigrant rights and the LGBTQAI, and environmental community, which most reflect the March’s inclusive platform,” reads the official press release for the announcement, which also noted that Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), Emily’s List, and MomsRising will all be partners for this year’s event.
Previously announced speakers include Stosh Cotler, CEO of the activist network Bend The Arc Jewish Action, Sarah Eagle Heart, CEO of Native Americans in Philanthropy, Ai-jen Poo, Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance and activist, and Bob Bland, Carmen Perez, Linda Sarsour, and Tamika Mallory, all co-chairs of the Women’s March. The email emphasizes that the list is still growing, but people attending the Women’s Convention will definitely be able to hear from a huge diversity of activists who’ve been working in this space since well before the election.
Another exciting element of the Women’s Convention will be its Social Justice City, with a Women’s Market where “socially conscious businesses can showcase their work,” according to the official press release. In an email sent out to people subscribed to the Women’s March newsletter, the organizers called for submissions for the Women’s Market from “women of color, queer, trans, and gender non-conforming folk, immigrant women, women from Detroit, and other members of the Women’s March community.” (If that’s you, you can apply to do so here!)
Tickets for the event are $295 for general registration or $125 for student registration. There’s also an option to donate funds for scholarships to the event, which will be prioritized for people from the local Detroit area and queer people of color, per the Women’s Convention’s FAQs. Though the deadline to apply for scholarships has passed, it’s not too late to sponsor one if you have the means to — it will make a critical difference in making sure people of all backgrounds are able to benefit from the conference.
The event is going to bring together badass women, femmes, and allies from all across the states, and if it’s anything like the Women’s March this past January, it’ll be a major inspiration. More information is still to come, but if you’re wavering on whether or not to go, registration for the full weekend ends on Oct. 13 — time to reclaim your time.
