What If “Renewal” Didn’t Just Mean New

As we’re hard at work behind the scenes confirming speakers, planning sessions, and building the schedule for RE:Conference this year, we wanted to just share a little bit about some of the themes that are emerging from this work.

As you already know, the theme for the conference this year is “Renewal,” but we might expand on that and say that one of the themes that we’re seeing is “Reclamation + Renewal.”

It’s easy to imagine renewal being grounded in staying on the current course or upgrading to a newer model. We’re seeing something different--speakers and sessions that imagine a renewal grounded in reclaiming: reclaiming land, reclaiming identity and ancestry, reclaiming culture, and renewing ourselves and our communities through this reclamation and undoing of decades of erasure and oppression.

When we practice this kind of renewal, moving beyond the boundaries of what our dominant culture would tell us is possible—we see another theme emerging that of Alternative Models. In these divisive times, one thing many seem to be able to agree on is that the systems and structures of our current society are no longer working for most people, if they ever truly were.

We’ll be presenting speakers and sessions that help us imagine how to build spaces and systems that don’t conform to the dominant culture. Whether that’s by pursuing alternative economic models, listening to and taking direction from those most impacted, or even just creating spaces that are “braver” and truly inclusive of people of all different backgrounds.

Finally, no call to “Renewal” would be complete without celebrating the leaders that have helped carry the movement for racial, housing, and economic justice forward. We’re going to take some time at RE: to do just that, celebrating some of the elected officials who have done just that during the last two legislative sessions.

We’re itching to share more detailed information on the speakers, session, and schedule soon, so stay tuned… and of course, if you haven’t already, register! If you have, consider encouraging a colleague to attend who you think would benefit from exploring these ideas with us.

Remember—this conference is a chance for us all to get together, take in new ideas and models, and make connections with future collaborators that will help bring these ideas into reality.

We can’t wait to get started!