Schedule for Building Change: A Convergence for Social Justice

Heinz Regional History (HHC) Center and nearby 

 October 12-16 – Building Change Film Festival  

Locations: Hampton Hotel (across from Heinz Center), Point Park University GRW Theater, Creative & Performing Arts Cabaret Room (CAPA), Andy Warhol Museum, and  Kelly Strayhorn Theater

Thursday, October 13, 2011 – 8:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Youth Leading Change – Day-long session for 350 high school students from SW PA, to build leadership and organizing skills.

Thursday October 13, 2011 – 9:00 am – 4:00 PM

  • Pre-Event Forums on Special Topics – Organized by Constituency or Skill Groups :
  • Cancelled —9 AM – 12 PM: The Future of Labor
  • 9 AM – 12 PM: Reclaiming and Protecting Our Regional Green Commons (Bioneers)  Location: Hampton Inn
  • 9 AM – 12 PM:  Ending Violence: We have the strategies – How do we IMPLEMENT & MOBILIZE for Change?!? (Coalition Against Violence)  Location:  United Way Board Room
  • 12:30 PM – 2:30 PM:LGBT Workplace Issues Workshop for Employers and Co-workers (Coro Center for Civic Leadership) Location: Discovery Room, 3rd floor HHC
  • 1 PM – 4 PM: After PPACA: Real Health Care Reform (Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer, Consumer Health Coalition, New Voices Pittsburgh: Women of Color for Reproductive Justice, Pennsylvania Health Advocacy Network, Save Our Community Hospitals)  Location:  7th Floor Board Room, HHC
  • 1 PM – 4 PM: Marcellus Protest
  • 1 PM – 4 PM: Gearing Up for the 2012 Elections and Beyond
  • 1 PM – 4 PM: Debunking the Myth of a Fair Criminal Justice System (Imagining the End of the Death Penalty in PA, Criminal Rehabilitation and Prison Reform, Torture in Our Prisons)
  • 1 PM – 5 PM: ACTION: Video Production from Concept to Completion
  • 3:00 PM – Social Justice Marketplace (Resource Room & Café) begins set-up

Thursday, October 13, 2011 – 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Opening Night — Convergence for Social Justice

  • 5:30 PM — Reception for Winona LaDuke, Keynote speaker
  • 6:00 — Light Refreshments, Snacks, and Seating for evening program
  • 6:30 — Welcome and Overview of Convergence Goals, Program, and Action Plan for Building Social Justice for SW PA.
  • Inspirational Keynote Speaker–Winona LaDuke
  • “Telling Our Stories – Creating a Vision of Social Change” – small group sharing of ‘what social justice means to me – past, present and future?’ Participants will create a a Social Justice timeline & story wall.
  • Open social/networking time/book-signing

Friday, October 14, 2011 – 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Friday, October 14, 2011 – 6:30 PM – 11:00 PM

Convergence evening events
  • 6:30 PM – Dessert Social — Mueller Hall
  • 7:00 PM- 11:00 PM –Pathways to Change: Performances and Awards – Cultural Celebration with Three Rivers Community Foundation 2010/11 Grantees Presentation, Champions of Change and Social Justice Academy Awards interspersed throughout the performances.

Saturday, October 15, 2011 – 9:00 AM – 4 PM

  • 9:00 AM  – Registration, 7 Pathways to Change Art Show, and Social Justice Marketplace (resource room and Cafe) open
  • 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM – Welcome, Panel on “Regional Social Justice Campaigns and Future Trends” 
  • 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – First round of Workshops on skill building and/or issues
  • 12 noon – Lunch Break – History Center’s café, Franktuary and Najaat’s Lebanese Cuisine will be set up outside.
  • 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM – Second round of Workshops on skill building and/or issues
  • 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Plenary/small groups – Discussion of draft Action Plan for Building Social Justice in Southwestern Pennsylvania – Follow-up actions and initiatives to participate in the Continuations Committee
  • 4:00 PM – Convergence ends; free hour (until 5:00 PM) for people to network and/or tour museum