Storytelling in Legal and Political Advocacy (Friday, 4:15 pm)
Led by Sara Gozalo, the Storytelling in Legal and Political Advocacy Workshop will highlight the importance of storytelling as both an advocacy tool and a legal strategy. Gozalo is the narrative storyteller at the Promise of Justice Initiative (PJI) in New Orleans, where her work has included storytelling for PJI’s End Jim Crow Juries and End Plantation Prison campaigns. She also directed PJI’s documentary, “Plantations and Prisons, a History of Forced Labor in Louisiana.” This workshop will explore narrative construction and storytelling strategies that support legal advocacy, reshape cultural narratives, and drive systemic change.
Building Power Through Creative Arts (Friday, 4:15 pm)
Art is an essential component of any social movement and a powerful advocacy tool. Voices of Injustice (VOI) is a collective of exonerated men who have committed their lives to educating communities about injustices within our legal system through speaking engagements, artistic expression, and resource sharing. VOI’s theatrical work bridges that gap between creative expression and advocacy while centering the voices of those most impacted. This workshop will explore the role of the creative arts in movement and power-building and demonstrate how to transform lived experiences into powerful tools for education and change.
Community Immigrant Defense: Resistance Through Creative Organizing and Lawyering (Saturday, 1:45 pm)
How are immigrant communities building networks of care and resistance in the face of immense state violence and repression? What is the role of lawyers and people with legal expertise in supporting grassroots organizing efforts for immigrant justice? Join community organizers Constanza Segovia and Mirka Dominguez of Hartford Deportation Defense (HDD) and immigration attorney Leanne Gale of New Haven Legal Assistance Association (NHLAA) for an interactive workshop on how lawyers and organizers committed to immigrant justice can work together to take collective risks and sustain movements.
Youth-Led Advocacy & Organizing (Saturday, 1:45 pm)
Connecticut Students for a Dream (C4D) is the only undocumented youth-led statewide organization in Connecticut fighting for the rights of undocumented youth and families. Join Tabitha Sookdeo, executive director of C4D, and members of C4D for an interactive workshop on youth-led organizing. Together, we will explore what it means for directly impacted young people to lead campaigns, shape strategy, and build collective power in a time of escalating attacks on immigrant communities.