Creating Change Conference 2009
January 28–February 1

Request for Proposed Workshops

Deadline for Submissions: September 30, 2008
Notification Process Begins On/After November 1, 2008

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is the uncompromising national voice building lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political power from the ground up. Founded in 1973, the Task Force was the first national gay civil rights organization. The Task Force envisions a world where equality is the first step to a transformed society. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, the Task Force works to create a nation that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression where all people may fully participate in society. The Task Force seeks to build an LGBT movement that understands and acts on racial justice and economic justice issues, as well as other issues of inequality that impact our communities.

Core Strategies of The Task Force
The Task Force has adopted three core strategies which guide its work: Vision Leadership; Organizational Excellence; and Build, Win, Build. Vision Leadership means articulating a long-term and overarching vision for liberation and complete equality. Organizational Excellence means increasing the capacities of our organization and colleague organizations to work most effectively and efficiently on our social change agenda. Build, Win, Build means building local and statewide leadership capacity so that whether we win or lose, we can build on the new foundations for future success. To learn more about the work of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, click here.

The 21st National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change
The Task Force’s 21st National Conference on LGBT Equality: Creating Change is the nation’s preeminent political, leadership and skills-building conference for the LGBT movement. For over two decades, Creating Change (as it is affectionately known) has been the place where thousands of committed and passionate people have developed and honed their skills, celebrated victories, built community, and been inspired by visionaries of our and other movements for justice and equality.

Task Force Academy for Leadership and Action
The Task Force Academy for Leadership and Action serves as a primary leadership development opportunity for activists, while connecting them to a national LGBT social justice agenda grounded in Task Force values and standards. The Academy curriculum, developed by Task Force staff with input from key community organizations, leaders and activists, will comprise 25% of the programming offered at the Creating Change Conference. Accordingly, the Task Force is not soliciting proposals for Academy sessions and will invite professional trainers and faculty to present this new curriculum.

Submitting A Workshop/Session Proposal
Thank you for your interest in submitting a workshop proposal for the Creating Change Conference. Please read this document thoroughly before going online to submit your proposal.

A sample proposal is available for review here.

We strongly recommend that you have a draft of your proposal prepared before going online to submit your proposal. All proposals must be submitted though the Web site at www.creatingchange.org.

Below are general guidelines for submitting a workshop proposal. Please be sure your proposal addresses each of the following components: (a) participant-centered and practice-oriented training, (b) progressive-learning approach, (c) session format, and (d) topic area.

A. Our Priorities: Participation and Practice!
Each proposal will be reviewed to select sessions that best engage conference participants in learning and skills building. Workshop proposals should incorporate the two core principles described below.

Participant-Centered: trainings that engage trainees in every step of the process, utilizing experiential and participatory learning techniques wherever possible (as opposed to dry lectures or non-participatory panel presentations); and
“Real-World” Practice: after learning a skill, participants will be given an opportunity to practice the skill. Real world practice makes it much more likely that participants will utilize the skill when they get back home.

The Task Force discourages the submission of proposals designed as panel presentations unless there is an opportunity for substantive conference attendee participation in the dialogue. Proposals with multiple panelists (more than three) will be given lowest priority.

B. Progressive Learning Approach
To provide continuity and to insure that sessions build on one another, the Creating Change program is structured to match skill levels of participants with sessions appropriate to those skill levels. The Task Force will make every effort to ensure that participants meet pre-requisites for the intermediate and advanced sessions. You will be asked to identify the skill level of the target audience for your session.

Please use the guide below to determine the appropriate level of your workshop. The Task Force encourages proposal submissions at the intermediate and advanced level.

Fundamentals – Basic/entry level for new staff, board members, volunteers and activists, or existing staff, board, volunteers and activists with new responsibilities. Typically 0-1 year of experience in the topic area. Content covers terminology, basic theory and building essential skills.
Intermediate – Intermediate, 2-5 years experience. Content includes putting theory into practice, and practical application. Sessions deal with serious challenges or barriers to being effective. Some time is devoted to problem solving. Include pre-requisites for intermediate sessions in the session abstract portion of the proposal form.
Advanced – Advanced, 5+ years of experience. Sessions tailored for lead volunteers and organizers, board chairs, executive directors and senior managers, and experienced lobbyists. Content includes advanced theory, organizational management, and best practices. In addition, advanced sessions can include case study examinations and high-level problem solving. Include pre-requisites for advanced sessions in the session abstract portion of the proposal form.
All Audiences – Session is suitable for participants at all skill levels.

C. Session Format
You will be asked to choose one of the following formats for your proposed session.

Caucus – 60-minute session. A time for affinity groups or people working on similar projects to gather and exchange ideas, network and build community; or, an opportunity to convene a group of interested participants to discuss a specific topic.
90 Minute Workshop – Prepared presentations or trainings with stated and specific learning objectives. Workshops are teaching/learning sessions in which attendees gain useful information, advice, and technical assistance about a specific topic. These sessions are ideal for introductory and intermediate level workshops.
3-Hour Workshop – Prepared presentations or trainings with stated and specific learning objectives. Workshops are teaching/learning sessions in which attendees gain useful information, advice, and technical assistance about a specific topic. These sessions are ideal for advanced level trainings and workshops requiring additional time for attendee participation, small group break-outs and so on.

D. Topic Areas
Since 1988, the Creating Change Conference has brought together a community with a larger purpose: to transform our society so that LGBT persons may be free to contribute to our fullest potentials.

The Task Force seeks session proposals that include and reflect the perspectives, needs and priorities of our multi-racial, multi-gender, multi-abled, and multi-aged communities and movement.

The Creating Change program will offer sessions that teach and train the essential skills to achieve social change. You will be asked to select for your proposed session one of the topic areas, listed below.

Topic Areas for Creating Change Session Proposals

Aging and Ageism
AIDS/HIV
Anti-Violence
Art & Culture
Bisexual Community & Issues
Campus Issues and Organizing
Racial/Economic Justice
Community Centers
Community Organizing
Disability and Accessibility
Elections/Campaigns
Faith & Spirituality
Families
Fundraising
Gender and Identity
Health
Immigration
International Issues
Labor
Legislative/Policy Initiatives
Marriage
Media, Communications, and Messaging
Military & Veterans Issues
Movement Building
Organizational Development
People of Color
Research and Policy Analysis
Schools and Education
Sexual Freedom
Transgender Community & Issues
Workplace
Youth

Presenter Policies
In order to keep conference registration fees at the lowest possible rate, we ask presenters to volunteer time and expertise at Creating Change. In consideration of your service as a presenter, you will be able to register for the entire conference at a rate of $150. This registration rate is inclusive of all day-long institutes, plenary sessions, workshops, roundtables, trainings, screenings and caucuses, beginning Wednesday morning January 28 and concluding Sunday February 1, 2009. This registration rate does not include separately ticketed special events, dances/parties, and travel or hotel expenses. The presenter registration rate is limited to four presenters per session.

After a proposal is accepted, presenters will be sent a presenter registration packet which includes a conference registration form. Should your proposal not be accepted, you are invited to register for the conference at the presenter rate of $150, inclusive of day-long institutes. If you submit a proposal, please do not register for the conference at any rate higher than $150.

Presenter Responsibilities
As a presenter, you are responsible for making your own travel and hotel arrangements. The conference hotel, the Grand Hyatt Denver, located in downtown Denver, offers a conference rate of $125.00/night. Please be sure to mention the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference when making reservations. Reservations must be made by Monday, January 5, 2009 to receive the guaranteed conference rate. You may reserve a room by calling 1-800-233-1234 or by visiting this page and utilizing the link below the Grand Hyatt logo. Because the Creating Change host hotel often sells out, we advise that you book your room early, if possible. The 2009 Host Committee will organize a community housing program to provide a limited number of no-cost housing options for conference presenters and attendees. In order to participate, submit a completed housing request to the local Host Committee, available on this page.

If you submit a proposal, you are the “session contact.” Session contacts are expected to serve as the communication link between the conference organizing staff and the other presenters on your session. Session contacts must provide complete contact information for each presenter and advise conference staff of any changes in the presenter line-up.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force expects that all scheduled sessions will be presented as described in your proposal and listed in the program book. Future proposals will be judged in part on whether a scheduled session is presented as described.

Each meeting room will be equipped with a flip chart and markers. Presenters will be asked to fill out a request form for additional AV equipment. Presenters may be asked to cover the cost of requests deemed excessive, for example, for multiple pieces of equipment. Presenters are encouraged to provide attendees with relevant supporting materials, such as fact sheets, articles, and guides. Presenters are responsible for any copying costs incurred.

Proposal Review
All proposals will be reviewed by a team of Task Force staff and outside experts in the topic area being proposed. Considerations for selection include relevance of the proposed session to the values and principles stated in this document, especially the priorities of participation and practice; depth of content; presenter qualifications/experience with the topic; overall strength of the submission; and proposals that reflect the Task Force commitment to race/gender/class/age/disability representation. The Task Force reserves the right to reject proposals.

A sample proposal is available for review, click here.

The Task Force will not review proposals for sessions that primarily promote or sell commercial products or to promote or sell the work product of an individual presenter. The Task Force will prioritize proposed sessions that include and reflect the perspectives, needs and priorities of our multi-racial, multi-gender, multi-abled, and multi-aged communities and movement. The Task Force reserves the right to decline to review proposals received after the posted deadline date.

To have your presentation considered for inclusion in the conference, please complete the forms on the following pages. The proposal should be submitted with:

a 150-200 word abstract which includes the learning objectives of the session, not for publication
a 50-75 word description and any pre-requisites for attendees, suitable for publication in the conference program book
a session outline that delineates how time will be used in the session and how audience participation and “real world” skills practice are to be included, not for publication
complete contact information for all presenters, brief biographical information for all presenters, not for publication

You will be notified of the status of your proposal beginning on or after November 1, 2008.

Proposal Components