Creating Change Proposals

Please read our Proposal Guidelines completely (on this page or as a PDF) before submitting a proposal. They contain critical instructions and information.

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Proposal Guidelines

Different for 2024*

Each year, Creating Change prioritizes feedback and strives to improve the experience of presenters and participants alike. For sessions at Creating Change 2024, the following areas have been updated (more on each as you continue below).

• Content Priorities*
• Format*
• Purpose, Outcomes, and Process*
• Tracks*
• Conference Schedule and Location*

Content Priorities*

Sessions at Creating Change include movement-building, grassroots organizing, leadership development, organization-building, and educational opportunities for both new and seasoned activists, advocates, and leaders. Our current social and political climate also requires an explicit commitment to the Task Force’s values of racial, economic, gender, and disability justice. Therefore, the Task Force prioritizes proposals that:

• Center trans, Black, and/or Indigenous people and communities.
  
  
• Center the South and/or Midwest regions of the United States.
  
  
• Demonstrate a deep analysis of the intersections between LGBTQ+ issues and other movements for social justice, including reproductive freedom, environmental justice, immigration, and education/access to information.

Format*

Sessions offered at Creating Change 2024 include identity-based caucuses and skills-building workshops. To allow more time for breaks while also providing extra time during sessions, all sessions are 75 minutes.

1. Caucus – A time for people who share identities and/or people working on similar projects to network, build community, and exchange ideas. Caucus space can also be an opportunity to convene a group of interested participants to discuss a specific topic. Caucus space should not prioritize practical skills-building. This will be the focus of workshops (next, below).
   
   
2. Workshop – Workshop sessions are ideal for topics that can be effectively covered in the allotted time. Workshops feature opportunities to build skills and knowledge, emphasizing participant engagement and interactivity.

Workshops: Purpose, Outcomes, and Process*

As mentioned above, workshops must feature opportunities to build skills, share knowledge, and provide tools. Workshop proposals will therefore be reviewed for emphasis on learning, engagement, and practice. Successful workshop proposals will demonstrate:

• Purpose: Why is this proposal important to you? Why should it be included in the conference schedule? Who is the intended audience?
  
  
• Outcomes: What do you seek to achieve, both for and with, everyone who participates in this session? Are you seeking to impart knowledge? Build new skills? Share tools? Create opportunities for participants to network with one another? All of the above?
  
  
• Process: In your session, how will you achieve your desired outcomes? How will you demonstrate your purpose? Howwill participants engage?

The Task Force discourages the submission of lecture and panel presentations unless there is an opportunity for substantive participation and dialogue. Proposals featuring panels with more than three (3) panelists are given lowest priority.

Language Justice and Access

Creating Change prioritizes accessibility to include the provision of American Sign Language (ASL) and Spanish/English interpretation in workshops and caucuses.

• Interpreters work hard to help build an accessible conference, relying on advanced preparation to optimize the services they provide. Ahead of sessions, presenters are responsible for submitting session materials (outlines, handouts, slide decks) according to a process and deadline set by Creating Change staff.
  
  
• If materials are not submitted in advance, your session will be cancelled at the discretion of the Task Force and Creating Change.
  
  
• By submitting a proposal, you understand and agree to these terms.

Language access is for everyone. Thank you for joining us in this important commitment!

Tracks*

For Creating Change 2024, the Task Force requires that session proposals fall under one of the following new tracks. You will select your track on the Request for Proposals application.

Building Capacity for the Movement

Sessions in this track focus on building individual, community, organizational, and movement capacity for doing the work of LGBTQ+ justice, equity, and liberation. Sessions in this track will prioritize knowledge dissemination, skills-building, and shifting attitudes within individual, interpersonal, and organizational systems. The work of dismantling white supremacy, anti-Blackness, transphobia, antisemitism, misogyny, ableism, and classism is also a priority in this track. Sessions may address best and/or innovative practices in the areas of resource development/fundraising, human resources, leadership development and management tools, fiscal management, communications and marketing, board development, and legislative and ballot measure campaign tactics.

Democracy and Civic Engagement

Sessions in this track will offer in-depth conversations to build the necessary political power and social momentum to meet our current moment. Sessions will create space for strategizing and creative exploration to push forward an equitable and intersectional democracy. Skills and knowledge gained in this track will emphasize lessons for building effective coalitions, defending against legislative attacks, and advancing a people-powered, pro-LGBTQ+ agenda at the ballot box and in local government and state houses.

Health and Wellness

Sessions in this track focus on the broad range of physical and behavioral health issues critical to LGBTQ+ communities, as well as how resistance and resilience manifest in the short term and long term for people with multiple marginalized identities. Sessions may focus on medical and cultural practices such as talk therapy, music and dance, acupuncture, and meditation as tools for liberation, health, and healing. Sessions in this track may also provide information and data about the state of health for LGBTQ+ people and what we can do to yield better individual and community health outcomes.

Practice Spirit, Do Justice

Conservative white nationalist Christianity weaponizes faith to further erode the separation of church and state and pit people of good conscience against one another. Sessions in this track will help participants to think about the ways in which formal and informal faith/religion/spiritual communities can be leveraged to reclaim religious freedom as a progressive and collective value and integrated in our campaigns and power-building efforts. Practice Spirit, Do Justice sessions will also teach participants how to dismantle the false narrative that queer identities and faith identities are incompatible.

Sexual Healing and Liberation

Sessions in this track emphasize the significance of sexual and relational dynamics throughout our work and lives. With the prevalence of sexual and relational violence, including within LGBTQ+ movements, sessions in this track will model an intersectional and healing justice approach centered on breaking cycles of harm and reviving sexual liberation. Topics include survivorship, sex work, relationship dynamics, kink/BDSM, asexuality, sexual pleasure, and more.

*IMPORTANT*

Submission Deadline

Proposals received by 11:59 pm Pacific Time on October 16, 2023, will be reviewed and considered for scheduling. The deadline of 11:59 pm Pacific Time, October 16, will not be extended. The Task Force reserves the right to decline proposals received after this deadline.

No Solicitation

Proposals that primarily promote or sell commercial products – and/or that promote or sell the commercial work of individual people – will be declined.

Proposal Review and Notification

Teams of Task Force staff and outside experts review proposals. Considerations for selection include relevance of the proposed session to the values and principles stated in this document and alignment with the Task Force’s 2024 tracks listed above. Proposals are also evaluated based on depth of content, presenter qualifications and experience, and whether there is a demonstrated commitment to representation and inclusion across race, gender, class, age, and disability. Each year, the number of submitted proposals exceeds what can be accommodated in the conference schedule. As such, the Task Force reserves the right to decline proposals.

Notifications regarding the status of proposals will be delivered via email beginning on or after November 13, 2023.

Registration Fees, Financial Assistance, Travel, and Lodging

Registration fees help cover the cost of producing Creating Change and help sustain future conferences. Thank you for making the investment with us!

1. If your proposal is declined, you will register at a discount equal to the cost of Kick-Off registration.
   
   
2. All presenters whose proposals are accepted for scheduling will receive a link to register at a further, additional discount.
   
   
3. To help with registration fees as needed, presenters may visit us online for information about scholarships and financial assistance.
   
   
4. Presenters are responsible for the cost of travel and lodging.

PLEASE DO NOT REGISTER FOR CREATING CHANGE 2024 UNTIL YOU RECEIVE NOTICE REGARDING YOUR PROPOSAL. AS A REMINDER, NOTICES WILL BE SENT VIA EMAIL BEGINNING NOVEMBER 13, 2023. This helps ensure your discounted rate. Thank you for your cooperation!

Conference Schedule and Location*

All programming will be held Wednesday, January 17 to Sunday, January 21, 2024.

1. Presenters are expected to plan travel and lodging according to the conference schedule. Schedule requests cannot be accommodated.
   
   
2. All programming will be held at the Hilton Riverside in New Orleans, Louisiana.

CRITICAL: Please ensure your email address is accurate. If your email address is inaccurate, you will miss important updates and follow-up regarding proposals.

Thank you for reading – you are ready to submit!

Please click here to submit your proposal for Creating Change 2024.

Questions? Please contact the Creating Change team.