2026 Symposium Registration
2026 National Symposium: Inspiring Change Through Actionable Dialogue
March 12-13, 2026
The Renaissance Montgomery
Please join us for a two-day gathering of advocates, students, educators, legal and community leaders, and all those committed to the work of justice, education, and civil rights. Full event details are below. Some highlights and event details include:
- Keynote Speaker: Bryan Fair, Interim President, Southern Poverty Law Center
- Focus on voting rights, media & social justice and actionable strategies
- Opportunities for meaningful cross-discipline dialogue
- Panel discussions with insights & strategies from thought leaders
Note: We define “students” as University undergraduates or Graduate students.
Purchase Tickets
Please note additional ticket information before purchasing:
- Full Event Ticket includes Thursday, March 12 Dinner Program and Friday, March 13 Symposium
- Thursday Dinner Program includes dinner program ONLY on Thursday, March 12
- Student Ticket Includes Thursday, March 12 Dinner Program and Friday, March 13 Symposium
2026 Symposium Overview
What to Expect
A combination of rich ingredients will make the Second Annual Fred Gray Symposium for Human and Civil Rights exceptionally timely and utterly unique.
Timely
Given the coming Midterm elections, three of our four panels will focus on Voting Rights, under these topics: History & Principles; Contemporary Challenges; and Voices from the Field & Actionable Steps. Additionally, the Media’s role in Civil Rights ~ then and now ~ will compose our riveting closing session.
Unique
Leading civil rights organizations and more than 20 activists and scholars are represented in the 90-minute panels. The Symposium gathers together the best minds and leading activists of our day.
The “secret sauce” is that these expert panelists are conversationalists. Each Panelist will begin with an 8-minute presentation, setting forth a crisply stated and particular angle for conversation.
Facilitated interaction among the panelists follows, where points of agreement, clarification, or disagreement are made, all while creating a growing synergy.
Setting up audience interaction, a Conversant (from the audience) will ask a prepared question for one or two panelists, taking the conversation deeper and modeling quality interaction.
For the duration of the panel, members of the Audience engage with the panelists in meaningful interaction.
Engaged listening is the critical component. Panelists with keen expertise, trusting the knowledge and insights of the others, leads to a panel and audience interaction that is potentially synergistic and “heuristic” ~ Perfectly timed for our current climate.
The Moderator’s role is pivotal and proactive: they are conductors of a lively and informed orchestra! Each session concludes with the Moderator’s assessment, what we call the “Heuristic Grist” of the panel; asking where does this conversation lead us? where can this go? And, identifying specific action steps, further conversation, and other necessary developments.
FEATURED 2026 SPEAKERS
Engaging Voices for Human and Civil Rights
Confirmed Speakers and Panelists include:
Michael A. Anastasi
Senior Vice President of Local News, Gannett Co. and USA Today and former editor of The Tennessean
This distinguished panel of speakers will lead discussions, share transformative insights, and challenge us to think deeply about the path forward for civil rights and justice. Don’t miss the opportunity to learn from some of the foremost leaders in the field.
Program Schedule
Thursday Evening, March 12
Welcome & Dinner
5:00 – 9:00pm
- Dinner Program: Communication through the Arts
- Keynote: Bryan Fair, Professor, University of Alabama Law;
Interim President, Southern Poverty Law Center - Moderated Panel Discussion to follow Plenary
Friday, March 13
Welcome: 8:00 – 8:30am
Session I
Voting Rights: History & Principles
8:30 – 10:00 am
- Moderator: Jeff Baker, University of Alabama Law
- Video: “History of Voting Rights”
Panelists
- Jonathan Entin, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Emeritus
- Laurel Hattix, ACLU of Alabama
- John Giggie, University of Alabama, Summersell Center for the Study of the South
- Daniel Tokaji, University of Wisconsin School of Law, Dean
Session II
Voting Rights: Contemporary Challenges & Trends
10:20 – 11:50 am
- Moderator: Ayesha Bell Hardaway, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Panelists
- Atiba Ellis, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
- Yterenickia Bell, Southern Poverty Law Center, Georgia State Office
- Sophia Lin Lakin, ACLU, Director Voting Rights Project
Lunch
Noon – 1:15
Prompted Table Discussions
Session III
Voting: Voices from the Field & Action Steps
1:15 – 2:45 pm
- Moderator: Tafeni English-Relf, Southern Poverty Law Center, Alabama State Director
Panelists
- Kris Banks, “Shape Up The Vote”
- JaTaune Bosby Gilchrist, ACLU, Executive Director of Alabama
- Deuel Ross, NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Deputy Director of Litigation
Session IV
Media and Social Justice
3:05 – 4:40 pm
- Moderators: Bryan Adamson, Case Western Reserve University School of Law & Michael A. Anastasi, USA TODAY Network and Gannet, Vice President of Local News
Panelists
- Monica Richardson, USA TODAY, Senior Vice President
- Bryan Adamson, Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Session V
The Invitation: Attorney Fred Gray,
“What Are You Going to Do?”
4:50 – 5:10 pm
Venue
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
A limited block of rooms is available at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at a discounted rate of $274 per night for Symposium attendees. To receive the special rate, reservations must be made by February 11, 2026.
201 Tallapoosa St
Montgomery, AL 3610
(334) 481-5000
2026 Symposium Sponsors
Hotels
Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center
201 Tallapoosa St
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 481-5000
Elevation Hotel
600 Montgomery Street
MOntgomery, AL 36104
(334) 929-0600
Embassy Suites by Hilton Montgomery Hotel & Conference Center
300 Tallapoosa St
Montgomery, AL 36104
(334) 269-5055
Across the street from the Renaissance
Homewood Suites by Hilton Montgomery EastChase
7800 Eastchase Pkwy
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 277-9383
11 mile drive – typically 15-20 minutes
Hampton Inn & Suites Montgomery-EastChase
7651 Eastchase Pkwy
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 277-1818
11 mile drive – typically 15-20 minutes
Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham Montgomery
100 Gibbons Dr
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 649-4465
12 mile drive – typically 15-20 minutes
Fairfield Inn & Suites Montgomery-EastChase Parkway
8970 Eastchase Pkwy
Montgomery, AL 36117
(334) 260-8650
12 mile drive – typically 15-20 minutes
Fairfield Inn and Suites Montgomery Airport South
7560 Mobile Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36105
(334) 281-6882