Vermont Palestine Conference:
The Struggle for Land and Liberation
Old North End Community Center
20 Allen St, Burlington, VT
October 19, 2024
10am to 7pm
Register at this link for our state-wide educational and activist conference about the struggle to free Palestine. It is free and open to the public, but we encourage those who can to donate $10 to defray costs. To protect the health of all attending, masks will be required. The ONE Center’s building and parking lot is ADA accessible. The ONE Center also has gender neutral bathrooms. Thanks to the People’s Kitchen, the conference will provide a Halal lunch including vegan options for all attending. We encourage everyone who can to donate to the People’s Kitchen to support their work.
Schedule
9am Registration Opens
10am – 11:30am: Palestine Today: War, Genocide, Resistance & Solidarity
Speakers: Ashley Smith, Aria Aber, Samia Abbas & Kali Akuno
12pm – 1pm: Lunch Break
1pm -- 2:30pm Workshop Block 1
Palestine 101: Colonization & Resistance
Speakers: A Palestinian resident of Vermont and a Member of Jewish Voice for Peace
Dismantling the Colonial-Carceral State: Abolitionists for Palestinian Liberation
Speakers: Jayna Ahsaf & Jonathan Elwell
Land & Food Sovereignty in the Struggle for Liberation
Speakers: Henry Nichols, Nils Mccune, & Yasmeen El-Hasan
Organizing Apartheid Free Communities, Ballot Measures, & the Fight for BDS
Speakers: Paul Fleckenstein, Willow Butler, & Zoe Jannuzi
Defending our Civil Rights & Resisting the New McCarthyism
Speakers: John Franco & Will Cornish
3pm – 4:30pm Workshop Block 2
An Injury to One is an Injury to All: Labor for Palestine
Speakers: Heather Bowan, Calum Buchanan, & Theo Weeland
Skilling up for Hard Conversations: An Interactive Workshop
Speakers: Debra Stoleroff & Jason Hersch
No Pride in Genocide: Fighting for Queer & Palestinian Liberation
Speaker: Vivan Bose-Pyne
Migrant Justice Knows No Borders: From Palestine to Mexico Border Walls Have Got to Go
Speakers: Madeline Sharrow & Marita Canedo,
We Will Not Stop, We Will Not Rest: The Fight for Divestment on Campus
Speakers: Athena Antippas, Logan Roots, Rowan Wade, & Antonio Golán
5pm – 6pm: Building the Struggle for Palestinian Liberation
Speakers: Michele Eddleman McCorkmick, Helen Scott, Merih Etgü, Wafic Faour, & Fhar Miess
6pm - 7pm Social
Sponsored by the Vermont Coalition for Palestinian Liberation
FAQ:
Who is this for?
Any and all who are interested in learning more about Palestinian liberation and intersecting struggles/causes, as well as what the struggle for liberation looks like in Vermont. This is a space for seasoned organizers and also anyone brand new to the cause!
Why should I come?
Come if you would like to learn more about both Palestinian liberation and also interconnected Vermont specific struggles for liberation, if you want to strategize, and/or if you want to connect with others who care about Palestinian liberation. There will be lots of information at the conference to help you figure out “what’s next” for you if you would like to get more involved!
How much does it cost?
It is FREE and open to the public, but we encourage those who can to donate $10 to help defray costs. (It is 100% volunteer lead and all donations will go towards facility costs, materials, etc)
Is food provided?
Yes! Lunch will be provided by the People’s Kitchen. It will be 100% halal with vegan options available. We encourage everyone who is able to donate to the People’s Kitchen to enable them to sustain their work.
We will have some life refreshments available later in the day as well but you are welcome to bring some of your own snacks as well.
Accessibility:
- The Community Center is ADA accessible including in their parking options, entrances, elevators, and bathrooms
- Gender neutral bathrooms are available on each level
- Masks will be required by all who attend (it will not be possible to mask during the lunch portion but there will be separate conference rooms available during that time where masks will still be required for anyone who needs a mask required space)
- Please inform us on the registration if you have any other specific access needs including religious or cultural and we will do our best to accommodate!
Are kids welcome?
Yes! Kids are very welcome. Free childcare will be offered during the plenary sessions (10-11:30am and 5-6pm) and kids are welcome to attend any of the other portions with adult supervision. (Children are also welcome to attend the plenaries but they likely won’t be very engaging for kids).
Will there be recordings available?
There will be recordings of the opening and closing plenaries. They will be available at (coming soon!). While we won’t be able to reproduce the same level of connection opportunities that will happen in-person at the conference, we recommend you attend the next VCPL meeting you are able to (listed under events on this website) as the next best thing!
I can’t come for the whole day – is that okay?
Absolutely! You are welcome to come to whatever portion you are able to.
Suggestions for what to bring with you:
Something to take notes on
A pen
A mask
A water bottle (refill station available on site)
Snacks (we will provide some as well)
How do I get there/is there parking available?
Parking is available at the ONE Center parking lot and on side streets.
I have more questions!
Please email us at vcplconference@proton.me
We hope to see you there!
Volunteer to Staff Vermont Palestine Conference
We need everyone who can to volunteer to organize and staff our conference on Saturday, Oct 19th in Burlington. Please fill out this form. Indicate which areas you would be interested in helping with and a member of the coalition will follow-up with more details. There are many ways to contribute even if you aren't sure you will be able to attend in-person on the 19th - please fill out the form even if you can't confirm your ability to attend yet!