Amnesty International 2019 Northeast Regional Conference (Providence, Rhode Island)

Northeast Regional Conference

Saturday, November 16th, 2019
Rhode Island School of Design
20 Washington Place, Providence, Rhode Island 02903

It is our sincere pleasure to invite you to this year’s Northeast Regional Conference. Join us on Saturday, November 16th, 2019, as we stand shoulder to shoulder in Providence to make a lasting human rights impact. The goal of all Regional Conferences is to create a transformative experience focused on human rights education, skills-building, networking, and inspire action.

As activists, we will be challenged to initiate change within our own communities. This will only happen with you – we need you there!

Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter at @AMNESTYUSA.

REGISTER

Request for Proposals: The deadline to apply has now passed. For questions, please email Cynthia Gabriel Walsh at [email protected].

Agenda

Write for Rights 2019 Kickoff

Join us for the annual Write for Rights (W4R) event at AS220! Enjoy great company while putting pen to power for this year’s W4R docket. We will open the 2019 Northeast Regional Conference with this collective action. See you there!

Location: AS220, 115 Empire Street, Providence, RI 02903
Time: 5pm-7pm

Keynote Speaker: Alejandra Barrera, a transgender Salvadorian activist was held in USA immigration detention since 2017. Alejandra fought for transgender rights for more than a decade in El Salvador. She was forced to flee after repeated attacks by a criminal gang, as well as abuses by the Salvadoran military. Alejandra was sexually assaulted by both the gang and military personnel because of her transgender identity. She was detained at the Cibola County Correctional Center in New Mexico for twenty months, where she reported inadequate and unresponsive medical care. Authorities unfairly denied her requests for parole five times and at one point, Alejandra faced imminent deportation. In August 2019, Alejandra’s lawyers from the National Immigrant Justice Center filed a petition for a writ of habeas corpus on Alejandra’s behalf, arguing that her prolonged detention violated due process protections against indefinite detention under the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment. In response to the habeas, Alejandra was released by ICE.

Conference Agenda 

Please click below to view a PDF of our Northeast Regional Conference Agenda and Program Book.

AGENDA

PROGRAM BOOK

Please note that these are draft documents and subject to change. Please be sure to check back for updates.

Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA)

Amnesty International is committed to the principles of IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Accessibility)  because we all belong in the movement for human rights. 

At every RC, we prioritize implementing IDEA practices and measures in order to create an inclusive space for everyone. For example, gender inclusive bathrooms are available throughout the university and pronoun stickers are provided at registration in alignment with our commitment to gender diversity, LGBTI rights and self-expression and determination; we only select venues that are accessible for everyone and make accommodations to further ensure everyone can fully participate and move around the space; a variety of menu options are selected including but not limited to vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. This year, there will be a prayer/meditation room available in 20 Washington Building – the exact room number coming soon!

AIUSA offers reimbursements for those utilizing childcare services for their children in order to attend a regional conference. You will be given the opportunity on the registration form to indicate that you require childcare. If you select yes, a representative of AIUSA will follow-up via email with further details. Please note that if these requests haven’t been made prior to October 14th, we cannot guarantee these services.

In addition to these items, below you’ll find our Ground Rules & Harassment Policies below.

We are continuously working towards our conferences being IDEA centered events and are committed to our growth in this area. Please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions on the topic of IDEA at RCs, we can be reached at [email protected].

GROUND RULES

We all have a role to play in creating a space at RCs where everyone is welcomed, seen, heard, and valued as their authentic selves. Our Ground Rules provide some guidelines on how we will ensure this.  

RCs are a space for:

  • Connecting with others in activism.
  • Sharing ideas in a safe environment.
  • Showcasing causes that are important to you.
  • Exercising your democratic right to vote on resolutions for Amnesty International USA.
  • Learning from and uplifting one another!

RCs are not a space for:

  • Verbal or physical conduct that may intentionally or unintentionally offend, denigrate or belittle any person, including rudeness, discrimination, and harassment.

To view a PDF of our Ground Rules please click the box below.

GROUND RULES

AIUSA’S POLICY AGAINST Harassment

AIUSA is committed to promoting an environment that is professional and in which all employees, members, interns, volunteers and other individuals are treated with dignity and respect. AIUSA will not tolerate harassment of or among employees, members, interns, volunteers or others because of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, marital status, military or veteran status or any other protected characteristic.

Harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which may offend, denigrate or belittle any person because of or due to any of the characteristics described above. Such conduct includes pictures, jokes, comments, epithets, innuendoes, name-calling or any other behavior which creates an environment that is derogatory, intimidating, hostile or offensive to anyone. Conduct prohibited by this policy is unacceptable in the workplace and in any other AIUSA related setting outside the workplace, such as during business trips, organizational meetings, and other AIUSA events.

To view the Harassment Policy please click the box below.

AIUSA’S POLICY AGAINST harassment

 

Resolutions

One of the exciting things about Amnesty International is that, as a grassroots membership organization, members have a voice in what Amnesty does. Resolutions are the means by which members of AIUSA have the power to affect policy decision-making at the regional, national and international levels. This is your chance to exercise your democratic right as a member of AIUSA.

submit a Resolution

The deadline to submit a resolution has now passed.

Please contact the National Resolutions Committee at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Vote on a Resolution

In order to participate in the membership resolution process, you must be a dues-paying member of AIUSA. The good news is, it’s not too late to become a member!

BECOME A MEMBER/RENEW MEMBERSHIP

Group Authorization Form

At the AIUSA Regional Conferences, resolutions may be voted on by Individual Voting Members and by one designated delegate from each registered AIUSA Student or Local Group.

To obtain a Group Voting Card at the RCs, the Group Coordinator/Chair must submit a completed copy of this authorization form. The recommended deadline is the Wednesday before the relevant conference. The purpose of this form is to indicate who the authorized Group delegate will be at the RC. You will be asked to also indicate 2 back-up delegates in the event that the Group delegate is unable to pick-up the card. At the conference, the Group delegate should report to the personnel at the Member Services table. As Group delegate, you will be asked to sign your name in order to receive the group voting card.

Please discuss the resolutions with your group before the conference. The Resolutions to be considered at the RCs will be found on the Member Center prior to the conferences.

SUBMIT FORM

Subsidies

The deadline to apply has passed.

Ticketing

Conference Registration

Online pre-registration has now closed. Registration will re-open onsite on Saturday morning. Look for the Onsite Registration table.

Minor Waiver Required

If you (or a member of your group) are 17 years of age or younger, AIUSA requires that this waiver agreement be completed by a legal guardian and that a chaperone accompany you for the entire duration of the conference. AIUSA does not assume responsibility for minors.

Conference Lodging

Homewood Suites by Hilton Providence Downtown is our host hotel. Our room rate is $169 (subject to applicable state and local taxes) for single, double, triple, and quadruple occupancy. You can reserve your room by calling their number 1-401-942-2001 and mentioning Amnesty International in your reservation or by clicking this link.

A block of rooms has been reserved for the conference. The special room rate will be available until 10/18, or until the group block is sold-out, whichever comes first.

Please note that prices and availability are subject to change without notice. It is recommended that guests book a place to stay as soon as possible to ensure their lodging for the conference.

Conference Travel

By Air

The closest airport to fly into is T.F Green Airport (PVD), which is located 13 minutes away from the venue by car. You can also use an Uber or Taxi, which will cost approximately $15-20.

By Train/Bus

From the airport, you can take the MBTA Commuter Rail train towards Providence to Providence Stop at 100 Gaspee St, Providence, RI 02903.

From Providence Stop, head southwest towards Railroad St. and make a right to continue onto Exchange St for 0.1 mile. Then, turn left on Memorial Blvd and turn left onto Washington Place. The location will be on the left. This is a 7 minute walking distance.

By Car/Parking

If you would prefer to drive to Providence, please visit Rhode Island School of Design Visitor’s Page for driving directions to the venue.

Guest parking passes are available for select University lots and may be picked up at 30 Waterman Street. Requesters must fill in the Guest Parking Permit completely.

Metropark provides guest parking at the Plantations Lot located at the corner of Power and South Water Street and at the 199 Canal Street Lot.

Taxi Services

Providence Taxi
(401) 255-2050

USA Taxi
(401) 516-3177

Volunteers

The deadline to apply has passed.Â