The 2023 International Peace Conference will take place May 4-6 of next year. The conference will feature notable speakers, including Birmingham’s own Mayor Randall Woodfin and Rotary International President, Jennifer Jones. Read on to learn more about the conference and why you should attend.

About the 2023 International Peace Conference

The 2023 International Peace Conference aims to equip attendees with peacemaking skills so they are able to create change in their communities.

“Ever since I moved back to Birmingham in 1981, I’ve been involved in a number of community organizations that have been based on efforts to build bridges relative to race and intolerance in all forms.”
Will Ratliff, Chair, 2023 International Peace Conference

Will Ratliff and fellow Rotarians, including Andrea L. Taylor, CEO of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, decided to create the International Peace Conference. Their goal is to teach participants peacemaking skills at local and international levels. His heavy organizational involvement led him to foster relationships with leadership at various local institutions, including:

Rotary International District 6860
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
UAB’s Institute for Human Rights

These relationships helped form the structure and content of the 2023 International Peace Conference.

Choosing Birmingham as the designated city

It wasn’t an afterthought for Birmingham to be chosen as the city for the conference, with its history of being the headquarters of the Civil Rights movement’s campaign to desegregate public accommodations.

“When COVID hit, we postponed the international conference to 2023, which was perfect because the timing of the conference is near the first of May— this coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Children’s March in Birmingham.”
Will Ratliff, Chair, 2023 International Peace Conference

May 2, 2023 will be the 60th anniversary of the Birmingham Children’s March, known as the Children’s Crusade. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute will host a re-enactment of the Children’s March that Friday, May 5 but conference participants will be able to see it on Saturday, May 6.

What will be the topics of conversation at the conference?

The conference will offer attendees different tracks, focusing on peacemaking in the following areas:

Community
Education
Home Life
Prevention of Human Trafficking
International
Individual
Racial Equity and Justice
Women Empowerment

In between the breakout sessions, there will be keynote speakers who will speak on the topics of peacemaking regionally and internationally.

For all ages

The 2023 International Peace Conference is for everyone. They are expecting attendees young and old from Birmingham locals to internationals. Peacemaking is an effort to be made by all.

Visit the 2023 I nternational Peace Conference’s website to learn more.

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