Inclusion Conference
We will grow resilience and rise together.
A conference dedicated to strengthening communities, cultivating connections, and grounding our movements in care.
What to expect
Powerful storytelling and practical tools to help you lead with hope, curiosity, and justice.
Breakout sessions led by CCL’s Affinity Action teams, discussing intersections of climate change impacts, activism, and solutions.
Opportunity to meet and build connections with fellow attendees during the Friday night reception.
Program Overview
SATURDAY, SEPT 27
Conference
Agenda
Friday, Sept. 26
Saturday, Sept. 27
7:00 pm-8:00 pm
Reception
11:00 am-11:15 am
Conference Welcome
11:15 am-11:45 am
Poetry with Jacob Shores-Argüello
Introduced by: Kendyl Brown, Persons with Disabilities Action Team
Jacob Shores-Argüello
Poet and prose writer
11:45 am-12:45 pm
Climate Change and the Apocalypse: Rethinking the End of the World
In popular discourse, the problem of climate change is often presented in apocalyptic terms, with words like “anxiety” and “hopelessness” defining many people’s vision of the future. Such fear paralyzes rather than mobilizes us for the active, sustained, and collective action necessary to address climate change. But do other conceptions of the apocalypse exist? In this talk, we will explore how stories from religion shape our thoughts, actions, and perception of the future, and consider how alternatives to traditional Western narratives can recast apocalypse as an opportunity for renewal and a hopeful call to action.
Introduced by: Scarlett Leon, Zillennials & Latinos Action Team
Julian Cauzae
Writer and Founder of Zenethica
12:45 pm-1:00 pm
Break
1:00 pm-2:00 pm
Cultural Competency: The New Currency of the Next Century Leader
In an increasingly globalized world, leaders must cultivate cultural competency to effectively navigate diverse markets, teams, and partnerships. This session explores how cultural curiosity is becoming a crucial leadership asset, driving innovation, empathy, and adaptability. Through concepts from Ukeme’s book IMMIGRIT, attendees will learn the importance of integrating cultural awareness into their leadership approach and practical strategies to develop this skill. Perfect for leaders looking to: understand the role of cultural curiosity in enhancing leadership effectiveness and global competitiveness, gain actionable strategies to foster cultural curiosity within themselves and their organizations, and learn how to leverage cultural diversity to drive innovation and strengthen team dynamics.
Introduced by: Minerve Jean, 2025 Inclusion Conference Coordinator
Ukeme Awakessien Jeter
Mayor & Council President of the City of Upper Arlington, OH, and author of IMMIGRIT
2:00 pm-2:10 pm
Break
2:10 pm-2:55 pm
Breakout Sessions
2:55 pm-3:05 pm
Break
3:05 pm-4:05 pm
Vanessa Nakate
Introduced by: Medha Mahamkali, Youth Action Team
Vanessa Nakate
Environmentalist and co-founder of Tard Foundation
4:05 pm-4:20 pm
Break
4:20 pm-5:20 pm
No Climate Justice Without Inclusion
What does justice look and sound like in this current environment? In the world of climate change, the challenges are universal, but the impacts are not equally shared. In this session, Pamela Benson Owens will explore why inclusion is not optional but essential for meaningful organization culture, community engagement, and climate action. With powerful storytelling, practical insights, and a toolkit of accountability, this session will highlight how CCL can lead with equity, ensure that diverse voices are heard in advocacy, and build stronger, more resilient solutions. Attendees will leave inspired, refreshed, and equipped with tools to expand the circle of participation in the climate movement both internally and externally—because true climate justice requires every voice at the table.
Pamela Benson Owens
President and CEO of Edge of Your Seat Consulting, Inc.
5:20 pm-5:30 pm
Closing Remarks
What our attendees say
“The Inclusion Conference was super valuable for me both from gaining more knowledge and gaining more perspective. Hearing directly from members of frontline climate justice communities was an important reminder of why we do this work and what the stakes are.”
“This conference was informative, but also engaging and affecting. Conferences like this are essential to CCL activists who need to know about the cutting edge issues of inclusion.”
Join us!
FAQs
Registration
Who is invited to attend the Inclusion Conference?
Everyone is invited to participate. There are many ways to contribute to the success of CCL’s mission, and we encourage those who are able to join us virtually for our Inclusion Conference to please register.
How do I register?
You can register from this page, or go to our Eventbrite registration page. Registration will remain open through the conference hours.
Is there a registration fee?
No, this is a free event. If you would like to support CCL’s work, including our virtual conferences, you can make a donation on our website or make a suggested donation of $25.00 (or any amount of your choosing) when you complete your registration. Thank you for your donation!
What should I do if I need to cancel?
Although this is a free virtual event and we plan to have space for all, we would like to have an accurate count of attendees. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible by email.
Program & Agenda
Where can I find the conference schedule?
We’ll be making updates to the program (on this page) as we get closer to the virtual conference, so be sure to check back for the most up-to-date agenda. You do not have to sign up for specific sessions, you can log in to whichever session you choose the day of the conference.
Video conferencing information will be made available each morning of the event, Friday, 9/26 morning for the Friday night reception, and Saturday, 9/27 morning for the Conference.
Technology
How do I connect to the virtual conference?
We’ll be using Zoom for this conference. For the best experience on Zoom, be sure to update your Zoom app to the latest version. We’ll be sending reminder emails in the week leading up to the conference with more details on how to access each session.
If you have any issues connecting to Zoom or experience audio or video problems, visit the Zoom Support Help Center.
Video conference etiquette & tips:
- We suggest you use earbuds or headphones rather than your computer speakers & mic for better sound quality and reduced feedback.
- Please mute your mic when you are not speaking. All conference sessions will mute participants upon entry.
- If you have unstable internet, try to turn your video off and close all internet browsers and windows on your computer.
- Plan to restart your computer before the event begins.
The conference agenda can be found on the conference website (in the “Agenda” section). You can see the session titles, times, descriptions, and speaker names. On the day of the conference, Zoom connection information will be available. Click the “Join via Zoom” button next to the session you’d like to join. Zoom will open in your web browser, and give you the option to open the meeting in your Zoom Application if you have it downloaded.
If you are joining by phone, find your local number to dial: https://citizensclimate.zoom.us/u/adtOOuWWAo, or, U.S. Toll-free 1-877-369-0926 or 1-855-880-1246. Each session’s Zoom Meeting ID will be available in the Program section which you can enter when prompted on the phone.
What if I have technical issues participating virtually?
To improve audio/video quality, close all applications and other browser windows. You can read this support topic to learn how to turn on closed captions. If you have problems connecting, please visit Zoom’s support site.
How do I find the video conference login information for each session?
You can check back on this conference website (scroll up on this page) the morning of the conference to find the video conference access information for each session. You can see the session titles, times, descriptions, and speaker names. On the day of the conference, Zoom connection information will be available.
Click the “Join via Zoom” button next to the session you’d like to join. Zoom will open in your web browser, and give you the option to open the meeting in your Zoom Application if you have it downloaded.
