Inclusion Conference
Inclusion Conference presented by the People of the Global Majority Action Team
An event focused on bridging divides across perspectives, forging connections rooted in solidarity and honest conversations that advance communities.
What to expect
Powerful storytelling to help you lead with hope, curiosity, and justice.
Representation from CCL’s Affinity Action teams, highlighting their work and the 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 19
Conference
Agenda
Times listed are Eastern Time Zone
Friday, Sept. 18
Saturday, Sept. 19
7:00 pm-9:00 pm
Reception
Join us for a reception ahead of the conference. Stop by to meet with fellow conference attendees and get excited for the conference weekend!
12:00 pm-12:05 pm
Conference Welcome
Ricky Bradley
CCL Executive Director
Karina Ramirez
CCL VP of People & Culture
12:05 pm-12:35 pm
Poetry with Minerve Jean
Introduced by: Sara Cayen-Abubo, People of the Global Majority Action Team Member
Minerve Jean
Poet and Author of “Ayiti We See”
12:35 pm-1:35 pm
Solidarity in Practice: Bridging Divides Through Real Conversations
Introduced by: Noelle Gonzales Jackson, Higher Education Action Team Member
Drawing from the lived reality of Kiribati on the frontlines of climate change, Hon. Ruth Cross Kwansing will share Pacific wisdom on unity, resilience, and meaningful dialogue. Grounded in the Kiribati tradition of the mwaneaba (traditional meeting house) and the practice of te maroro (open, respectful conversation), this address explores what solidarity looks like in practice: centering voices furthest from power, staying at the table across divides, and turning dialogue into tangible action. Minister Kwansing will offer a compelling call to action for advocates to carry the Pacific’s voice and solutions into every room where decisions are made.
The Honorable Ruth Cross Kwansing
Member of Parliament, Republic of Kiribati
1:35 pm-1:45 pm
Break
1:45 pm-2:45 pm
Sunlight as Common Ground: Building Energy Solidarity Across Borders
Introduced by: Cassandra Jean Sinsay, Asian Pacific Action Team Co-Leader
From a mountain town in Puerto Rico, Casa Pueblo’s community-led energy transition shows how shared infrastructure, interconnected solar microgrids, forests, and water can turn conflict and crisis into living well together.
Arturo Massol-Deyá
Executive Director, Casa Pueblo of Puerto Rico
2:45 pm-2:55 pm
Break
2:55 pm-3:55 pm
Climate Migration Readiness: From Climate Havens to Communities of Belonging
Introduced by: Kermit Hovey, Environmental Justice Action Team Member
Using Cincinnati and the Midwest as a case study alongside lessons from the climate-vulnerable Gulf South, this session explores what communities must consider to prepare not only for climate migration but for the people, cultures, and relationships that move with it.
Mike Roman, Ph. D.
Climate Research Incubator Fellow, Green Umbrella Regional Climate Collaborative
Keely Lewis
CCL’s Louisiana State Coordinator
3:55 pm-4:05 pm
Break
4:05 pm-5:05 pm
Diversity: Gift, Invitation and Challenge
Introduced by: Jihyun Ko, Co-Chair of Membership for the Youth Action Team
This presentation will highlight the gift that diversity is, but also the invitation to embrace it, and the challenges that need to be addressed.
Caroljean Willie, SC, Ph.D.
Faith Communities Go Green
5:05 pm-5:15 pm
Break
5:15 pm-6:15 pm
Well That Went Left: Embracing Emotional Responses to Feedback with Civility
Introduced by: Kendyl Brown, Persons with Disabilities Action Team Leader
Feedback is essential for growth. Learn how to navigate emotional responses in feedback situations. Through storytelling, real-life scenarios, and interactive exercises, attendees will explore the psychological factors behind emotional reactions and learn techniques to de-escalate tension. The session will provide strategies to maintain civility, promote understanding, and foster a productive dialogue.
Ama Agyapong
CEO and Principal Training Strategist for Inclusion Enterprises
6:15 pm-6:20 pm
Closing Remarks
Karina Ramirez
CCL VP of People & Culture
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 our 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, 9/18 morning for the Friday night reception, and Saturday, 9/19 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.
