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Compassion & Justice Conference 2024
The Compassion & Justice Conference will bring together people and organizations from different backgrounds to worship, grow, pray, and take action.
As a non-traditional network of Christians, Fellowship Southwest acknowledges that compassion and justice work are complementary and equally essential in serving vulnerable communities. FSW connects people of faith, passionate about compassion and justice, to challenge, inspire, and empower them to be and do better together for our communities and those we serve.
You will have the opportunity to hear and learn from the prophetic and diverse voices of leading advocates, pastors, and practitioners who will focus on our four priorities of work: Immigration, Indigenous Topics, Hunger, and Racial Justice.
The FSW tag line is "Compassion, Justice, Connection." This year, the Compassion & Justice Conference is focusing especially on that third pillar of connection. You will be invited to dialogue, share your experiences and gain wisdom from others doing similar work. Be encouraged to expand your networks and partner with other like-minded leaders.
We could not put together this conference without the support of our generous partners. Join us this year! Contact cameron@fellowshipsouthwest.org for more information or click the link above. Sign up online within the registration system.
SPEAKERS
Claúdio Carvalhaes, Jeremy Everett, Cassandra Gould, Mariah Humphries, Rep. Justin Jones, and Sandra Maria Van Opstal
Scroll down for speaker bios.
LOCATION
Life in Deep Ellum, 2803 Taylor St., Dallas, TX 75226
Hotel accommodations are not included in registration. Please book your own lodging!
We have a block of rooms for a discounted price at the Home2 Suites by Hilton. The rate is $169/night, includes breakfast, and it is less than a mile away from the conference venue.
Home 2 Suites by Hilton, 3301 Gaston Ave, Dallas, TX 75246
SCHEDULE
Friday, September 20, 2024
8:15 a.m.-8:45 a.m. Registration and Coffee
9:00 a.m.-9:30 a.m. Welcome
9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Keynote 1
10:30 a.m. -11:00 a.m. Break
11:00 a.m.- 12:00 a.m. Keynote 2
12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m. Lunch
1:00 p.m.-1:45 p.m. Talkbacks
1:45 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Collaboration
2:30 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. Break
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Partner Connection Rooms
4:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Networking Activity, tbd
Break for dinner (on your own)
7:30 p.m. Worship at Wilshire Baptist Church,* 4316 Abrams Rd.
*Worship at Wilshire is open to the community. Registration not required.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
8:30 a.m. – 9:15 a.m. Partner Connection Rooms
9:15 a.m.-- 10:15 a.m. Keynote 3
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. --11:45 a.m. Keynote 4
11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Talkbacks
12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Collaboration over Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Break
1:45 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Closing Worship
FAQ
What are Partner Connection Rooms? Conference participants have the opportunity to learn more from a few of our partner organizations who do excellent compassion and justice work. Each day, two rooms will each have representatives from three organizations. Each representative will have five minutes to offer a short presentation/pitch about their mission, and then the room will be open for networking and conversation. Participants can float between the two rooms and make connections with each other and the partners. Interested in being one of the partners who presents during this time? Check out the sponsorship opportunities here or contact cameron@fellowshipsouthwest.org.
What are talkbacks and collaboration on the schedule? Each day we will hear from two fabulous keynote speakers, and then we will have the opportunity to have conversation with them during the “talkback” time. Come ready to ask good questions and be good listeners! Following the talkbacks, we will have “collaboration” by turning to our table mates and engaging in further small group discussion.
What is the parking situation? This will be our second year to have our conference at Life in Deep Ellum. Last year, attendees told us they loved the venue, but the parking was a problem. So this year, we have a solution. When you purchase your registration, you will have the option to select a shuttle ride from Wilshire Baptist Church’s parking lot. Wilshire is located at 4316 Abrams Rd.
Can I get a t-shirt? Yes, this is included in your registration. But we can only guarantee the size you want if you register early (by August 19.)
Is lunch included both days? Yes. And we will make every effort to accommodate your dietary needs if you select those in your registration.
Is there a virtual option? Yes. You can purchase a virtual ticket in the registration system, and even buy a t-shirt that we will mail to you (before the Aug. 19 deadline). Details TBD.
What is the group rate? We are offering a discount if a church would like to purchase a group of 10 tickets for their members to attend together. We ask that you provide information on each individual attendee in registration, so get your group together and then purchase your group ticket.
Speaker Bios
Dr. Cláudio Carvalhaes is originally from Brazil. He was a pastor of two churches: one in Sao Paulo with poor people and one in Massachusetts with undocumented immigrants. He now teaches at at Union Theological Seminary in the city of New York. He is married to Katie, have three kids: Libby, Cici and Ike and an adorable dog called Amora. For more information: https:/www.claudiocarvalhaes.com/
Jeremy Everett, Founder & Executive Director, Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty (BCHP). Prior to his appointment at BCHP, Jeremy worked for international and community development organizations as a teacher, religious leader, community organizer, and farmer. He frequently delivers presentations to congregations, non-profit organizations, universities, and government entities about hunger and poverty. Jeremy earned a bachelor’s degree from Samford University, a Master of Divinity from Baylor University, and is completing his doctorate at Duke Divinity School at Duke University. Jeremy is a Next Generation Fellow of the University of Texas LBJ School’s Strauss Center for International Security and Law, an Affiliate with Temple University’s Hope Center, a Senior Fellow with World Hunger Relief, Inc., and was appointed by the U.S. Congress to serve on the National Commission on Hunger. He serves on various boards, including Bread for the World and the 2030 Collaborative. Jeremy is the author of I Was Hungry: Cultivating Common Ground to End an American Crisis, a contributing author to Food and Poverty: Food Insecurity and Food Sovereignty Among America’s Poor (Vanderbilt University Press) and The End of Hunger: Renewed Hope for Feeding the World (InterVarsity Press).
The Reverend Dr. Cassandra Gould serves as Senior Strategist at the Faith in Action National Network and lives in Washington DC. She is a native of Demopolis, Alabama where her mother was a voter rights activist. Dr. Goud is an Itinerant Elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and served for 10 years as a senior pastor in Missouri. Prior to joining the Faith in Action National staff, she was Executive Director of Missouri Faith Voices, a statewide multi-faith grassroots organization. While living in St. Louis, she answered the call to the front line in Ferguson, organizing a national presence of faith leaders from across the Faith in Action Network and beyond. Her advocacy and organizing efforts led to the passing of various ballot measures including raising the minimum wage and the expansion of Medicaid. Dr. Gould is a leader in the national movement to regulate predatory lending, is a founding member of Faith for Just Lending and has testified in Congress regarding debt collection and financial predation. Affectionately known as the “Pastor in the Public Square,” working at the intersection of faith, justice and politics is the works her soul requires.
Mariah Humphries is a Mvskoke Nation citizen, writer, and speaker. Through her experience navigating the tension between Native and white American culture, she writes and speaks on the intersections of Christianity and racialized identities. With more than twenty-five years of vocational ministry service and a master’s degree in theology, she is focused on challenging and encouraging the American church to lead the conversation around racial literacy and cultural humility. Mariah has been featured on several podcasts, presented at conferences and symposiums, given lectures at Universities and she is also a writer. Her published works can be found online and most recently included in the book Need to Know (release date 2024), We follow Christ (future release), Voices of Lament: Reflections on Brokenness and Hope in a World Longing for Justice, and Justice Looks Like...: Reflections on Living the Gospel in an Unjust World.
Justin Jones is an activist, organizer, legislator, representative, minister, community leader, environmentalist, and gun violence prevention advocate deeply committed to doing the justice work required to move Tennessee and our nation forward. Justin was elected in 2022 to represent the people of District 52, a culmination of years of advocacy work around Medicaid expansion, racial justice, police accountability, and the Green New Deal. Justin is a tireless fighter for Black liberation and is deeply embedded in a tradition of resistance that comes from his familial and movement ancestors who ground and guide his work. Justin was expelled from the Tennessee legislature, daring to put purpose before title, and bringing a moral conscience to the deliberative process which puts the lives of kids against the proliferation of firearms. Justin is a leader for the next generation and the next several to come, and brings past, present, and future into the halls of power with him. Justin is a relentless fighter for our collective freedom and an apologetic voice for a south that will rise anew.
Sandra Maria Van Opstal is a second-generation Latina pastor, activist, author, and a powerful leading voice on the intersection of faith and justice. She is executive director of Chasing Justice, a BIPOC-led movement that mobilizes the next generation of Christians to live justly. Sandra’s distinctiveness comes from working in both local and global contexts as a practitioner and academic, which has solidified her calling to disrupt oppressive systems within the church and center marginalized voices. She served as executive pastor at Grace and Peace Church on Chicago’s west side and as an activist in her community. She holds a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently pursuing doctoral work in Urban Leadership and Transformation. Sandra is the author of The Next Worship, Forty Days on Being An Eight as well as contributor to the New York Times bestselling book A Rhythm of Prayer.