Share your Knowledge at the Community Research for Liberation National Convening
Do you center community in your work? Share your experiences at a first-of-its-kind gathering focused on healing, accountability and racial justice in applied research and community engagement!
On June 11-12, 2026, Research in Action (RIA) and the Equity in Action Way (EAW) Foundation will host the inaugural Community Research for Liberation National Convening in Minneapolis, Minnesota. With a theme of “Building a New Table with Black Women, Girls and Femmes,” the event will launch the full findings from the statewide Justice in Institutions for Black Women, Girls, and Femmes survey — the first in the nation to examine how Black women, girls, and femmes experience institutions like healthcare, housing, and criminal justice.
We’re excited to engage with participants of ALL racial backgrounds — community members and healers, educators and academics, non-profit staff and organizers, front-line public service workers and philanthropic leaders — to strategize how to turn those survey findings into action.
But we also want to learn from you!
The Convening will create a space for community, government, non-profits, researchers, and philanthropy to have open dialogue about effective collaboration strategies and envision new approaches to partnerships with community at the center.
Do you have powerful examples of community-driven and participatory action research?
Have you developed tools or offer training in liberatory research design, healing-centered engagement, and accountable partnerships across community and institutional settings?
Help us create space for learning, connection, and co-creation across sectors and geographies by submitting a proposal for an interactive workshop and/or presentations that highlight applied research centered in community! All presentations will be in person; there is no online component to this convening. If selected, each session will receive a $1,000 stipend (to be distributed among all presenters) and up to $600 in travel expense reimbursement.
Proposals should be submitted in one of the following Convening tracks:
Track 1: Difficult Dialogues
Share examples or techniques of how to provide space for those who were or are in disagreement about a process or outcome to communicate intentionally together and reflect on how to move forward
Explore a past research intervention that caused harm and what lessons learned could improve future impact work
Explore with concrete suggestions current institutional practices that need to be rethought, with a space to envision what is needed to make that happen
Track 2: Learning from & Reflecting on Wins
Examples of engaged research partnerships that led to specific policy changes or changes to key practices in governmental or non-governmental organizations
Examples of engaged research partnerships that led to reciprocal, robust relationships between communities and institutions, even if policy changes did not materialize.
Track 3: Repair & Reconciliation
Examples of reparative policies put into place that are generating healing, wellness, and prosperity in communities impacted by historical harms.
Examples of real-time harm reduction and/or healing practices that were implemented in a situation that required immediate repair to ensure engaged community research partnerships could continue.
All potential presenters will need to provide:
Names and contact information of presenter
A title and short description (2-3 paragraphs) of your presentation idea and any materials you will share with the audience
Which track is the best fit for your session
Verification that you will be able to present in person in Minneapolis on June 12, 2026.
Please apply here by by March 9, 2026. The selection committee will make notifications no later than April 4, 2026.
Questions? Contact info@equityinactionway.org