2023 International Peace Conference
The 2023 International Peace Conference was held on May 4—6 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The conference is organized by Rotary Club International. The 2023 event was hosted by Rotary International District 6860 (North and Central Alabama) in partnership with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the UAB Institute for Human Rights. Will Ratliff chaired the organizing committee for the event, which was planned for up to 1,500 attendees.
The event recognized the 60th anniversary of the pivotal 1963 Birmingham Campaign of the Civil Rights Movement, and was scheduled to allow attendees to observe the Civil Rights Institute's annual re-enactment of the Children's March.
During the conference, breakout sessions were held relating to each of eight "pillars" of the conference, including:
- Individual Peace
- Peace at Home and in Families
- Peace Education in School
- Promoting Peaceful Communities and Reducing Violence
- Addressing and Preventing Human Trafficking
- Continuing Quest for Racial Equity and Justice
- Empowerment of Women and Girls
- International Peace
Schedule
May 4
- 12:00–4:00: Rotary Peace Fellow Symposium
- 6:00–8:00: opening reception
May 5
- 9:00–10:30: opening session with Will Ratliff, Odessa Woolfolk, Randall Woodfin, Jennifer Jones, and Ray Watts
- 10:45–11:35: breakout sessions
- 11:45–12:35: breakout sessions
- 12:35–1:45: lunch and general session with Stephanie Sinclair, Grace Ndanu, and Lucy Wairimu Mukuria
- 2:00–2:50: breakout sessions
- 3:00–3:50: breakout sessions
- 4:00–5:30: general session with Bob Roth, Liz Huntley, and Steve Killelea
- dinner and keynote address by Archbishop Laurent Mbanda, Anglican Church of Rwanda
May 6
- 8:30–10:00: general session with Ravi Ravindran, Becca Stevens, and John Dorsey
- 10:15–11:05: breakout sessions
- 11:15–12:05: breakout sessions
- 12:05–1:30: lunch and general session with Bernice A. King
- 1:45–2:35: breakout sessions
- 2:45–4:00: closing session led by Will Ratliff
- 7:00: Peace Concert Benefitting Ukrainian Refugees at the Alys Stephens Center
References
- Woods, Ashlee (June 6, 2022) "Birmingham to host 2023 International Peace Conference." Birmingham Business Journal
- Harris, Shelby (April 12, 2023) "Q&A: Birmingham hosting 2023 International Peace Conference." Birmingham Business Journal