2023 CALL FOR PROPOSALS

Are you ready to chart the course toward a more equitable future? Then join us at the third annual Charting Our Future conference, where we’re taking our commitment to social change to the next level with this year’s theme, “Empowering Equitable Futures.”

Charting Our Future connects youth advocates across professions and lived experiences to explore the most pressing issues preventing young people from success. But in this new and critical age, connecting is just the beginning. Our future depends on the action we take together now. You’ll have the opportunity to learn from experts and peers making a difference and discuss how we can collaborate across sectors to reduce disparities and create more opportunities for marginalized students.

As we work towards creating a more just future for young people in Pierce County, we are particularly interested in sessions that focus on the topics listed below. Submissions will be evaluated on relevance to the conference theme, overall quality, and the diversity of perspectives represented.

KEY DEADLINES

Monday, March 27 Deadline for Submitting Proposals

Monday, April 17 Deadline for Presenter Conference Registration

PROPOSAL TOPICS

Advocacy

Leveraging your position to advocate for local, regional, and state policy that address racial disparities and promote student success.

Community Engagement

Empowering families and youth to make informed decisions on issues that impact their lives.

Continuous Improvement

Using data to challenge systems of oppression and achieve objectives of ongoing learning and fairness.

Education Justice

Exploring the interconnectedness of today’s education challenges and the ongoing impact of historical racism.

Addressing the System

Examining strategies and techniques that have proven effective in addressing the underlying structural causes of racial inequality.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

INDICATE SESSION FORMAT

  • Panel Discussion
  • Facilitated Roundtable Discussion
  • Lecture and Discussion

INDICATE SESSION DURATION

  • 60 minutes
  • 80 minutes

We are seeking proposals that prioritize interactive discussion and audience engagement. In order to foster a dynamic
exchange of ideas, at least 30 minutes of your proposed session should be dedicated to group conversation. We
encourage proposals that include multiple perspectives and welcome student voices.
Charting Our Future empowers service providers, educators, system leaders, and community members to
take action toward equitable outcomes for students. Therefore, preference will be given to proposals that demonstrate
a collaborative, cross-organizational approach rather than promoting a singular product, program, organization,
or service. Proposals should focus on sharing lessons learned, discussing challenges and issues encountered, and
strategies for addressing them. The objective is not to present a mere demonstration but to actively engage the
audience in a productive conversation.

INDICATE LOGISTICS

  •  Session title and abstract (75 words max).
  •  Name and contact details for presenter and other proposed speakers. The lead presenter will act as the primary
    point of contact and is responsible for coordinating all session information among presenters.
  • Biographies for presenter and other proposed speakers (150 words max). Bios should include relevant
    professional information and accomplishments related to the session topic.
  • Proposal Topic(s).
  • Target Audience.
  • Audio, Visual, and Other Technology Needs.
  • A summary or list of any handouts you plan to distribute during your session. The actual documents must be
    submitted by April 17, 2023 for us to make print copies for attendees and upload them to our online platform
    for easy access.

 

FULL SESSION DESCRIPTION

While a full session description is not required at the time of proposal submission, a 500-word description must be
provided no later than April 17th.
The full description should include themes, challenges, insight, successes and failures, methodologies, and goals for
group discussion. If there are multiple presenters, please indicate each presenter’s topic. Ensure content has broad
applicability and comparative perspectives. Include an analysis of lessons learned and tools for action helpful to
your audience.

 

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals will be evaluated by our Conference Planning Committee using the following criteria:

  • Relevance to the conference theme
  • Originality and quality of the proposal
  • Relevance to the audience
  • Representation of multiple perspectives
  • Diversity of presenters
  • Realistic allocation of time
  • Substantive issues and content (proposals should not promote products, programs, particular organizations, or
    services in any way)

The proposal should focus on challenges, trends, and lessons learned, with ample time for discussion and a call
to action. In all instances, proposals of equal merit cannot be selected if the result would be an imbalance in the
conference’s overall coverage of topics, audiences, and regions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You will be notified about the status of your submission by April 7, 2023.

Proposals are reviewed by a conference advisory committee consisting of representatives from Graduate Tacoma community partners and service providers.

Unfortunately, specific dates or times for sessions cannot be requested due to the complexities of conference scheduling. Please ensure that you and your presenters are available during the conference time frame. Selected session leads will be notified of their session’s date and time in early April.

There is a registration fee for the conference. However, conference presenters’ fees will be waived. Selected presenters will receive a unique link or discount code to register for the conference.

Presenters have the option to only attend their session, but all presenters are required to register for the conference in
order to effectively track event attendance and capacity.

The Greater Tacoma Convention Center is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and presentation rooms will have basic audio/video capabilities and necessary equipment. However, to ensure smooth coordination of your session, please include all A/V needs in your proposal. Our event team will contact you to arrange your specific needs if your proposal is accepted.