3 DAYS. YOUR MOVEMENT.

Event Overview

Get our official event app,
Whova Logo

App Screenshots

Get the most out of the app and have a more productive experience!

1

NAVIGATE the event agenda and logistics, even without Wi-Fi or data. Access useful information like ridesharing and local attractions through the Community Board

2

NETWORK effectively. Plan whom to meet by exploring attendee profiles and sending out messages

3

PARTICIPATE in event activities through session likes, comments, ratings, live polling, tweeting, and more

For Blackberry or Windows Phone, Click here
For feature details, visit Whova
In-Person Schedule
Online Schedule
A diverse group of people participating in a protest or parade, holding signs and banners with messages about gender and body rights, with a woman in the foreground smiling and wearing a white outfit with decorative elements, in an urban setting under a blue sky.

Friday

October 23: The Stories of Now

Understanding the stories that got us here. A keynote, panels and conversations on our history, White Christian Nationalism, and the persistence of racism and xenophobia in our story. We’ll also talk about how the ways money fuels systemic harm. We end the day with dancing.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Dr. Jemar Tisby

  • Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas

  • Rev. Dr. Edwin Aponte

  • Dr. Melissa Deckman

  • Rev. Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Rev. Natalie Perkins

  • Brian Recker

  • Abby Disney

  • Trevor Smith

  • Edgar Villanueva

  • Rev. Jason Garrett

  • Isaac Luria

  • Rev. Jennifer Bailey

  • Rev. Michael-Ray Mathews

  • Tricia Levesque

  • The Moth Staff

  • Dr. Tonya Evans

  • Paris Woods

  • Elizabeth Ayoola

Crowd of people participating in a street protest or parade in an urban area, some holding flags including a rainbow pride flag and a transgender pride flag, with tall buildings and trees in the background.

Saturday

October 24: Dreaming the World We Desire

The stories of tomorrow. A keynote, panels and conversations on narrative change and art move the movement. We’ll dream wild dreams grounded in real neighborhood organizing. There will be a story slam at the end of our day.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Brian Recker

  • Kristian Smith

  • Genesis Be

  • Nick Laparra

  • Edgar Villanueva

  • Rev. Natalie R. Perkins

  • Erica Williams Simon

  • Rev. Lucas Johnson

  • Alencia Johnson

  • Tiq Milan

  • Casey Donahue

  • Bridgit Antoinette Evans

  • Kaliswa Brewster

  • Lucy Tiberghian

  • Ty Jones

  • Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes

  • The Moth Staff

  • BLIS Collective

  • Decolonizing Wealth Project

  • Just Love Kids

Crowd of people protesting on the street, many holding signs and banners with messages about justice and love, wearing masks and warm clothing.

Sunday

October 25: The Spiritual Practice of Revolution

The practices that sustain us as nourishment for the body and soul. A keynote, panels, and a multi-faith worship celebration on Ubuntu, interrelatedness, and fierce love of self and neighbor.

Featuring:

  • Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

  • Rachel Cargle

  • Rev. Amanda Hambrick

  • Rev. Natalie Renee Perkins

  • Rev. Macky Alston

  • Rev. John Janka

  • Kristian Smith

  • Ciarra Jones

  • Rev. Dr. Sarah Townes

  • Rev. Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas

  • Dr. Simran Jeet Singh

  • Dr. Hussein Rashid

  • John Fugelsang

  • Linda Sarsour

  • Rev. Mark Thompson

  • Gamal Palmer

  • Laura Flanders

  • Rev. Traci Blackmon

  • Shifra Bronznick

  • Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis

  • Dr. Rami Nashashibi

  • Middle Church Staff

Freedom Rising Conference • October 23–25, 2026

Complete Event Schedule

Please build your event schedule in Whova • All times Eastern

TimeSessionFormat / TypePresenters / Notes
In-Person Schedule

Choose the experience that works best for you.

Attend in person for a unique experience gathering and meeting face to face. Participate in activities throughout Middle Church.

Our engaging online programming is designed to be an experience of its own. More than simply a camera pointed at the room, we us special software and tools for a complete and interactive experience.

Online Schedule