The Garden Initiative for Black Women’s Activism
When We Lead: Black Women’s Spiritual Activism and Social Change Conference
October 4-6, 2024
Emory Conference Center Hotel
1615 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
The Garden Initiative for Black Women’s Religious Activism aims to broaden our
historical knowledge of Black women’s leadership and to equip contemporary religious leaders,
social justice activists, and scholars with resources to sustain social change. During our first
conference, we gather in the city of Atlanta to illuminate the role of religion in movements for
racial justice and social change. In particular, we will bring women together to learn from each
other’s leadership styles and share best practices for leadership development.
Our conference emphasizes the underpinning of religion in our collective visions of creating
justice in our time. We have built in professional development opportunities as well as space for
intergenerational and international conversations about the meaning and practice of religious
activism. We welcome persons from all or no religious traditions as we explore the interfaith
lessons found in Black women’s leadership and activism. Through conference presentations and
workshops we will share knowledge from activists, scholars, and religious leaders across the
African diaspora as well as our findings from the Garden Initiative’s work. After the conference
we aim to publish conference presentations in three distinct venues: a special issue of the journal
of Black Women and Religious Cultures, in an edited collection of essays, and virtually on The
Garden Initiative’s website. We are committed to interdependent social change that depends on
bridging the academy, faith communities, and social justice spaces. As such, we anticipate this
gathering of womanist scholars, religious practitioners, activists, and leaders to foster
collaboration and create networking opportunities that will help heal our world.
The Garden Initiative is excited to host our first conference in the city of Atlanta, GA beginning
Friday, October 4, 2024 through Sunday, October 6, 2024. Our host hotel is the Emory
Conference Center Hotel located at 1615 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30329.
Our conference theme When we Lead: Black Women’s Spiritual Activism and Social Change is
meant to draw attention to the importance of religious or spiritual practices in inspiring and
grounding social justice activism. During our time together we will amplify how spirituality can
inform Black women’s moral leadership.
