The Civil Liberties and Public Policy Program and the Population and Development Programs at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA are hosting their 19th annual conference on reproductive rights and social justice, April 1-3, 2005. Hundreds of students from all over the country, as well as many students from other parts of the world will be attending this unique, and uniquely important event.

I wrote an article about these conferences two years ago, that remains relevant today. Conference organizer Marlene Gerber Fried, a professor of philosophy at Hampshire, acknowledged at the time that is is very unusual for academic programs to sponsor an event that mixes choice-related organizing and scholarship. She explained that the Civil Liberties and Public Policy and the Population and Development programs that jointly sponsor the conference are, like Hampshire itself, “committed to knowledge being grounded in the world and in academic work and where the two meet each other.”

“We don’t bring in the stars,” Fried continued. “We place a very high priority on diversity of voices–age and race and country.”

“For older activists, it is tremendous,” she added. “And for young people, it’s not a place where the older people are going to tell you what it’s like. It’s a place where people’s experience is of value, whether it’s a year or 50 years.”

It should almost go without saying that we live in a time of extraordinary threat to reproductive rights in the U.S. and internationally. The work and experience of the past 18 years in refining how to put on this always interesting, engaging and well organized event will be evident, and undoubtedly pay off in many ways for all who attend. The conference, coming as it does at this pivotal moment in history, will provide people with the information, the analyses, the contacts and the movement to take the struggle into the future. This year it is titled: “From Abortion Rights to Social Justice: Building the Movement for Reproductive Freedom.”

Here are some excerpts from the conference description.

“The conference is open to everyone. It is intended as a forum for learning and networking for all ages, experiences and background knowledge. If you’ve been an activist for the past twenty years, or if you are just curious and have never been to a conference before, you are equally welcome to attend. The conference is free, wheelchair accessible, and housing and childcare are available with advance registration.”

“This conference has a broad understanding of reproductive rights, encompassing the struggle for racial equality, economic justice, civil liberties, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender and intersex rights, environmental justice, peace, youth liberation, access to education, healthcare and childcare, welfare rights, disability rights, immigrant and refugee rights, and freedom from violence. Our aim is to make the connection between reproductive rights and other social justice movements in order to enliven our mutual efforts for justice and equality for everyone.”

“The… weekend will include time for learning, listening, speaking, networking, and connecting… [as well as].. an abortion speak out, performances, a networking reception, and over 25 workshops on topics such as abortion access, human rights, population control, international women’s health, immigration, art and activism, welfare, globalization, spirituality, sex education, and caring for ourselves as activists.”

The conference agenda and speakers list has not been published yet, but it will eventually be sent out in a brochure, and be posted on the conference web site. People often travel great distances for this conference, and with good reason.

Contact the conference organizers now to get on the mailing list for the conference brochure. Come with a group or come by yourself. But do plan to come.