10th Annual Justice in Action Conference

Saturday, March 28, 2026
9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Alumni Memorial Union

What is the Justice in Action Conference?

The Justice in Action Conference (JIA) is a one-day student-led conference to explore your role in service, community and social change. JIA is a time to develop new skills and knowledge on social justice, foster civic dialogue, and challenge perspectives on social systems. 

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2026 Justice in Action: What is Justice Without Democracy?

As we celebrate 250 years of signing the Declaration of Independence, we're asking the big question: What is justice without democracy? Join us as we dig into how justice, democracy, and faith shape one another - and how students can keep democracy alive through service, advocacy, and bold imagination.

Keynote Speaker: Dasha Kelly

Dasha Kelly is a writer, performance artist and creative change agent. She has authored award-winning poetry, essays and fiction. She is a mainstage storyteller and host with The Moth, an alum of HBO's Def Poetry Jam, Poet Laureate Emerita for both the City of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin and a National Laureate Fellow with the American Academy of Poets.

In 2024, Dasha was named a Living Legacy Honoree by the licensing agency for the legendary poet Gwendolyn Brooks. A skilled engagement practitioner and instructor, Dasha has facilitated initiatives in Botswana, Mauritius and Beirut as an Arts Envoy for the U.S. Embassy. Her nationally-touring stage show, Makin’ Cake, serves audiences a unique conversation on race, class and equity. Her nonprofit literary arts organization, Still Waters Collective, recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. Dasha’s recent releases are a poetry anthology, A Line Meant (Jaded Ibis Press), a 10th anniversary reprint of Almost Crimson (Traitmarker Books), and a new novel, Baker’s Dozen (Jaded Ibis).  

Tentative Schedule

Time	Events
8:30 am to 9:15 am	Breakfast and Registration
9:15 am to 9:30 am	Welcome
9:30 am to 10:30 am	Keynote
10:30 am to 11:00 am	Q&A with Keynote
11:10 pm to 12:00 pm	Breakouts
12:10 pm to 1:10 pm	Lunch
1:20 pm to 2:10 pm	Breakouts
2:20 pm to 3:00 pm	Closing Reflection

*Breakout Sessions and Action Workshops will be annouced closer to the date.

The Justice in Action Conference is sponsored and hosted by:

The Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility, the Burke Scholarship Program, the Center for Urban Research, Teaching & Outreach, the Counseling Center, Division of Belonging and Student Affairs, ̽»¨ÊÓƵSG, the Office of Inclusion and Engagement,  the Center for Teaching and Learning, the Service Learning Program, Sodexo, Trinity Fellows Program, and the Greater Milwaukee Foundation.

Planning Teams

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