The Justice Conference 2013

Posted by on March 05, 2013

This year, Eastern University, is pleased to share that the Justice Conference will be held in Philadelphia!  The Justice Conference is an annual educational event that aims to inspire and connect people around a shared concern for the vulnerable and the oppressed.  The vision behind the Justice Conference is an organic movement of passionate individuals giving their time, energy and life with the hope they could make a difference in the world.  The conference is committed to practical engagement, collaborative relationships, leading voices, a theology of justice, practicing justice, and fiscal responsibility.  Despite the conference’s success as a large international meeting of attendees from 44 states and over two dozen countries, the Justice Conference continues to operate by two non-profit organizations – World Relief and Kilns College – and a mobilization of committed volunteers.

Eastern University has partnered with the Justice Conference, acting as the host institution of the conference’s thousands of attendees and speakers.  One of Eastern’s own will be giving a keynote address.  Dr. Kimberlee Johnson serves as the Chair of the Urban Studies department and Director of the Center for Urban Youth Development at the Campolo College for Graduate & Professional Studies.  She serves at the Tasker Street Missionary Baptist Church in Philadelphia as a Minister and is founder of the Fellowship of Women Clergy.  Dr. Johnson also serves of the Board of Directors at Bridge of Hope National whose mission is to empower homeless and at-risk mothers. Her most pressing social concerns are that of sexual activity among youth and its social, physical, economic, and spiritual consequences; and injustice in the juvenile justice system.  This year, Dr. Johnson will be using her gift as an inspiring speaker to discuss the racial and economic disparities within the juvenile justice system, highlighting the Supreme Court’s recent Miller v. Alabama ruling on mandatory juvenile life without parole sentencing.

Other guests who will be speaking at the Justice Conference include Eugene Cho, Brenda Salter McNeil, Dr. Nicholas Wolterstorff, Gary Haugen, Dr. John Perkins, Sheryl WuDunn, Chai Ling, Lynne Hybels, Ken Wytsma, Stephan Bauman, Lisa Sharon Harper, Leroy Barber, Noel Castellanos, Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Shane Claiborne, and Eastern University Faculty member David Bronkema.

The Justice Conference is a perfect opportunity for students of the Master of Urban Studies program to learn more about the work of faith leaders across the world, developing communities and striving for social justice.  The Justice conference will be held February 22nd-24th at the Pennsylvania Convention Center.  For more information and to register for the Justice Conference, visit http://thejusticeconference.com/travel.html