For Immediate Release

5 Reasons You Won’t Want to Miss the Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities!

Des Moines, Iowa … On November 3, from 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, several hundred people will gather at the FFA Building in Ankeny for the 2023 Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities. The content-packed event founded to address disproportionality in Iowa’s criminal justice system is known as the epicenter for learning about the multi-dimensional justice system(s), strategies, legislation, policies, and best practices that are essential to addressing gaps. Here are 5 reasons you should be attend:  

1. Dr. Yusef Salaam is Keynoting!

Dr. Yusef Salaam, a prison reform activist and one of the Exonerated (Central Park) Five keynotes the summit. Despite the injustice he faced, his message is one of purpose. “When you find yourself in dark places, there’s always a light somewhere in that darkness, and even if that light is inside of you, you can illuminate your own darkness by shedding that light on the world.” Read full bio here.

2. The State of Justice in Iowa Panel 

Knowledge is power, and on this panel, various state justice related officials and advocates highlight their work, take stock of the disparities that persist, and share how they are working to change them. Not just on this panel but throughout the day, attendees will hear from representatives from the U.S. District Attorney’s Office, Iowa Department of Corrections, Iowa Supreme Court – Juvenile Court Services, Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, The Reform Alliance, State Public Defenders Office, Polk County Attorney’s Office, NAACP, Attorney General’s Victims Services, Iowa legislators, and more.

3. Power Panel: How School Districts Can Disrupt the School to Prison Pipeline 

The National Association for Schoolboard Superintendents recently produced a case study on disrupting the school to prison pipeline in schools. This panel, hosted by education advocate Victoria Henderson-Weber, includes superintendents Dr. Ian Roberts of Des Moines, Dr. Eric Pruitt of Ankeny and Dr. Julious Lawson of Ames to bring the conversation home to Iowa. As an added bonus, the Iowa Summit on Justice & Disparities is hosting a special exhibit called Suspended: Systemic Oppression in our Schools, an original exhibition developed by the African American Museum of Iowa. 

4. Our 14 Breakout & Strategy Sessions

Here is your opportunity to dive deep into various justice related topics. Topics include: bi-partisan legislative reform, changes in law enforcement since 2020; three approaches to violence prevention; financial support for crime victims, overcoming barriers to reentry; economic impact of bail, court fines and fees, the death penalty and more. CEU’s and CLE’s are available.

5. Education Justice Bonus: Navigating the Affirmative Action Ruling!  

When the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action it sent shock waves throughout the world of higher education and left people reeling about the ramifications in other industries. Presented by Professors Eric Berger and Danielle Jeffris of the University of Nebraska College of Law, this presentation will review the history on Affirmative Action and share guidance around how to navigate the new law of the land.  

Standard registration is $149 through midnight tonight and will still be available at the Just In Time rate thereafter. 

Visit www.IowaJusticeSummit.org, 515.288.7171 or [email protected] for more information.