2023 Theme: Building Bridges of Hope 

VIEW CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Scholarships are available for those who are in financial need. Please click HERE if you would like to apply for a scholarship.

IMPORTANT NOTE: "RRSJ Patron" and "Full-Access Conference" ticket holders have access to "An Evening with Clint Smith" on June 7 and all conference activities the following day on June 8. However, "Stand-Alone Keynote" ticket holders only have access to "An Evening with Clint Smith" on June 7. 

Tri-Faith Initiative and the University of Nebraska Omaha's (UNO's) Religious Studies department invite you to the second annual Race, Religion, and Social Justice Conference on June 7 and June 8, 2023 at the TriFaith Commons in Omaha, NE.

This year’s theme is “Building Bridges of Hope." 

Hope is not simply wishful thinking. Hope is an intentional, confident expectation that the social issues we are addressing ought to, and can, be overcome. This conference is making connections across differences — institutional differences, divided communities, and dissimilarities between individuals.

The conference will address intersections between race, religion, and social justice across different sectors of society. We invite multi-sector approaches — nonprofit and civic leaders, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion (DEAI) practitioners, community members, educators, physical and mental health practitioners, artists, religious communities, and scholars.

There will be a range of education, conversation, and workshop sessions, as well as visual and performing arts pieces. Attendees will also be able to enjoy food trucks and other vendors.

Clint Smith, New York Times #1 bestselling author of How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America, will be the keynote speaker. "An Evening with Clint Smith" will be presented as a fireside chat conversation at 7 PM on Wednesday, June 7, at Temple Israel (13111 Sterling Ridge Drive, Omaha, NE 68144). 

If you are fortunate enough to have the financial stability to do so comfortably, please consider purchasing a 2023 RRSJ Patron Ticket. Your contribution helps those in our community who may be uplifted by this event but face financial barriers to attending.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage fully. If you require any accommodations such as an ASL interpreter, please contact Tri-Faith Initiative Mission Advancement Coordinator Megan Griffiths at mgriffiths@trifaith.org with the subject line, "RRSJ Accommodations." 

Pre-Conference Convening Opportunity on May 30 

Interested in helping set the stage for Tri-Faith Initiative’s second annual Race, Religion & Social Justice Conference with riveting conversations? Join us on May 30 for a pre-conference convening hosted by Tri-Faith Initiative, Inclusive Communities, and Movement in Omaha for Racial Equity (M.O.R.E.). 

Interested attendees must submit an interest form upon registration for the RRSJ conference to be considered for this event (check your ticket confirmation email for a link to the form). Because space is limited not all individuals who express interest may be able to attend. 

Learn more about the pre-conference convening here. 

THANK YOU TO OUR RRSJ SPONSORS & PARTNERS 

Bridge Builder Sponsors

Jewish Community Relations Council 

Justice Sponsors 

Nebraska Episcopal Diocese 

CHI Health

Greater Omaha Chamber 

Conference Registration Supporters 

Boys Town

Program Partners 

Great Plains Black History Museum 

Inclusive Communties 

Institute for Holocaust Education 

Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center 

Civic Nebraska 

Omaha Public Library 

The Union For Contemporary Art 

Malcolm X Memorial Foundation

Humanities Nebraska

Nebraska Cultural Endowment 

Table Grace Cafe