Our 2026 SJA symposium theme is Freedom Dreams and Radical Joy: Youth Voices in the Pursuit of a Just Society. The symposium will be held on April 10, 2026 at The University of Maryland College Park.
Date: Friday, April 10, 2026
Time: 11:00AM - 1:00PM
Location: University of Maryland, Riggs Alumni Center, 7801 Alumni Dr, College Park, MD 20742
This year’s symposium continues to honor the life and legacy of Lt. Richard W. Collins III and will center the voices, visions, and leadership of individuals who are reimagining justice through creativity, resistance, and collective joy. This gathering calls us to center joy, mental health, and persistence as acts of resistance and renewal. Together, we will explore how radical hope and youth-led movements are shaping a more just, compassionate, and liberated future.
The BSU-UMD Social Justice Alliance annual symposium will bring together change makers, scholars, and community leaders to explore ways we can build community and collective action for the days, weeks and months ahead and champion the importance of active participation and collective resistance in today’s social justice landscape.