Youth Action Conference 2025
We’re thrilled to invite your school to participate in Niagara University Ostapenko Center for Race, Equity & Missions' 8th Annual Youth Action Conference on March 20, 2025, at the Niagara Falls Convention Center. This STATEWIDE youth conference is designed and led by our regions most active student leaders. Registration opens January 8, 2025!This year’s theme is Leading with Love and Defending Justice. High school and college students will lead engaging workshops and activities to foster collaboration and critical thinking. Creating an entirely youth-led environment allows for unique engagement around topics students feel are meaningful to them and their communities.
The conference is completely FREE thanks to our generous sponsors: The Education Collaborative of WNY, The University at Buffalo CIGBS, The Niagara Falls Housing Authority, and MENTOR New York. Students will be provided with a meal; however, schools must arrange their transportation to and from the Convention Center.
Schools STATEWIDE are encouraged to bring up to 30 students to the conference. Out-of-town registrants will receive information about hotel accommodations and pre-conference activities.
In addition, each school should identify an appropriate number of chaperones to accompany their students at the conference. Please identify a contact at your school who will act as point person to communicate conference details to student participants.
School contacts will be responsible for the following:
• Determining students and chaperones for the conference and registering them on our conference platform. The conference platform will open on January 8, 2025.
• Securing transportation to and from the Niagara Falls Convention Center.
• Identifying one student for an award. Information about awards will be provided at a later date.
• Collecting permission slips.
• Identify students who want to participate in this year’s youth council.
This year, we are also excited to offer continuing education credits for adult chaperones. Information about registering for continuing education credits for professionals will be emailed later.
We look forward to welcoming your students and staff to this impactful event. We know your students will leave empowered and ready to Lead with Love and Defend Justice!
Conference Schedule
8:30 am - 8:50 am: Arrival & Registration
9:00 am -11:30 am: Welcome & Workshops
11:40 am - 12:25 pm: Lunch
12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Closing/Awards
1:00 pm: Departure
Student Workshop / Presentation Proposals:
We are looking for students who are interested in presenting at the conference. The proposal submission page opens on 1/23 and closes on 2/17. Click HERE for more details.