March 20-23, 2009
Hyatt Crystal City in Arlington, VA

What 2007 Conference Attendees Said:

• Connect with hundreds of youth and adults committed to creating a more peaceful future
• Increase your understanding of effective peacebuilding, national and international politics, the root causes of violence, and programs that WORK
• Build your skills as a peacebuilder, joining others in being the change we wish to see
• Expand your abilities as "citizen lobbyist" advocating for effective change in our government and communities
• Create or deepen your partnerships with others from your area who are active in peace advocacy
• Walk the Halls of Congress, meeting with your members of the House and Senate to lobby for a Department of Peace and Nonviolence

Confirmed Speakers thus Far: 

• Riane Eisler, social scientist, attorney, social activist and author of the bestseller "The Chalice and the Blade: Our History, Our Future" and "The Real Wealth of Nations: Creating a Caring Economics"
• Rita Marie Johnson, founding director of Costa Rica's Rasur Foundation
• Azim Khamisa, Chairman, CEO and Founder of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation (TKF)
  
• Ocean Robbins, co-founder of YES! Youth for Environmental Sanity
• Rich and Yvonne St. John-Dutra, co-founders of Challenge Day
• Swami Beyondananda the "Cosmic Comic," with his unique brand of "comedy disguised as wisdom and "wisdom disguised as comedy."

Plus

• Bob Koehler, award-winning columnist, Tribune Media Services
  
• Dot Maver, President and CEO, Peace Partnership International
• Lisa Schirch, Program Director for the 3D Security Initiative and a professor of peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University
• Members of Congress
  
• Other leading experts in
  
• Domestic and International Programs that WORK to reduce and prevent violence
  
• Peacebuilding and Global Security
  
• Human Security: Keeping America Safe

Read the speaker bios here.

Conference Fee: $255 - $355 sliding scale; Student rate: $100
Those of us who can pay at the higher end make it possible for us to include the broadest cross-section of our population as possible.

At the door, registration fees will increase to $275 - $375 sliding scale for general registration, $120 for students so don't wait!

Help support youth in attending the conference!

When you register, you'll have an opportunity to donate to the Youth Participation Fund. A donation of $100 will allow us to scholarship one youth, $1,000 will bring 10 youth! Even $10 will help us help youth participate. (Note that in the unexpected event that donations exceed need, your funds will be used for general conference expenses.)

At our last national conference, we exceeded capacity and had to turn people away. Don’t miss out on this historic event!

• Note: Students under the age of 18 must have the name and contact information of their chaperone to complete registration. No more than eight (8) students per chaperone.

Additional Details
The Conference Agenda is still being crafted. However, you can plan for the following:

FRIDAY
Registration opens in the late afternoon followed by an evening “Meet and Greet” reception and our first keynote speakers. Come to town early, visit the monuments during the day and soak in the amazing history of our nation's capital. You may even want to come a day early!

SATURDAY and SUNDAY
The program is expected to run from about 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, with speakers, sharing from grassroots activists, break-out sessions, lobbying training, specific activities for the Student Peace Alliance and more. Lunch and dinner breaks will be included, with most meals being on your own or with your district and state groups. Light snacks and one lunch will be provided throughout the conference.

MONDAY
Monday will be a day to meet with Members of Congress and/or staffers on Capitol Hill. Plan to schedule your meetings for between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to allow for conference morning and evening events and travel time to/from the Hill. As we get closer to the conference, we’ll provide registrants with coaching about setting up meetings and connect you with others who might also be in your district and state.

The evening will begin with sharing our lobbying successes and conclude with a Grand Finale and dessert reception.

TUESDAY
Post-conference lobbying on the Hill continues for those unable to set up Monday meetings. Note: West coast and some Midwest districts may have greater luck meeting with actual members of Congress on Tuesday than Monday, due to Congressional travel schedules.

TRAVEL
Reagan National Airport (DCA) is 10 minutes from the hotel, which provides a free shuttle to and from the airport. A $20 taxi ride will also get you to the hotel, or you can use the Metro. Those more familiar with the DC area may want to consider Dulles (IAD) or Baltimore (BWI) airports. Remember that ground transportation costs can reach up to $50 one-way from Dulles or BWI. BWI also has a 30-minute train ride into Union Station, where you can connect to the Metro. For Maryland regional train information, visit www.mtamaryland.com. For DC Metro and bus information, visit www.wmata.com.

HOTEL
You can reserve your room at the Hyatt online today and get the group discount. 

Hotel Conference Rates:
$165 Single/Double occupancy
$190 Triple occupancy
$215 Quadruple occupancy


CONFERENCE FEE
Conference fee is sliding scale of $255 to $355, (Student rate is $100). Those who are able to pay at the higher end of the scale will help make it possible for those who need to pay at the lower end.

Cancellation Policy: A nonrefundable fee of $50 will be applied to all cancellations.

Early Bird Fee: Register by December 31, 2008 and save 25%--sliding scale of  $190 - $265 for general registration, $75 for student!

Late Registration Fee: After March 19th and at the door, conference fees increase to $275 - $375 sliding scale for general registration, $120 for student.