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The Fletcher School is proud to host its fifth annual Conference on Gender and International Affairs on November 15th and 16th, 2019. CGIA is an entirely student-organized initiative that brings together a unique mix of academics, practitioners, and community leaders to promote the integration of gender analysis into the scholarship and practice of international affairs at Fletcher and beyond. Your support is critical to making the Conference possible!
CGIA was conceived as a response to the lack of gender analysis in curricula and programming, a deficiency that exists not only in higher education, but in the professional fields students prepare to enter and the environments in which they study, work, and live.
CGIA seeks to bridge this gap through collaborative, interdisciplinary, and cross-sector efforts. As global citizens and future leaders, it is critical for students to understand the role that gender plays in decisions ranging from personal relationships to public policy. Gender also interacts with other socially constructed power dynamics and aspects of identity, such as class and race, in ways that require a nuanced and intersectional lens to analyze and understand.
From the reckoning of the Me Too movement and the ongoing presidential debates in the U.S.;
to the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals and Greta Thunberg’s crusade for climate justice;
to girl’s education and reproductive autonomy for women around the world;
to violence against trans women of color and anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ individuals;
gender is everywhere in the personal and the political.
This year’s Conference theme, [En]gendering Change: A Rally for Action, focuses on how a robust understanding of gender can be used pragmatically to foster progressive change and promote equity within the various aspects of international affairs. CGIA aims to create a learning environment in which participants--drawn from around the world and a diverse variety of backgrounds-- have the opportunity to interact with experts representing a broad range of personal and professional identities and expertises.
Through inclusive and open dialogue, CGIA will emphasize the necessity of considering intersectionality and uplifting historically marginalized voices when examining the gendered dimensions of politics and international affairs. Ultimately, participants will leave the Conference with a more nuanced understanding of gender and the tools required to act as effective advocates within their respective fields of work.
This year’s Conference combines theory and praxis to generate actionable plans and facilitate the exchange of best practices between students, scholars, and practitioners. The Conference will feature the following five moderated panel discussions, four interactive skills-based workshops, a collaborative design-thinking plenary session, and a keynote address by Samantha Power, distinguished author and former ambassador of the United States to the United Nations.
Breaking Down the Binary: A Toolkit for Gender-Inclusive Programming and Policy-Making
Gendering Research Design;
Empowering Future Leaders: The Steps to a Successful Political Campaign;
and The Anatomy of an Ally.
Marginalized Masculinities;
Women in P̶e̶a̶c̶e̶ Conflict;
Bodies as Battlegrounds;
Decoding the Patriarchy;
and International Activism: Lessons from the Field.
The Conference is free and open to all, and funding comes exclusively from student fundraising. This year's CGIA builds on a four-year legacy of student organizing, educating, and advocating to present the largest Conference to date. This year, CGIA is also determined to make the Conference more inclusive than ever by eliminating socio-economic barriers to participation for panelists and attendees.
Please help us maintain that commitment to accessibility and inclusivity by donating to our campaign. We can't do it without you!
This year marks a milestone fifth anniversary for CGIA! Express your solidarity with our growing tradition of student organizing and advocacy with a gift of $5 for 5 years. Here's to many more!
In addition to being free and open to the public, CGIA provides breakfast, lunch, and refreshments to participants throughout the Conference. Help ensure that everyone can stay all day to join in the conversation by covering the cost of fare for two attendees!
CGIA wouldn't be possible without the hard work of our dedicated volunteers and brilliant panelists. At the conclusion of the Conference, we'd like to thank them with a sponsored event or gift to show our appreciation! Help us make that possible with a gift of $25.
We are committed to keeping the Conference free to attend for everyone. Without the support of donors like you, we would have to charge each attendee approximately $50 to cover our costs. Help us maintain the Conference's accessible and egalitarian nature with a donation of $50!
All of the Conference's artwork and visual materials were produced by independent local artists. Now, we're using their work to reach out to as many people in the community as possible. Help us offset those costs and spread the word about the Conference by giving $100!
While our panelists generously give their time, energy, and expertise to the Conference pro bono, we cover all of the arrangements for their travel and lodging. Help us ensure that we can bring the most diverse, experienced, and knowledgable group of experts to the conference to engage in a rich, challenging, though-provoking conversation by donating $250, the average cost of a panelist's accommodations!
This year, for the first time we are able to offer a needs-based honoraria fund to cover financial barriers that might otherwise prevent individual panelists them from participating, such as childcare or compensation for unpaid leave from work. Help us ensure that everyone is represented at the Conference with a gift of $500!
