Rise Up Conference 2026: The Power of Belonging

Join Us!

Rise Up 2026 marks the fifth annual Rise Up conference, and its impact continues to grow within our community and beyond. Each year, hundreds of partners, practitioners, and advocates gather with a shared commitment to racial and social justice—bringing their voices, experiences, and courage into a space designed for connection, learning, and action.

This year, we invite you into an experience centered on The Power of Belonging—how it is built, how it is fractured, and how it can be restored through intentional action. Rise Up 2026 will be an action-oriented day filled with honest dialogue, meaningful reflection, and forward momentum, challenging participants to examine their role in shaping spaces where people feel seen, valued, and connected.

Belonging is not passive. It asks something of each of us.

What actions will you take to strengthen belonging in your communities, organizations, and systems?

For more information visit www.riseupconf.com

RISE UP 2026 THEME: THE POWER OF BELONGING

In a time marked by polarization, exclusion, and harm, belonging is both a human need and a collective responsibility. It is more than inclusion—it is the lived experience of being seen, valued, and connected. Belonging does not happen by accident; it is built through intentional choices, courageous leadership, and systems that center dignity and equity.

Penny Lane Centers, a pioneering organization committed to empowering marginalized communities, invites thought leaders, practitioners, advocates, and community members to submit proposals for Rise Up 2026. This conference centers voices that are too often unheard and examines how belonging—or the lack of it—shapes individual lives, communities, and institutions.

For over fifty years, Penny Lane has been an agency of action. Guided by our core values of community, collaboration, and commitment, we have stood alongside those most impacted by injustice—listening deeply, responding boldly, and advocating for change. From providing sanctuary for young women exiting the juvenile justice system to advancing racial and social justice initiatives, Penny Lane’s work is rooted in the belief that everyone deserves to belong.

As the social and political landscape continues to challenge our sense of shared humanity, Rise Up 2026 calls us to move beyond awareness and into accountability. This conference will explore barriers to belonging, confront systems that perpetuate exclusion, and uplift practices that foster connection, equity, and collective care. Through honest dialogue, storytelling, and action-oriented learning, Rise Up creates space for courage, resilience, and solidarity. So join us November 4th at the California Endowment!