Social Justice Festival
A three-day celebration of stories from multiple disciplines that build community, manage conflict, and explore identity. This highly experiential festival is an academic ritual at Buffalo State and includes workshops, performances, and art exhibits that challenge, teach, and explore diverse social and personal justice topics.
The Anne Frank Project is a program of Buffalo State University.
Our 18th Annual Social Justice Festival, explores an idea that is frequently discussed but too often left unrealized: Change.
Across our personal, professional, and civic lives, we recognize the need for change. We are encouraged to improve ourselves, adapt to new challenges, and pursue healthier, more meaningful lives; Personal Change. At the same time, we witness persistent calls for change within our local communities, our nation, and our world as we confront issues of equity, justice, and human dignity; Social Change. The importance of change is widely acknowledged; the challenge lies in knowing where and how to begin.
Meaningful change rarely starts with a movement of thousands. More often, it begins with a single action, a courageous decision, a new perspective, or a practical strategy that inspires others to act. Lasting transformation—whether personal or social—emerges from identifiable starting points.
The theme for AFP 2026, Where Change Begins, invites presenters to explore those starting points. We seek session proposals that identify a place to begin, a skill to develop, a conversation to initiate, or a strategy to activate meaningful personal, professional, and social change. Together, we will examine how individuals and communities can move from awareness to action and from intention to impact.
Proposal Submission Deadline: August 1, 2026
Social Justice Festival Dates: October 6th - 8th, 2026
The Anne Frank Project invites you to submit a proposal for our annual Social Justice Festival.
PROPOSE
Since its inception in 2009, our Social Justice Festival has explored underpinnings of humanity.
HISTORY
Through our Social Justice Festival, we’ve led brave and deep explorations of issues like shared humanity, social responsibility, defining inclusion, community engagement, mental health, systematic racism, the roots of Genocide, innovations in education, and personal healing. With an emphasis on doing, the festival is part of student coursework, connecting them to experts, artists, and leaders from around the globe who facilitate the interactive sessions.
Click below to download and explore past festival programs.
