Socialism 2026: Full Schedule

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2:30pm CDT

Community Lessons for Fighting Fascism: In Honor of Amisha Patel

Friday September 4, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Organizers and storytellers from across Chicago’s movements speak to what our people will need to carry into the fights against fascism: deep relationships, courage to act amidst uncertainty, self-reflection and healing, and a long-arc strategy to move us past the short-term pain. This session is held to honor the legacy of our sister and comrade, Amisha Patel.

Attendees will receive a free zine (by Tanuja Jagernauth) distilling the highlights of the last piece Amisha Patel wrote, sharing wisdom and resources for facing down fascism together.

Speakers

Maya Schenwar

Maya Schenwar is director of the Truthout Center for Grassroots Journalism. She is also Truthout’s board president. She is the co-editor of We Grow the World Together: Parenting Toward Abolition; co-author of Prison by Any Other Name: The Harmful Consequences of Popular Reform... Read More →

Juliet DeJesus Alejandre

Juliet De Jesus Alejandre is executive director of the Logan Square Neighborhood Association.

Tanuja Jagernauth

Tanuja Devi Jagernauth is an Indo-Caribbean prison-industrial-complex abolitionist, writer, theater maker, conflict tender, and yoga educator who believes in the necessity of creation during times of destruction. Tanuja's writing is inspired by healing justice, caste abolition, and... Read More →

Katelyn Johnson

Katelyn Johnson is executive director of the Chicago Racial Justice Pooled Fund. Previously, she was executive director of the Blackroots Alliance.

Rocío García

Rocío García is currently the Senior Organizing Director at Grassroots Collaborative, a coalition of community and labor groups across Chicago and Peoria. She leads the People’s Unity Platform–created to bring together the people’s agenda ahead of the 2024 municipal... Read More →

Sponsors

Truthout

Friday September 4, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Erie

Fighting the Right

4:30pm CDT

How Veterans & Labor Are Fighting VA Union Busting And Privatization

Friday September 4, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT

Erie

The murder of VA nurse member Alex Pretti drew national attention to federal worker resistance to Trump. On this panel, a VA care-giver, VA patient, and healthcare activist will report on labor/community campaigning to keep our best working model of socialized medicine from being privatized and dismantled.

Speakers

Stuart Hall

Stuart Hall is a native of central Florida, a 22-year resident of Chicago, and a veteran of the United States Navy.As a Navy veteran, Stuart was a systems operator aboard the s3a Viking, a carrier-based anti-submarine warfare aircraft. His most significant area of operation was Beirut... Read More →

Dan Blough

Daniel Blough leads recruiting relationships as a member of Loyola University Chicago's Career Services. He works with non-profit and mission driven organizations, education, arts and culture, media, government, and law. Dan is a Loyola alum, earning his BA and MA in Philosophy here... Read More →

Grace Neudek

Grace Neudek is a union organizer with SEIU Healthcare Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Kansas (HCIIMK), where she works alongside VA hospital workers to build power and advocate for quality public healthcare. A graduate of Earlham College, she holds a master's degree in Peace and Social... Read More →

Lisa Dadabo

Lisa Dadabo is a Vice President at AFGE Local 789 at the Jesse Brown VA, (Chicago, Illinois) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor who focuses on the treatment of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She also maintains a small private therapy... Read More →

Sponsors

Veterans Healthcare Policy Institute

Friday September 4, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm CDT
Erie

Labor Movement

2:30pm CDT

4:30pm CDT

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