Beyond the Bars Conference 2025

IMPORTANT: Due to increased security measures on Columbia's campus, it is important that you register as our requirements around non-Columbia affiliates on campus is becoming increasingly restricted. Please help us navigate this by registering for the days you plan to attend.

There is a ticket for each day of the conference. We ask that you please only register for the day(s) that you intend to come. While we fully intend to accommodate everyone who registers, registration does not guarantee you a seat. Space at all events will be first come first seated for all registered attendees.

COVID PRECAUTIONS

We strive to practice collective care and the health and safety of our communities is a priority. To be in solidarity with our elders, immunocompromised attendees, and our broader sick and disabled kin, we strongly encourage everyone to mask and will have masks available for anyone who needs one. We also ask that attendees take a covid test before attending. Finally, we ask that If you are experiencing any symptoms of respiratory illness or have recently had a COVID exposure, please stay home and join us virtually.

BEYOND THE BARS 2025: CELEBRATING 15 YEARS!

In 2025, we are celebrating our 15th Beyond the Bars Conference! The idea for the conference first came from Tanisha “Wakumi” Douglas who was a student at Columbia School of Social Work and was a leader in the Criminal Justice Caucus. Wakumi, whose father had been incarcerated for many decades, including at the time of the first conference, ended up working with Kathy and Cheryl to develop and implement the conference. The first conference was one day on January 29th, 2011, and focused primarily on social workers developing skills to address the ripple effects of incarceration. Since then, the conference has grown in so many incredible ways and we are excited to reminisce together on how the conference has made an impact on attendees and our larger communities and has built a national and international movement.

THEME: SANKOFA: LOOKING BACK TO MOVE FORWARD

This year, we will feature topics discussed at Beyond the Bars over the past 15 years and also envision the future of our movement together. The Beyond the Bars 2025 theme is “Sankofa”- looking back to move forward. Other definitions say "looking back to retrieve that which is at risk of being left behind." In our current times, it is so important that we look back at and preserve our histories and how our ancestors and those who have come before us have succeeded in organizing, advocating, and taking care of their community when systems of oppression seemed too overpowering. So much knowledge has been shared throughout the 15 years of Beyond the Bars and we hope to capture and preserve that through our plenaries, workshops, art displays, and more. If you have memories, photos, videos, etc from previous Beyond the Bars Conferences, please submit them here.

At this year’s conference, as we have done at many past conferences, we especially want to highlight the contributions of women, femmes, non-binary, and trans people who have led the way towards liberation for centuries but whose inspiring work is often overlooked or co-opted. We hope the conference serves as a catalyst to continue to follow their leadership through these tumultuous times and into an uncertain future.

Conference FAQs

THURSDAY NIGHT, MARCH 6TH: PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT - WOMEN TRANSCENDING COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP CELEBRATION
TIME: Doors at 5:30pm, Event begins at 6pm
LOCATION: TBA
FRIDAY NIGHT, MARCH 7TH: OPENING NIGHT
TIME: (Doors at 5:30pm, Event begins at 6pm)
LOCATION: TBA
SATURDAY, MARCH 8TH: BEYOND THE BARS: SANKOFA: PLENARIES AND WORKSHOPS
TIME: Light Breakfast Begins at 9:15am - Panels Start at 10:00am with the last workshop ending at 5:30 pm
LOCATION: Columbia School of Social Work (1255 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027)
SUNDAY, MARCH 9TH: BEYOND THE BARS: SANKOFA: PLENARY + WORKSHOPS
TIME: Light Breakfast Begins at 9:15am -Plenary Starts at 10:00am with the last workshop ending at 3:30 pm
LOCATION: Columbia School of Social Work (1255 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10027)

ACCESSIBILITY: Thursday night, Friday night and Saturday plenaries will be livestreamed for anyone who prefers to attend virtually. Friday night and Saturday plenaries will include an ASL Interpreter for in-person attendance. We want to create an inclusive space. Please help us to do this. If you have other needs please email [email protected] and we will do our best to meet them.

PLEASE NOTE: This conference will be recorded, livestreamed, and photographed. If you do not wish to be filmed, there will be overflow rooms for the Saturday and Sunday plenaries that will not be recorded. Most of the recording is for the livestream and will focus mostly on panelists until the Q&A portions. By registering for the conference, you consent to potentially be photographed. Because of the number of people who attend the conference, we cannot guarantee anyone will not be photographed, but are always happy to take down any photos posted when requested.

Host or Publisher Center for Justice at Columbia University