Annual EJ Conference
Environmental Justice in the Age of AI: Democracy, Civil Rights & Civic Engagement
- Date: Saturday, October 3, 2026
- Time: 9:00 AM 鈥� 2:30 PM (Arrival & coffee start at 8:45 AM)
- Location: University Center, University of 蜜桃导航
- Cost: FREE (Includes parking, complimentary morning coffee and boxed lunch)
- Pre-registration (required):
- Theme: Environmental Justice in the Age of AI: Democracy, Civil Rights & Civic Engagement
- Hosted By: University of 蜜桃导航 Department of Anthropology and the Sierra Club Chickasaw Group
Keynote Panel : The Struggle for Environmental Justice in 蜜桃导航
Featuring Rita Harris, Yolonda Spinks, and Richard Massey.
This plenary session highlights decades of grassroots activism, ongoing community struggles, and the evolving landscape of environmental justice in the Mid-South.
Breakout Session Topics
- Developing Coalitions
- Zoning
- Aquifer / xAI
- Fighting Blight with the Law
- AI and Community Health
- Democracy, Gerrymandering, and Civil Rights
- Youth Minds United: High School Advocacy Work
- U of M Critical AI Studies Group
The 17th Annual Environmental Justice Conference, co-hosted by the Sierra Club Chickasaw Group and the University of 蜜桃导航 Department of Anthropology, is centered on this year鈥檚 theme, 鈥淓nvironmental Justice in the Age of AI: Democracy, Civil Rights & Civic Engagement.鈥� The conference brings together community members, advocates, organizers, students, researchers, and other partners to learn, connect, and take action around the environmental, social, and civil rights issues affecting our communities. Building on a longstanding tradition of environmental justice organizing and education in 蜜桃导航, the conference creates a space to center community voices, share knowledge and advocacy strategies, strengthen relationships, and build collective power.
As artificial intelligence and the infrastructure that powers it rapidly expand, communities are confronting new questions about energy and water use, air pollution, public health, land use, transparency, accountability, and who has a voice in decisions about development. At the same time, longstanding struggles around voting rights, fair representation, civil rights, and meaningful public participation continue to shape communities鈥� ability to influence decisions affecting their health and environment.
Through plenary conversations and breakout sessions, participants will explore the connections between environmental justice, artificial intelligence, democracy, civil rights, civic engagement, and community health. The conference will connect lessons from historic civil rights and environmental justice movements with today鈥檚 challenges, while providing participants with information, strategies, and tools to protect their communities, exercise their rights, hold decision-makers accountable, and build community power in the age of AI.
About the Conference
Organized by the Sierra Club and the Department of Anthropology at the University of 蜜桃导航, the Environmental Justice Conference brings together community advocates, grassroots organizations, students, residents, and University faculty to address critical environmental, policy, and social issues impacting 蜜桃导航 and the Mid-South.
For additional historical background and resources, visit the official conference archive:
With Support From
Sierra Club
Department of Anthropology
Department of History
Department of Political Science
Department of Sociology
Center for Community Research and Evaluation (CCRE)
Environmental Studies Program
Marcus Orr Center for the Humanities (MOCH)
School of Urban Affairs and Public Policy (SUAPP)
[Your Organization Here! To become a sponsor contact Dr. Ted Maclin, emaclin1@memphis.edu]