Saturday, November 1, 2025 

Doors Open at 9:00am CDT 

Program: 10:00am - 2:30pm CDT

SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS
The Mille M. Charles School of Social Work
6400 Press Drive (Suno Knights Dr)
New Orleans, LA 70126

 

The National Racial Equity Initiative for Social Justice (NREI) was established in 2020 as the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s (CBCF) pledge to bolster its work in advancing racial justice, combating systemic injustice, and increasing economic development opportunities for the Black community.

The 2025 NREI Summit will celebrate NREI’s 5th operating year, convening experts, stakeholders, and community members to address two of NREI’s focal areas – criminal justice and education – and the relationship between them. This year’s Summit will take place in New Orleans, Louisiana, utilizing the city’s rich cultural history as a backdrop for insightful panels, interactive content, and engaging discussions with participants around key issues for local communities related to criminal justice and education.

 

What to Expect at the NREI Summit New Orleans

Fireside Chat

Join us for an intimate and thought-provoking conversation with Representative Troy Carter, Sr. (LA-02) exploring the complex realities of the prison workforce. Moderated by CBCF President and CEO, Nicole Austin-Hillery, this candid dialogue will illuminate the intersection of criminal justice, labor rights, and racial equity—and underscore the power of policy to transform lives.

Interactive Breakout Sessions

Consisting of different visual and tactile elements, each breakout room will allow participants to dig deeper into the historical, institutional, and legal foundations of the criminal justice and education systems in Louisiana and the relationship between them.

Content Sessions

Our sessions will connect the dots between education, incarceration, and labor, and challenge participants to reimagine both education and justice. In a call to collective action we will explore in an open forum format the issues that matter most to New Orleans residents and their communities.

Check Out Our Past Events

 

Activisim Unleashed: Digital Media for Social Justice - ALC53 NREI Taskforce Session | 2024

Featuring our NREI Task Force of Social Justice Ambassadors—leaders from different social justice movements— this session discusses effective strategies for online organizing, digital storytelling, and leveraging technology for social change. Topics include the role of digital platforms and social media in advancing social justice causes. From hashtag campaigns to online petitions, from viral videos to digital organizing, our panelists delved into the strategies, successes, and challenges of leveraging digital platforms for social justice and societal transformation.
 
Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

NREI Community Conversation | Atlanta 2024

NREI Community Conversation, Empowering Equality: Voting Rights and Representation in America held in Atlanta, GA, focused on the fundamental principles of democracy and the ongoing quest for voting rights and representation in America. The event included a fireside chat and panel discussions delving into the complexities of voting rights and representation, examining historical struggles, landmark legislation, contemporary issues shaping the electoral landscape, and the role of technology in enhancing democratic access.

Title Sponsor - Southern Poverty Law Center