Convergence for Just Futures 2.0 - The Next 25: Futures Free of State Terror
Join Muslims for Just Futures at the historic Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) for an electrifying three-day convergence from September 23-25 (Wednesday - Friday) designed to ignite transformative change, fortify our communities from existing and escalated threats, and build just futures free of state terror.
This convergence is a catalytic intervention designed to meet this moment and shape futures free of state terror.
This convergence is a catalytic intervention designed to meet this moment and shape futures free of state terror.
Convergence for Just Futures 2.0: Why Now?
We are at a critical inflection point. Twenty-five years into the Global War on Terror, first declared by President George W. Bush in his September 20, 2001 address, we are living through its expansion and entrenchment. The post-9/11 legal framework has consolidated into a global architecture of militarization, surveillance, criminalization, and state terror.
Research from Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates that over 900,000 people have been directly killed in post-9/11 war zones, with up to 4.5 million killed indirectly from mass displacement, genocide, and the long-term impacts of war. Through policies like NSPM-7, this apparatus has not only expanded but intensified, extending far beyond its original targets to encompass anyone who challenges state violence. Its reach now permeates every domain from:
- Targeting free speech
- Restricting immigration and freedom of movement
- Suppressing social, student movements, and community resistance
- Weaponizing administrative, legal, and financial systems to collectively punish the most marginalized communities and those in solidarity
We are at a critical inflection point. Twenty-five years into the Global War on Terror, first declared by President George W. Bush in his September 20, 2001 address, we are living through its expansion and entrenchment. The post-9/11 legal framework has consolidated into a global architecture of militarization, surveillance, criminalization, and state terror.
Research from Brown University’s Costs of War project estimates that over 900,000 people have been directly killed in post-9/11 war zones, with up to 4.5 million killed indirectly from mass displacement, genocide, and the long-term impacts of war. Through policies like NSPM-7, this apparatus has not only expanded but intensified, extending far beyond its original targets to encompass anyone who challenges state violence. Its reach now permeates every domain from:
- Targeting free speech
- Restricting immigration and freedom of movement
- Suppressing social, student movements, and community resistance
- Weaponizing administrative, legal, and financial systems to collectively punish the most marginalized communities and those in solidarity
Location
Chicago Teacher's Union
1901 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
1901 W Carroll Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Date & Time
September 23, 2026, 9:00 AM, 9:00 AM - September 25, 2026, 3:00 PM
Convergence for Just Futures 2.0: Who is this for?
Situated within the longer resistance arc of state terror, this convergence will not only analyze how this apparatus has expanded and evolved in this moment, but will mainly focus on what it takes to materially divest from and contest these systems, build power, seed integrated movement infrastructure, and capital strategies required to reinvest in just futures. It aims to confront the conditions we are facing head-on, escalating repression and systemic divestment from our communities
Bringing together stakeholders who have never been brought together on this apparatus, this convergence charts the next chapter of our collective work to build power. This is a catalytic space to bring together practitioners across sectors. This includes innovative powerbuilders, movement organizers, fierce advocates, movement lawyers, next-economy builders, movement-aligned investors and funders, and social-impact leaders who are actively shaping just futures free of state terror. This convening is a working space for those already moving this work, and those ready to take on what this moment requires.
This gathering will center leaders from Black, Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian (BAMEMSA), Southwest Asian, and North African (SWANA) communities, alongside broader communities of color and anyone working to build futures free of state terror.
Bringing together stakeholders who have never been brought together on this apparatus, this convergence charts the next chapter of our collective work to build power. This is a catalytic space to bring together practitioners across sectors. This includes innovative powerbuilders, movement organizers, fierce advocates, movement lawyers, next-economy builders, movement-aligned investors and funders, and social-impact leaders who are actively shaping just futures free of state terror. This convening is a working space for those already moving this work, and those ready to take on what this moment requires.
This gathering will center leaders from Black, Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian (BAMEMSA), Southwest Asian, and North African (SWANA) communities, alongside broader communities of color and anyone working to build futures free of state terror.
Centering Core Strategies for Just Futures
The convergence will focus on three integrated strategic pillars:
Powerbuilding & Ecosystem Building
for Just Futures
Building and seeding long-term organizing and movement ecosystems capable of responding to repression while advancing transformative power-building strategies.
Legal & Governance Strategies
for Just Futures
Contesting state violence through lawyering, policy interventions, and governance strategies that shift power and protect our communities.
Capital, Solidarity Economies, & Movement Infrastructure
for Just FutureS
Redirecting and deploying capital for powerbuilding and building the material infrastructure necessary to sustain movements, resource divested communities, and underwrite liberated futures today.
Sponsorship & Contribution
This convergence is a catalytic launch point. We are working to chart a 25 year vision that meets the scale of the systems we are up against. Stakeholders will leave not only with updated assessments of the moment, but with alignment, clarity, strategy, and most importantly a broader network to build power.
Contributing Partners support the convergence through resourcing, participation, and amplification.
Contributing Partners support the convergence through resourcing, participation, and amplification.
Join us on September 23
Space is limited. Register soon. We look forward to hosting you!