Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development

Narratives of Resistance

About the Symposium 

While academic journals have written extensively about the issues facing this country, the solutions—and the people working tirelessly to implement them—have not received nearly the same attention. Without these stories of resistance, many are left feeling that meaningful change is impossible. At this symposium, we’ll challenge that sense of disillusionment by highlighting the narratives of advocates pushing back against inequality and injustice, exploring how they are working toward meaningful change, and encouraging others to become involved in that work.

Program Overview

The symposium will take place at St. John’s Law on April 2, 2027. We’ll select panelists from paper submissions accepted for publication in JCRED’s Spring 2027 symposium issue.

Call for Papers

Rather than focusing on a single issue, the symposium will explore how advocates across different fields support and advocate for their communities. We strongly encourage participation from a wide range of disciplines, including advocates for: 

• The LGBTQ+ community

• Racial and religious minorities

• Those affected by climate change

• Economically disadvantaged communities

You’re invited to submit an unpublished scholarly paper aligned with the symposium theme. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Your field of advocacy and its positive impact on your community at the local, state, or national level

• Personal narratives about how and why you became involved in advocacy and how your lived experiences shape your work

• Ways law students can engage in advocacy within their communities

Submission Guidelines

Please email your paper abstract of up to two (2) pages and/or a full unpublished draft along with a brief bio and your resume as a single Word attachment to [email protected] by Saturday, September 26, 2026. JCRED will review submissions and select papers for publication on a rolling basis through Saturday, October 24, 2026. If JCRED accepts your paper for publication, the full draft (10-75 pages) is due by Saturday, November 15, 2026.

Questions?

If you have any questions about this call for papers, please contact JCRED Research and Symposium Director Timothy Ibrahim at [email protected]. 

We look forward to receiving your submissions! 

About JCRED

Established in 1984-1985, the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development (JCRED) was formerly known as the Journal of Legal Commentary. Building on its rich history of excellent scholarship on issues of social, racial, and economic justice, JCRED officially became affiliated with the Ronald H. Brown Center for Civil Rights & Economic Advancement in 2010. Since then, JCRED has continued to produce innovative symposium issues and publish high-quality student notes. In addition, JCRED students publish short articles about cutting edge topics on JCRED's website.

The subjects of recent symposium issues have included:

• Mass incarceration and the school to prison pipeline
• The political division of the Brett Kavanaugh nomination and the #MeToo Movement
• The tragedy of family separation at the border and the need for comprehensive immigration reform
• The 50th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (in collaboration with the National Bar Association)

Faculty Advisors

Professor Elaine M. Chiu
Professor Rosa Castello

Learn More

Please visit the St. John's Law Scholarship Repository to access JCRED's:

• Current Issue
• Current Editorial Board
• Current Members
• Membership
• Articles Archive

Contact Us

[email protected]