The Vermont Law Review 14th Annual Symposium brings us back to the roots of why we chose to become advocates. We will discuss social movements and the law, focusing on issues we feel are not addressed enough in current discourse. We will explore the theoretical underpinnings of how social movements further legal change, move into discussions involving trans* rights and prison reform and criminal justice issues, and finally conclude with an activist workshop emphasizing skills to improve our advocacy in these pressing areas. Special attention will be given to multiple layers of identities, including issues affecting trans* people of color and the criminal justice system's disproportionate impact on minorities. Our panelists are diverse in their personal and professional backgrounds: a trans* youth artist-activist, a former senior correctional officer, and a variety of legal and academic scholars. Alisha Williams, Director of the Prisoner Rights Project at The Sylvia Rivera Law Project, will deliver the keynote address on issues affecting trans* inmates. Alisha will also help us break down the complexities of these issues during our activist workshop.​​

CLE Credits are available at this Symposium.

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List of Speakers

Opening Remarks:

Ann Kirby, Counsel for Leon Brown (2014)

Panel 1: Social Movements and the Law

Mary Burke, Professor of Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies at the University of Vermont

Marc Dixon, Professor of Sociology at Dartmouth College

Jessica West, Professor of Law at Vermont Law School

Linus Owens, Professor of Sociology at Middlebury College

Panel 2: Transgender Rights

Jennifer Levi, Director of Transgender Rights Project at GLAD

M. Dru Levasseur, Transgender Rights Project Director at Lambda Legal

Kylar Broadus, National Gay & Lesbian Task Force & Founder of Trans People of Color Coalition

Sky Kergil, trans youth artist, activist, and musician

Keynote Speaker:

Alisha Williams, Sylvia Rivera Law Project

Panel 3: Criminal Justice and Prison Reform

Cathleen Price, Senior Cooperating Attorney at Equal Justice Initiative

Dr. Nazgol Ghandnoosh, Research Analyst at The Sentencing Project

Gabriel Arkles, Northeastern School of Law and Core Collective Member at Sylvia Rivera Law Project

John Gorcyzk, Former Vermont Commissioner of Corrections

Activist Workshop

Facilitated by Alisha Williams

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