The annual Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Symposium will be held at Drake this year. This event is free for all students who register with their school e-mail address. ($25 registration fee for others). The event includes breakfast and lunch. 

There will be breakout sessions and a keynote address by Ashlyn Sparrow, the Assistant Director of the Weston Game Lab at the University of Chicago, where she teaches students of all ages how to design their own games while uncovering the socio-political implications of their designs. 

There will be 3 tracks including:

• Process Your Power: Women’s Rights
• Dynamics of Disability Rights
• Voices from our Youth: LGBTQ+ and Refugee and Immigrant Youth Voices

Additionally, there will be two 45-minute panel discussions focusing on environmental justice/climate action and the importance of youth mentorship. These "mini-sessions" allow for attendees to explore the vendor booths, the youth STEM project booths, and network with fellow attendees after the panel.