Building a movement for child well-being and racial justice is hard work. It takes intentionality, persistence, faith, and community. So, for nearly 30 years, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has brought together faith-based advocates and educators, organizers and leaders, and parents and youth in intergenerational, interracial, multi-ethnic, and ecumenical community to attend our annual Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry.
On the storied grounds of CDF Haley Farm in Knoxville, TN, CDF’s Proctor Institute is where we sing and pray, strategize and organize, and congregate and advocate in our pursuit of justice for our nation’s children. We share stories of struggle and of hope, and we learn from each other, a beloved community committed to realizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision for every young person and ending child poverty.
In order to address the multitude of challenges facing our children and youth today, it will take commitment, support, and action from individuals and organizations across a variety of sectors. Though Proctor Institute is rooted in the faith community’s legacy of engagement in civil rights organizing and collective action, participation is not limited to attendees who identify with a religion. It is an exciting opportunity for personal and collective learning and growth for anyone interested in child wellbeing, racial justice, and social justice.
Join us this year for our 28th annual Proctor Institute where we will be led in theological, political and personal discussions on topics examining the heart of democracy and how we can create a better future for young people.
