Join us at Western States Center’s 36th AMP (Activists Mobilizing for Power) conference!
Portland, Oregon | October 21 – October 23, 2025
Presented by Meyer Memorial Trust.
Sponsored by Northwest Justice Funders Collective and Northwest Health Foundation, and printing sponsored by New Avenues INK.
AMP is more than a conference. It’s a catalyst, hub, and home for those on the front lines of social change, where community becomes collective power.
The impact of AMP
AMP brings together grassroots organizers, movement leaders, and social justice advocates from across the West and beyond to learn, strategize, and strengthen our networks. Through inspiring speakers, workshops, community building, art, and music, AMP is a place for activists to learn new strategies and tools, and refuel our movements through joy and connection.
Attend AMP with 300+ courageous pro-democracy leaders and be in one room with some of the bravest people you’ve ever met.
Conference program
3 days * 2 keynotes * 3 plenaries * 48 workshops * 1 film screening * 2 live music shows
300 brave organizers strategizing together.
AMP equips participants with the tools, analysis and networks they need to counter the growing influence of authoritarianism, white nationalism, and anti-democracy movements—especially those targeting Black, Indigenous, Jewish, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and other historically marginalized communities.
AMP 2025 Schedule
This schedule is subject to change, and a more detailed version will be available to registered attendees.
AMP 2025 sessions and panels are led by experts in their field across 4 session tracks:
Building Broad Partnerships & Resisting Wedges
Community Organizing & Resilience
Narrative & Cultural Strategy
Safety Planning & Institutional Defense
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8:30-9:00 am: Grab & go breakfast and registration check-in
9:00-10:00 am: Conference welcomeand opening plenary “What Time is it on the Clock of Authoritarianism” featuring pro-democracy movement leaders
10:15 am-12:15 pm: Morning workshop block with 8 different sessions
12:30-2:30 pm: Lunch break with optional strategy and networking spaces.
2:45-4:45 pm: Afternoon workshop block with 8 different sessions
5:00-7:00 pm: Screening of Homegrown followed by Q&A with the filmmakers (limited capacity with hosted appetizers)
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8:30-9:00 am: Grab & go breakfast and registration check-in
9:00-10:00 am: Keynote address by Vanessa Priya Daniel, author of Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning
10:15 am-12:15 pm: Morning workshop block with 8 different sessions
12:30-2:30 pm: Lunch break with plenary “Funders on the Frontlines: A Conversation with Partners in Philanthropy” featuring regional and national grant makers
2:45-4:45 pm: Afternoon workshop block with 8 different sessions
5:00-6:30 pm: Culture Lab Talent Showcase featuring live music and performance (limited capacity with hosted bar and appetizers)
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8:30-9:00 am: Grab & go breakfast and registration check-in
9:00-10:00 am: Plenary “Pushing Back from the Statehouse: A Conversation with Elected Officials” featuring regional legislators
10:15 am-12:15 pm: Morning workshop block with 8 different sessions
12:30-2:30 pm: Lunch break with closing keynote address by Scot Nakagawa, Director at 22nd Century Initiative and author of the Anti-Authoritarian Playbook
2:45-4:45 pm: Afternoon workshop block with 8 different sessions
5:00 pm: Conference concludes
6:00-9:00 pm: AMP Nightcap with musical performance by Ana Egge. (RSVP required, offsite with hosted bar and food truck)
Workshop Preview
Being Strategic to Achieve Racial, Gender, and Economic Justice
Challenging and Leverage People Power: Strategy, Joy, and Learnings from the Food For All Oregonians campaign
Contemplative Based Resilience and the Neuroscience of Healing
Delving Into a Pivot: Case Study of the Two Spirit Support Boat's Efforts to Protect Indigenous Trans Communities
Evaluating Your Program Can Be Valuable AND Fun (Yes, Really)
Exploring Counter-Narratives: Cautionary Tales & Opportunities
Exvangelicals 201: Who Are We and How to Effectively Engage Us in Anti-Fascist Struggle
Fighting Back to Defend Our Immigrant Communities
Gender Affirming Care Foundations, Transphobia, and White Nationalism
Hands-On History: Documentary Zinemaking
In Our Third Act: Organizing Seniors for Democracy and Climate
Joyful Resistance: Parties as Resistance Case Studies
Lessons from Arizona: Strategies for Pushing Back on Far-Right Efforts to Capture Schools, Faith and Civic Communities
Media Spokesperson Training
Messaging to Inspire Courage
No on 9 Remembered and Building a Movement for Sexual/Gender Freedom
Organizing Our Communities for Safer Events Teeming with Expression and Belonging
Three Sheets to the Wind? A Google Sheet Tool Built for Financial Resilience
White Supremacy Wears Spanx: Unmasking Anti-Fatness in Movement Spaces
Working for Justice in Schools & Libraries
Keynote:
Vanessa
Priya
Daniel
Vanessa Priya Daniel is an author, organizer, and award-winning leader for racial and gender justice. With 25 years of organizing and funding experience, she was recognized by Inside Philanthropy as one of the "Top 100 Most Powerful Players in Philanthropy." Vanessa founded and served for 17 years as the executive director of Groundswell Fund, a leading funder of women of color-led grassroots community and electoral organizing that received the National Committee of Responsible Philanthropy’s Impact Award. Groundswell Fund was a critical partner in Western States Center’s early reproductive justice programming. This year, Random House published her first book Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning.
Vanessa will be speaking on Wednesday morning at AMP.
Keynote:
Scot
Nakagawa
Scot Nakagawa is a 42-year veteran of social and economic justice advocacy now leading the 22nd Century Initiative. He has served as an organizer, political strategist, and social movement analyst and has worked with organizations such as the Coalition for Human Dignity, the National Anti-Klan Network, the National LGBTQ Task Force, the Highlander Research and Education Center, and numerous political campaigns. Nakagawa is also the co-founder and past Senior Partner of ChangeLab, an Asian American think/act laboratory addressing issues of social justice and Asian American leadership, and he currently authors the popular Substack newsletter The Anti-Authoritarian Playbook. As a former Western States Center board chair and longtime movement friend, we’re thrilled that Scot will serve as this year’s closing keynote speaker on Thursday afternoon.
Get ready for AMP 2025!
Download our FAQ guide to answer the most frequently asked questions about AMP.
Registration
AMP tickets cost: $300 for three days of powerful keynotes, panels, workshops, strategy sessions and networking events. Day passes and two-day passes are available for $100 per day.
Discount codes and sliding scale pricing are available, please apply during registration. Additionally, for those looking to get more directly involved with AMP, we will be providing a limited number of work trade opportunities. For more information, please email our AMP team at amp@wscpdx.org.
Travel & Meals
Participants are free to book their own travel and lodging. AMP has partnered with various hotels to offer discounted room rates to conference attendees. Details will be sent out after registration.
Meals: A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided during the conference, in addition to a live music performance on Thursday night. There will also be optional early evening events on Tuesday and Wednesday with appetizers.
Download our FAQ for more on getting to AMP and what to expect.
Conference safety
At Western States Center, we take conference security and participant safety very seriously. Conference details, including location and logistics, will only be released to approved attendees following registration.
This event follows public health guidelines. Masks, sanitizing stations, and optional rapid testing will be available. Updates will be provided as the event approaches.
Download our FAQ for information on safety, community expectations, child care and more.
Thank you to our sponsors!
The AMP 2025 conference is presented by Meyer Memorial Trust and sponsored by the Northwest Justice Funders Collective and Northwest Health Foundation. Printing is sponsored by New Avenues INK.
Building networks and connections that last, grounded in a nearly 40-year legacy.
Interested in sponsoring AMP?
For questions and to become a sponsor, please contact Jedidiah Chavez, Director of Development: jedidiahc@wscpdx.org.
Any conference questions?
Please contact our team at amp@wscpdx.org.
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