August 14 – 16th
St Pete Bayfront Hilton
Join fellow feminists in building community and rising to the challenges facing Florida at Florida NOW’s annual Feminists Fight Fascism Conference! Connect through networking, powerful speakers, workshops, panels, and resources, featuring organizations leading gender justice work across Florida.
People over 30 years old register here. Saturday only register here.
30 years old and under, register free here.
Ticket includes a goodie bag, appetizers on Friday evening, and lunch on Saturday. The deadline to register for the conference is July 30.
FL NOW has filled all the discount hotel rooms. If you wish to book a room at the Conference Hotel, you will pay regular price. If you wish to book a room at a near by hotel, please email judi.marraccini@gmail.com and she can assist you.
Tentative Schedule:
Friday:
1 pm – Visit to Woodson African American Museum of Florida
6pm – 8pm – Meet & Greet Reception at Hotel with Feminist Candidates and Community Leaders
Esther Sanni, President of the St. Petersburg Branch of the NAACP will start off the evening.
Julie Kent, FL NOW President will announce activist awards
Saturday: 9am to 5pm
Morning Speaker: Keynote Speaker: David Jolly
Morning Panels (Subject to change):
- At the Table, Not on the Menu: What does it mean for feminists to not just be represented, but to actively shape the decisions that impact our lives? In this panel, feminist candidates will share their experiences navigating politics, challenging the status quo, and working to turn community needs into real policy change. Panelists: Rene Flowers / Moderator, Kyandra Darling, Caprice Edmond, and Jennifer Webb
- The Future of Feminism in Florida and Beyond: This panel will explore the urgent issues shaping our present and future as we collectively build a strong, intersectional feminist movement in Florida and beyond. Together, panelists will examine how feminism must respond to rising censorship, authoritarianism, attacks on bodily autonomy, and the ongoing erosion of democratic rights. Panelists:Mia Rodriguez / Moderator, Cortes Marià Lewis, Miss Mei, Trenece Robertson, and Kim Villanueva
- 12 pm – Lunch
Workshops (Subject to change):
- Religious Freedom as a Feminist Value – Led by Laura Rodriguez, Florida Organizer for Jews for a Secular Democracy and State Policy Advocate for the National Council of Jewish Women
- From Book Bans to Bodily Bans – Led by Laura Rodriguez, Florida Organizer for Jews for a Secular Democracy and State Policy Advocate for the National Council of Jewish Women
- Mutual Aid and Partnering with Others – Led by Stephie Paviscak, Lee County NOW
- Equal Rights: The Amendment is Still Missing –Led by Toni Van Pelt, West Pinellas NOW
- DIY Zine Making – Led by Kaitlyn Kirk, Florida NOW Communications Director
- Tap and Talk & Local Organizing Led by Mary McMullen
- Talking with Feminists About the Nordic Model: What Real Safety Looks Like – Led by Alex Andrews, Orlando NOW Secretary
- Breaking Out of Our Silos: Building Connection Accross Difference – Led by Julie Kent, FL NOW President
- Introducing VAT for GOTV Actions – Led by Debbie Deland, FL NOW Vice President
- Reviewing the THREE 2026 Florida Constitutional Amendments – Led by Heidi Davis, LWV
- Black Maternal Health: Birth Justice & Health Equity Workshop – Led by Cortés Marià Lewis, Southern Birth Justice Network
- Civic & Election Participation Education – Led by Karen Mullins, National NOW Board Member
Silent Auction at end of Workshops / 4:45pm
Saturday evening: 8pm – Banned Books Bingo!
Sunday Morning: Batik Suffragist Quilt Raffle
Purchase raffle tickets through our online donation page or at the conference. Please put “Quilt26” in the memo.
Raffle tickets for the Batik Suffragist Quilt:
1 RAFFLE TICKET $5.00 per ticket
3 RAFFLE TICKETS $10.00 per ticket
8 RAFFLE TICKETS $20.00 per ticket
The quilt is handmade by one of our members in the Suffragists’ colors: purples, greens, and golds.
Batik is a traditional wax-resist dyeing technique, often applied to high-quality 100% cotton, resulting in vibrant, unique, and often “crackled” textiles ideal for quilting and apparel. Renowned for rich colors and intricate patterns, these fabrics feature a high thread count that reduces fraying. Learn more here.
Sunday Closing Workshop @ 8:30am – 9:30am : Reflection to Action – Led by Julie Kent, FL NOW President & Lianne McGowan, Peace and Justice Institute
9:30am – 3:00pm Sunday FL NOW business meeting:
Bylaws changes, Resolutions, Officer Reports and other FL NOW Business
Kim Villanueva, NOW President, Closing Comments
Julie Kent, FL NOW President, Closing Remarks