The Social Justice Institute hosts meaningful events where students, scholars and community members gather together to tap into our individual and collective minds, hearts, souls and networks of support in order to develop strategies and actions that respect and uplift human dignity and life. We are honored to provide distinctive educational opportunities and we invite you to join us and become partners in our work.
The ReproCussions of Barriers to Care: Youth Access and the Fight for Bodily Autonomy
Friday, March 27th, 2026
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
CWRU School of Law
Moot Court Room
11075 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
The Reproductive Rights Law Initiative (RRLI) at Case Western Reserve University's School of Law is hosting a daylong conference called The ReproCussions of Barriers to Care: Youth Access and the Fight for Bodily Autonomy. This conference will explore the legal and structural barriers facing young people as they attempt to access essential reproductive and gender-affirming health care. In a post-Dobbs landscape marked by escalating parental consent requirements, criminalization of abortion access, and hostile legislation targeting trans health care and sex education, this conference will gather legal experts, medical providers, and advocates to analyze the legal doctrines at play and imagine a more just framework for youth bodily autonomy.
*Co-sponsored by the CWRU Social Justice Law Center
For more information, or to register for this free event, visit the Law School's website.
We Refuse: A Forceful History of Black Resistance with Kellie Carter Jackson
Thursday, April 2nd, 2026
4:30 PM - 5:30 PM
CWRU School of Law
Moot Court Room
11075 East Blvd
Cleveland, OH 44106
The 2026 Maya Angelou and Professor Calvin Sharpe Distinguished Lecture
Black resistance to white supremacy is often reduced to a simple binary, between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolence and Malcolm X’s “by any means necessary.” In her lecture, "We Refuse," historian Kellie Carter Jackson looks beyond this false choice, offering an unflinching examination of the breadth of Black responses to white oppression, particularly those pioneered by Black women, with emphasis on gun ownership. The dismissal of “Black violence” as an illegitimate form of resistance is itself a manifestation of white supremacy. Force—from work stoppages and property destruction to armed revolt—has played a pivotal part in securing freedom and justice for Black people for centuries. But force is only one tool among many. Carter Jackson examines other, no less vital tactics that have shaped the Black struggle, from the restorative power of finding joy in the face of suffering to the quiet strength of simply walking away. This lecture will provide a deeper historical insight and understanding of how power, violence, and state authority shape legal and social outcomes.
For more information, or to register for this free event, visit the Law School's website.
About Our Events
The majority of our events are free of charge and open to the community. We cannot do this important work without you – we hope that you will consider supporting us in these endeavors. Gifts of any size will impact our work and support our signature programs. Donations may be made online or sent to Social Justice Institute, 10900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106-7243.
To RSVP or volunteer for any upcoming event, please call 216.368.7568 or email socialjustice@case.edu.