BTAC26 invites facilitators, healers, educators, organizers, creatives, and practitioners to submit workshop proposals that align with our retreat-style conference experience. This year, BTAC is intentionally moving away from disconnected workshops and toward purpose-driven, integrated sessions that support peace within and freedom together.

We are seeking workshops that are grounded, participatory, and practical—sessions that support attendees in building sustainable practices they can carry beyond the conference.

BTAC26 will feature 24 total workshops, with 8 targeted workshops selected per conference day (Wednesday–Friday). Workshops are curated intentionally to align with daily themes and the overall retreat-style conference experience design.

Workshops should:

Be interactive and engaging (not lecture-only)
Support reflection, practice, and integration
Align with the retreat tone (grounded, spacious, respectful)
Contribute to participants leaving with a Self-Care Plan, Nutrition & Fitness Plan, Spiritual Practice Plan, or Collective Care tools

Submission of a proposal does not guarantee workshop placement. Final scheduling and placement are determined by the conference design team to ensure balance, flow, and alignment across all three days.

Due to limited capacity, not all aligned proposals will be selected for in-person workshops. Facilitators whose proposals strongly align with BTAC26’s mission may be invited to participate in an alternative format, including:

Virtual workshop or presentation (post-conference or pre-conference)
Panel discussion or facilitated dialogue
Future BTAC Advocacy & Empowerment programming

Honorarium / Presenter Fees
BTAC26 presenters generously offer workshops in service to the community. Honorarium or presenter fees are not provided for workshop facilitation.

Travel & Lodging
Presenters are responsible for arranging and covering their own travel and lodging accommodations.

Conference Registration for Presenters
Presenters with approved workshops may choose one of the following registration options:

• Complimentary Presenter Pass — provides access to afternoon workshop sessions only
• Full Conference Registration at a discounted rate of $275
  (standard conference registration is $450)
• Available for Presenter and one Co-Presenter max

All presenters must complete online registration no later than March 1 to confirm participation.

DAILY THEMES & WORKSHOP PLACEMENT 

To create a cohesive retreat experience, workshops will be scheduled according to daily focus areas. Facilitators should submit proposals with an understanding of which day their content best aligns.

Wednesday | PEACE WITHIN: Self Care & Expression

Focus: Mind • Body • Soul
Intent: Grounding, healing, and restoration embodiment,

Day Description 
Wednesday centers Peace Within—creating space for grounding, healing, and reconnection after travel and daily stressors. This day invites participants to slow down, regulate their nervous systems, and reconnect with their emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being. Sessions should help attendees feel safe, supported, and resourced as they begin the conference journey.

We are seeking sessions that:

Support emotional wellness, mental health, and regulation
Offer trauma-informed healing practices
Center rest, embodiment, movement, and breath
Explore spiritual grounding, reflection, or ancestral practices
Help participants reconnect with self before moving into action

Best-fit session styles:
Somatic or body-based practices
Guided reflection or healing circles
Gentle movement, meditation, or breathwork
Emotional wellness and burnout recovery workshops

DAILY THEMES & WORKSHOP PLACEMENT 

To create a cohesive retreat experience, workshops will be scheduled according to daily focus areas. Facilitators should submit proposals with an understanding of which day their content best aligns.

Thursday | BUILDING SUSTAINABLE LIVES: Tools for Freedom

Focus: Time • Money • Energy
Intent: Capacity, stability, and long-term sustainability 

Day Description:
Thursday focuses on Building Sustainable Lives—exploring how individuals and communities manage time, money, and energy in ways that support stability, advocacy, and long-term well-being. Building on the Keynote Address, this day centers practical tools, strategies, and conversations that help participants sustain both their lives and their work.

We are seeking sessions that:

Address financial wellness, economic empowerment, or resource navigation
Explore time management, boundaries, rest, and capacity
Support career sustainability, entrepreneurship, or workforce access
Focus on nutrition, fitness, and energy stewardship
Offer practical, actionable tools participants can use immediately

Best-fit session styles:

Skill-building and strategy workshops
Financial literacy or planning sessions
Career, leadership, or entrepreneurship discussions
Health, nutrition, and energy-management practices

DAILY THEMES & WORKSHOP PLACEMENT 

To create a cohesive retreat experience, workshops will be scheduled according to daily focus areas. Facilitators should submit proposals with an understanding of which day their content best aligns.

Friday | FREEDOM TOGETHER: Community Connection & Celebration

Focus: Community Joy • Relationships • Collective Care
Intent: Connection, celebration, and collective liberation

Day Description:
Friday centers Community & Culture, honoring the relationships, traditions, and collective practices that sustain Black trans life. This day focuses on connection, accountability, joy, and belonging—bringing together friendships, families, cultural expression, and community care. Sessions should leave participants feeling connected, affirmed, and energized to move forward together

We are seeking sessions that:

Strengthen relationships, communication, and conflict repair
Support families, partnerships, and chosen family systems
Center joy, creativity, culture, and celebration
Explore collective care, accountability, and community building
Honor Black trans cultural traditions and lived experiences

Best-fit session styles:

Dialogue-based or interactive workshops
Relationship and communication skill-building
Cultural, creative, or expressive sessions
Community care and collective healing spaces

Standard A/V support will be provided as needed, including projector, screen, and sound. Please indicate any audio or visual requirements when submitting your workshop proposal so we can plan accordingly.

ENROLLMENT & ENGAGEMENT

Approved workshops will be added online allowing up to 40 attendees to register for your course and the ability to connect with the instructor both before and after the course has ended.

Session Format: Approved workshops will be offered in 45-minute increments of course education

Evaluation Survey: Attendees should be provided time to complete a workshop evaluation at the end of each session. Presenters will be provided the evaluations electronically after the conference.

General Workshop breakout sessions are offered Wednesday - Friday 1 -3PM

BTAC26 offers an optional Rooted Liberation Certificate for participants who engage across the conference’s core focus areas.

Presenter Awareness

Presenters are not responsible for tracking attendance or evaluating participants. However, facilitators are asked to design sessions that include clear takeaways, reflection, or practical application, and to allow space for participants to complete a brief post-session survey.

This helps participants integrate learning across the conference and supports the overall retreat-style experience.

Workshops that clearly align with certificate domains help strengthen participant outcomes and conference evaluation.