Hanover, MD — The movement is far from over. Associated Black Charities (ABC) is reigniting the conversation on justice, power, and possibility with the return of its highly anticipated Equity in Action Conference, happening Saturday, October 25, 2025, at the Maryland Live! Hotel & Casino Event Center in Hanover.

From 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., the one-day event promises to be more than a typical conference. It’s being described as a “day party with a purpose,” bringing together changemakers, thought leaders, and culture shapers from across the DMV to learn, connect, and celebrate.

This year’s theme, “The Movement Continues,” arrives at a time when conversations about race and equity are being tested across the country. Yet, ABC is choosing joy, resistance, and community as the foundation for progress. The day will combine high-impact learning with soulful celebration, featuring live music, immersive activations, and a full brunch experience designed to nourish both body and spirit.

At the center of the program is a keynote address by Dr. Yusef Salaam, New York City Councilman, advocate, and one of the Exonerated Central Park Five whose story of resilience has inspired people across the globe.

In 1989, at just fifteen years old, Dr. Salaam was wrongfully tried and convicted in the infamous “Central Park Jogger” case along with four other Black and Latinx teenagers. The five young men, later known as the Exonerated Five, spent between seven and thirteen years behind bars for crimes they did not commit before their sentences were overturned in 2002. Their story has been told in Ken Burns’ acclaimed The Central Park Five documentary and in Ava DuVernay’s Emmy award-winning Netflix series When They See Us.

Since his exoneration, Dr. Salaam has emerged as a leading voice for truth, justice, and transformation. A recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama, he is now a poet, father, activist, and inspirational speaker who continues to educate audiences about the realities of mass incarceration and the need for systemic change. Through his platform, Dr. Salaam advocates for criminal justice reform, the abolition of juvenile solitary confinement and capital punishment, and the restoration of humanity for those impacted by the justice system.

Conference sessions will also explore pressing issues facing Black communities today, including the emotional labor of leadership, reimagining wealth for future generations, and innovation at the intersection of technology, AI, and digital equity.

“This year’s event is about holding space for equity champions to learn, be inspired, and walk away with tools to transform their communities and themselves,” said Chrissy M. Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities. “Equity in Action is where purpose meets power.”

Founded in 1985, Associated Black Charities has long been a leading voice for racial and economic justice in Maryland. Through education, advocacy, and collaboration, the organization continues to dismantle structural barriers that impact Black lives across the state, tackling inequities in wealth, health, housing, education, and beyond.

For more information, visit associatedblackcharities.org.