Creating Change 2023 | Attendee Guide
← BACK TO CREATING CHANGE HOMEPAGE
Welcome!!!
We are excited to welcome more than 3,000 of you to San Francisco for our 35th Creating Change Conference from February 17 – 21, 2023.
About This Guide
This guide is a quick resource that is meant to help you navigate the different aspects of the conference.
We acknowledge that this is a resource that needs to be translated into Spanish in the future. If you know of an attendee that needs support or guidance in Spanish, please have them reach out to our Spanish-speaking team member, Dee Tum-Monge (they/them/elle), Senior Communications Manager at (308) 391-0660.
If you have recommendations on how to improve this guide at future conferences, please email us at comms@glittering-quicksand.flywheelsites.com with "Attendee Guide Feedback” in the subject line. Thank you for your honesty and vision in making Creating Change better for everyone.
35th Creating Change Conference
February 17-21, 2023
San Francisco, CA
Join Us On Social Media
Tag us at @TheTaskForce and use the official hashtags #WeAreCreatingChange and #CreatingChangeConference.
Conference Values and Policies
Health Protocols
On COVID: We strongly encourage masks unless you are presenting or on stage at a plenary. Masks are available at registration upon request (in Ballroom Level, Yosemite Ballroom) and at the doors to the plenary ballroom. The hotel has increased the number of hand sanitizer stations throughout the hotel.
On COVID testing: If you experience symptoms of COVID-19 (e.g. fever, cough, sore throat), remain in your room and email notifications@glittering-quicksand.flywheelsites.com to request a COVID test, which will be delivered directly to you. If you test positive, DO NOT attend any additional conference events to protect others who may be at risk to COVID. We strongly encourage you to let your close contacts know and to let us know the sessions you’ve attended. The Task Force will inform all conference attendees that a fellow participant has tested positive for COVID.
On onsite health services: COVID, Flu and MPOX vaccinations and HIV Testing will be available on Sunday, February 19 in Parc 55, Powell Room.
- Additional local health resource: Glide Memorial Church (330 Ellis Street, San Francisco, CA) provides HIV, Hepatitis C, and STI Testing on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am – 1:00pm. Check in with SAS desk on the Taylor Street entrance (nearest to the corner of Taylor Street and Ellis Street).
On safe(r) sex: It is important to know your status. Communication, consent, and honesty are necessary at Creating Change. Respect others when they ask you to stop, slow down, or simply want to leave a situation.
Safety Protocols
You MUST wear your badge and visibly display it at all times when attending conference sessions or events.
Hate speech and verbal abuse will NOT be tolerated at Creating Change. The Task Force can and will address instances of hate speech by banning people from participating In Creating Change 2023. This may also include future Task Force conferences/events.
In cases of sexual harassment, physical confrontation, bullying, bigotry, and other forms of violence that make you feel threatened, please ask to speak with the Conference Director, Danny Linden. His direct contact information is provided in the program books you will receive at registration.
In Case of Medical Emergency
St. Francis Hospital (900 Bush St.) – Open 24/7 - Distance from Hotel 0.9 miles.
Creating Accessibility Together
In the spirit of learning how our communities can be inclusive of and accessible to all people, we offer these guidelines for creating a community where people with disabilities are valued and respected.
- Understand that disabilities are ordinary and familiar parts of who people are.
- Ask and wait for an answer before you try to help someone.
- Do not pet, offer food to, nor interact with service animals at work.
- Speak at a moderate volume and pace and practice active listening.
- Address the person you are speaking to, not the interpreter who is there to facilitate communication.
- Practice patience and adjust with those who learn and/or communicate at a different pace or in a different way than you do.
- Avoid flashing lights on your clothes or with photography in public spaces.
- Be prepared to move chairs to make room for people using wheelchairs, wherever they may wish to sit at plenary sessions and workshops.
- Don’t gather in the middle of hallways and always leave room for people to pass safely.
- Use fragrance-free products or stay away from designated “Scent Safer” areas.
- If you smoke, do so in designated areas, away from entrances.
- Everyone has the right to use the accommodations they need without being criticized or questioned.
- Listen to the needs and stories of disabled people when they are volunteered; yet please respect people’s privacy and boundaries by not asking unnecessarily intrusive questions.
For questions, concerns, or assistance regarding access, please stop by the Accessibility Table adjacent to the registration area in the Yosemite Foyer on the Ballroom Level. Reach out to CreatingChangeASL@gmail.com for ASL access during the conference.
Practice Radical Welcome
We invite you to join us in creating a radical welcoming space for all participants where we collectively build authentic connections, invite curiosity, and proudly be our full selves.
Here are ways you can practice radical welcome:
- Invite in. Share your pronouns and ask for others’ pronouns.
- Ask for consent. Do not hug or touch others without an enthusiastic “yes!”
- Share access. Give physical space to folks who may need wider space to pass or speak slowly and clearly for folks who use interpretation services.
- Be intentional about power and privilege. Stop and recognize how much space you are taking up (with words, actions, and every other way) which may take away from others’ experience.
Arriving
Not sure what to do when you arrive? Here’s some tips on how to plan your trip:
Driving In?
Here are some nearby parking options:
| Mason O’Farrell Garage 325 Mason St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 673-6757 Rate: $9/hr, $38/day | SFMTA Elis-O’Farrell Garage 123 O'Farrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 986-4800 Rate: $4-6/hr, $38/day | HPM Parking 233 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 342-7554 Rate: $20/12 hrs, $50/day |
| ACE Parking – 415 Taylor Garage 415 Taylor St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 749-1949 Rate: $4-5/hr, $30/day | Hotel Nikko Parking 180 Ellis St, San Francisco, CA 94102 Phone: (415) 749-1949 Rate: $25/12 hrs, $65/day | 945 Market Street Garage 440 Stevenson Street, San Francisco, CA, USA Phone: (415) 508-8513 Rate: $17/hr, $33/day |
Registration
Registration is the place to start! It is located in Yosemite Ballroom (Ballroom Level) where you can pick up your badge, a lanyard, official bag and program book.
Navigating the Conference
Where Do I See the Program?
You have three options:
- Use the PheedLoop Go! app to create your personalized schedule. Get started by searching for PheedLoop Go! in your app store or going to go.pheedloop.com. Login using the credentials at the bottom of your registration confirmation email from no-reply@pheedloop.com or simply press “Forgot Password” to create a new one. Add specific sessions and events to your schedule by clicking the bookmark.
- Flip through the Program Book. It’s tangible and something you can go back to whenever you get lost. You can get one at registration, while supplies last.
- Check out the Online Full Program Schedule. Click or search glittering-quicksand.flywheelsites.com/creatingchange/full-schedule to open it in your browser. See the day-by-day schedule to look through all events and sessions, their room locations, and more.
Click here for a full program schedule.
Haga clic aquí para ver el programa y las descripciones de las sesiones en español.
Thursday, February 16
4:00pm – 10:00pm – Onsite Registration
Friday, February 17
7:30am – 10:00pm – Onsite Registration
9:00am – 6:00pm – Daylong Institutes
9:00am – 2:00pm – Exhibit Hall Set Up
12:30pm – 1:30pm – Muslim Friday Prayer – Salaat-ul-Jumu'ah
3:00pm – 10:00pm – Exhibits and Bookstore
5:00pm – 12:00am – Gayme Room and Arcade
6:30pm – 8:00pm – Friday Night Shabbat Service
7:00pm – 8:00pm – Caucus Sessions 1
8:00pm – 12:00am – Gayme Night, Dance Friday
Saturday, February 18
7:30am – 10:00pm – Onsite Registration
8:30am – 7:30pm – Exhibits and Bookstore
9:00am – 5:00pm – Art Studio Space (ASS)
9:00am – 6:00pm – Daylong Institutes
12:00pm – 12:00am – Gayme Room and Arcade
7:00pm – 8:00pm – Healing Through Recovery
7:00pm – 8:00pm – First Timers' Orientation
9:45pm – 12:00am – Gayme Night, Trivia Saturday
8:15pm – 9:45pm – Opening Plenary/Carmen Vázquez SAGE Award for Excellence in Leadership on Aging and Creating Change Immigration Award
10:00pm – 1:00am – Opening Cruise
Sunday, February 19
7:30am – 10:00pm – Onsite Registration
8:00am – 9:00am – Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
8:30am – 7:30pm – Exhibits and Bookstore
9:00am – 5:00pm – Art Studio Space (ASS)
9:00am – 6:00pm – Spiritual Wellness Hub
9:00am – 10:00am – Interfaith Service
9:00am – 10:30am – Workshops Session 1
10:00am – 6:00pm – COVID, Flu, and Mpox Vaccinations and HIV Testing
10:45am – 12:15pm – Workshops Session 2
12:00pm – 12:00am – Gayme Room and Arcade
1:30pm – 2:45pm – State of the Movement Plenary/Gun Violence Panel
3:00pm – 4:30pm – Workshops Session 3
5:00pm – 6:00pm – Caucus Session 2
9:00pm – 12:00am – Gayme Night, Drag Bingo Sunday
8:30pm – 10:30pm – Creating Change Film Festival
8:00pm – Door Open: Agents of Change Sunday Funday Mini Ball
9:00pm – 1:00am – Agents of Change Ball Sunday Funday Mini Ball
Monday, February 20
7:30am – 6:00pm – Onsite Registration
8:00am – 9:00am – Alcoholics Anonymous Meeting
9:00am – 1:00pm – Exhibits and Bookstore
9:00am – 5:00pm – Art Studio Space (ASS)
9:00am – 6:00pm – Spiritual Wellness Hub
9:00am – 10:30am – Workshops Session 4
10:00am – 12:00pm – Gayme Room and Arcade
10:45am – 12:15pm – Workshops Session 5
1:30pm – 3:00pm – Workshops Session 6
3:15pm – 4:45pm – Workshops Session 7
5:30pm – 7:00pm – Closing Plenary/Leather Leadership Award
7:00pm – 8:00pm – Caucus Sessions 3
8:30pm – 11:30pm – Creating Change Film Festival
9:00pm – 12:00am – Everybody Dance!
9:00pm – 12:00am – Open Mic Variety Show
Tuesday, February 21
10:15am – 11:45am – Closing Words & Prayer by Indigenous Leadership Committee; Radical Future Forward Farewell: Coffee, Beignets and New Orleans!
