By: Naquela Kirk (Assistant Director, Student Affairs Marketing and Communications) and Tasia Williams (Digital Content Assistant, Student Affairs Marketing and Communications)

UAB's Social Justice Advocacy Council (SJAC) held its eighth annual Organized Radical Collegiate Activism Conference (ORCA) on Friday, February 9, on the Hill Student Center's third floor.  The one-day, student-led conference highlighted several issues centered around the theme “The ABCs of Activism,” where presenters used the opportunity to educate fellow students on global social issues.

The conference had 17 seminars throughout the day, including sessions  UAB, Miles College, and Birmingham community representatives. Sessions touched on a wide range of topics like student activism, misogyny in the tech industry, and sustainability misconceptions; over 150 people attended the conference to bring forth thought-provoking information that encouraged civic responsibility. 

“ORCA is incredibly important to provide student activists and the general public to learn about the wide breadth of activism efforts across the state and nation,” said Nikhita Mudium, a junior neuroscience major and co-coordinator of the 2024 ORCA conference. 

“This year’s conference focused on pushing students past performative activism and giving them the tools to instigate real changes in their communities,” said Lina Jabr, a sophomore genetics and genomics major and co-coordinator of the 2024 ORCA conference.

The conference began with a Q&A session with UAB alum Yamini Bhat, founder of Birmingham Corps. She talked about her journey from Mobile to UAB and finding her way in service through educational reform and economic development efforts. 

Easily one of the highlights of the conference was the keynote address by Dr. Marcus Briggs-Cloud, a language revitalizer focused on bringing back the Maskoke language and co-founder of Ekvn-Yefolecv, a Maskoke ecovillage located in Coosa County, Alabama. 

Dr. Marcus Briggs-Cloud delivering the keynote address during the 8th Annual ORCA conference

Ekvn-Yefolecv means “returning to the earth” in Maskoke, and there, the people practice linguistic, cultural, and ecological sustainability to bring healing to the earth and reverse the intergenerational trauma inflicted by colonization. Their sustainable building techniques eliminate the need for precious metals and excess carbon emissions. They also support their agrarian roots by revitalizing culturally significant animal species such as lake sturgeon, bison, American Guinea Hogs, Australorp chickens, and San Clemente Island goats. Maskoke tradition is honored in all practices.

“We live very simply according to our teachings as Maskoke people,” said Dr. Briggs-Cloud. In Ekvn-Yefolecv, English is prohibited, and only the Maskoke language is spoken. This is a part of the language immersion system practiced in the ecovillage to ensure that the endangered language does not go silent. “Without the language, Maskoke people disappear. We had to create this container in which the language could thrive. I’ve never spoken one word of English to my children since they were born. That was a commitment I made,” said Dr. Briggs-Cloud.

Briggs-Cloud’s dedication to preserving the Maskoke language and culture at the Ekvn-Yefolecv ecovillage is a poignant reminder of the interconnectedness between language, identity, and environmental stewardship. His work in language revitalization and ecological sustainability exemplifies the transformative potential of grassroots activism showcased throughout the conference. 

The closing session featured Christopher Jones, Ph.D., assistant vice president for Campus & Community Engagement from UAB’s Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. From the pioneering efforts of student activists during the Civil Rights Movement to the institutionalization of diversity initiatives within academic settings, Jones provided a comprehensive overview of the journey of DEI at colleges and universities across America. 

​​The ORCA conference reinforced the importance of collective action in addressing systemic injustices by providing a platform for diverse voices and perspectives. To learn more about the ORCA conference and SJAC, follow the group on Instagram at uabsjac.