Annual conference looks at laying groundwork for social transformation

It wasn’t so much a conference as a series of conversations. That was the shared experience of the more than 1,400 people who came together Aug. 8–11 in Ottawa, Ontario, for the 43rd annual gathering of the Association for Baha’i Studies – North America. Participants, many in college or just starting careers, explored the theme “Beyond Critique: Laying the Groundwork for Social Transformation” in multiple spaces. Their exchanges further equipped them to generate and apply knowledge for the betterment of society. And, significantly, they built on a social-justice focus from last year’s gathering — especially concerning indigenous peoples.