Keynote Speaker 

Dr. Michael A. Santoro: Business and Human Rights in the Digital Age

While free speech and democracy issues have also been at the forefront, in recent decades the business and human rights movement has been largely preoccupied with the sweatshop problem of worker abuse and exploitation in the global south. The development of new digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and the social media surveillance state have given rise to a host of new human rights concerns that affect wealthy countries as well as countries in the global south. Professor Santoro will summarize some of the most important of these technical developments, the human rights concerns they raise, and the responses to these challenges from various state, national, and international regulatory bodies.  He will conclude by inviting the audience to consider what the future holds in store for human rights in the coming decades.

Michael A. Santoro is a pioneering scholar, teacher, and consultant in the field of business ethics and human rights. 

Opening Plenary 

Responding to Homelessness in Portland: Ethical and Practical Considerations

As housing becomes increasingly unaffordable for large segments of the population, homelessness has grown more visible and widespread in many communities. A panel of local community experts will examine homelessness and the complex ethical issues it raises for those who work with the unhoused.

Moderator: Jacen Greene, Assistant Director, Homelessness Research & Action Collaborative, Portland State University

Panelists:

• Raven Drake, Ambassador Program Manager, Street Roots
• LaQuida Landford, Lead visionary for the AfroVillage Movement
• Rob Nathan, Equity & Culture Manager, Metro, Waste Prevention & Environmental Services Department