2027 Call for Proposals

Confident woman speaking at a business seminar.

Share Your Expertise With the BEL Community

Black Educated Lesbians (BEL) is accepting proposals for the 4th Annual Black Educated Lesbians Conference, taking place September 17–19, 2027, in Chicago, Illinois.

The 2027 conference theme, Thrive in Purpose: Legacy in Motion, will bring together Black lesbians, Black queer women, professionals, practitioners, educators, researchers, community leaders, and subject-matter experts for three days of education, connection, wellness, leadership, and community.

BEL is seeking qualified professionals, practitioners, educators, researchers, and subject-matter experts to facilitate substantive educational sessions and participate in selected panel discussions.

Woman giving a presentation with a tablet.

2027 Conference Topics

Proposals are being accepted in the following areas:

PMOS & Hormonal Health
Menopause & Midlife Health
Heart Disease & Cardiovascular Health
Uterine Fibroids & Reproductive Health
GI & Digestive Health
Nutrition
Mental Health
Brain Health & Healthy Aging
Employment & Career Navigation
Investing & Wealth Building
Featured Panel — Topic TBD

Woman smiling with laptop at a desk near window.

What BEL Is Looking For

Proposed sessions should be educational, substantive, practical, and relevant to the lives and experiences of Black lesbians and Black queer women.

Strong proposals will provide participants with clear information, useful strategies, resources, or actionable takeaways. Sessions should be culturally responsive and evidence-informed where appropriate.

BEL is not seeking sales presentations, client-recruitment sessions, generic motivational speeches, or presentations that primarily promote a business, product, or service.

Note card asking about eligibility criteria with a pen.

Presenter Qualifications

Presenters should demonstrate relevant professional expertise through education, professional experience, training, credentials, research, practice, or substantial subject-matter experience appropriate to the proposed topic.

Presenters do not have to identify as Black lesbians or Black queer women. However, all presenters must demonstrate respect for and an understanding of the community BEL serves.

For specialized clinical, financial, legal, or other professional topics, lived experience alone is not sufficient to establish subject-matter qualifications.

Wooden blocks spelling "SESSION" on a programming code background.

Session Format

Most educational sessions will be approximately 45–50 minutes.

Depending on the topic and conference schedule, BEL may select:

Individual facilitators
Co-facilitators
Subject-matter experts
Panelists
Panel moderators

BEL reserves the right to determine the final format, placement, and scheduling of selected sessions.

How to Apply

The application process has two required steps.

Step 1: Complete the 2027 Call for Proposals application through BEL's Microsoft Forms application.

Step 2: Email the required supporting materials to:

admin@blackeducatedlesbians.com

Include:

Current professional bio
Current résumé or CV
Proposed session title
Conference topic/category
Session description
Relevant qualifications and experience
Any required proposal/session supporting materials

Suggested email subject:
2027 Conference Proposal – [Full Name] – [Proposed Session Title]

Your submission is not considered complete until BEL has received both the application form and required emailed materials.

Selection Process

Proposals will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Opportunities are filled on a first-come, first-served basis among qualified applicants. Submission of a proposal does not guarantee selection, and a topic area may close before the published deadline once BEL has confirmed an appropriate facilitator or panelist.

BEL may also directly invite professionals and subject-matter experts to participate in conference programming.