5 things to know about the national Women's Convention in Detroit

The first national women's convention in four decades is poised to kick off in Detroit in one month's time.

It's organized by Women's March, the same activist group that led massive rallies around the world Jan. 21, the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, to stand united in sending the message that women's rights are human rights, and defending a number of other progressive causes.

The convention is expected to draw 5,000 people to Cobo Center, where women and their supporters will come together to strategize about how to become more effective activists and political leaders in their communities in the run up to the 2018 midterm elections, said Women's March co-founder Bob Bland.

"There's been no convention like this for 40 years," she said. "The last one was in 1977. That fact in itself is stunning in that women have not been convening in this way, and coming together with grassroots leaders, community leaders and clergy ... for a shared vision and a shared platform."

Whether or not you're going to the convention, here are five things you should know about it:

1. When and where is this event happening and what's it about?

The first national Women's Convention planned by Women's March runs Oct. 27-29 at Detroit's Cobo Center.

Tickets are available online at www.womensconvention.com/register.html, and cost $295 or $125 for students. The Women's Convention website, www.womensconvention.com, suggests ticket prices could go up for those who register after Oct. 13.

Women's March organizers have said the convention will bring together leaders and activists as well as others who hope to join a women's movement in advance of the 2018 mid-term elections. The goal is to work toward "liberation for women of all races, ethnicities, ages, disabilities, sexual identities, gender expressions, immigration statuses, religious faiths, and economic statuses."

Choosing Detroit as the host city for the convention was "intentional," Bland said.

"We feel the problems and solutions coming out of Detroit are a microcosm for the national struggle that we all are feeling, especially right now," she said.

As of Friday, Women's March had sold about 1,350 tickets to the convention, Bland said, adding: "I think what we've seen from the registrations so far is the intersection around this being an intergenerational convention and an intersectional convention around different issue areas — whether it be racial justice, or reproductive health care rights, disability justice, trans rights, or religious freedom."

2. Who are the speakers and what kind of workshops will there be?

Women's March announced last week that the theme for its convention is "Reclaiming Our Time."

It's a twist on the words of U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat who pushed back against Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin's efforts to derail her questioning in a late July House Financial Services Committee meeting.

In its announcement, the Women's March organization said Waters' words: "resonate beyond the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives. Women everywhere are tired of being interrupted, of being told to sit down, shut up and take less space.

"That's why we told the world to ‘hear our voice' in January. We declared boldly that we would not be idle in the face of injustice and inequality. ... At the Women's Convention in Detroit, we will reclaim our time."

While Bland confirmed that Waters also will be among the speakers at the convention, she couldn't divulge the names of any of the other speakers or entertainers in the lineup.

"We have a litany of different movement leaders, politicians and activists from all sorts of groups who are coming," Bland said. "We'll be coming out with more announcements shortly."

She noted that plans are in the works for a "social justice city," where convention-goers can meet with grassroots social justice leaders to learn tips and get advice. There also will be a women's market showcasing the works of "local Detroit makers and also other makers and manufacturers from across the country who have been using fashion as a form of activism. And we also will have a lot of different types of art and creative expression and creative resistance that will be available," including posters from the Amplifier Foundation, which will have an exhibit of poster art from the Women's March and Women's Convention.

3. How to fund a future activist

Event organizers acknowledge the cost to attend the convention might be too high for many to afford. For that reason, two scholarship funds were created.

"We've been mostly getting small donations," Bland said. "That is also how we did the Women's March. It very much was a crowd-funded event. We think that building collective political power for women and girls is paramount, and we can only do it when we get support from the community. When there are folks who can make bigger donations, it allows more Detroiters and other people from around the country to attend the convention and to learn and build and grow, and bring that knowledge back to their own local communities."

One of those bigger donations came late last week from Pistons president and coach Steve Van Gundy and his wife, Kim. They donated $10,000 last week to the scholarship fund, which could cover the full-price conference tickets for about 33 people.

As of Friday, the Crowdrise scholarship fund had collected $141,004 of a $500,000 goal.

"One hundred percent of the donations go to to travel, accommodations, and tickets for people who otherwise would not be able to attend," Bland said. "It will literally change lives for a future generation of women leaders."

Although it's too late to apply for a scholarship to the convention, it's not too late to help someone else attend. To donate to the scholarship fund, go to www.crowdrise.com/marchforward

4. Where to stay if you're coming to the convention

The Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center is serving as the hotel headquarters for the conference.

Women's March has blocked rooms at a discounted rate for convention-goers at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center as well as several other area hotels, including the Dearborn Inn, the Detroit Marriott Southfield, the Hilton Garden Inn Southfield and SpringHill Suites in Southfield.

In addition, some metro Detroit Women's March supporters are opening their homes to out-of-towners attending the convention or are renting out their apartments, condos or houses for the weekend.

Women's March Michigan is working to connect both people in search of lodging and people who have places for conference-goers to stay. If you're willing to offer lodging to others, you can fill out this Google document: https://goo.gl/forms/ycN92KHIv4xrsIGk1

If you're looking for lodging, check the Women's March Michigan Facebook page, www.facebook.com/womensmarchonwashingtonmichigan or contact its founder, Phoebe Hopps, at 313-303-7381.

5. You can wear your feminism

Women's March has unveiled official merchandise for the convention.

You can get an official "Reclaiming Our Time" T-shirt or tote bag for $25. Convention posters and mugs are for sale for $20.

To see the selection, go to www.womensconvention.com/shop.html.

Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: 313-222-5997 or kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.