From October 21-24, scholars and activists will converge at Roosevelt University (RU) for the eighth annual American Dream Reconsidered Conference. 

The three-day conference, founded in 2016 by RU President Ali Malekzadeh, creates an intentional space for authors, artists, and academics to reimagine “The American Dream” through a variety of perspectives.

This year’s theme, “Immigration and the American Dream,” invites participants to examine the intricacies of immigration, social justice, and the American Dream with a dynamic lineup of panels and discussions.

One notable session, “Immigration Past, Present, and Future,” marks the centennial of the 1924 Immigration Act, exploring its lasting effects on American immigration policy. Another session — a virtual student panel — will illuminate the experiences of foreign students and recent immigrants at RU, revealing the unique obstacles and opportunities they encounter in higher education.

The opening reception in the Gage gallery will feature an exhibition by acclaimed photographer, filmmaker, and curator Vanessa Charlot, who is also an Assistant Professor of Creative Multimedia at the University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media. Charlot will be present to discuss her work, which scrutinizes the intersections of race, culture, and identity to restore dignity to marginalized communities and humanize Black bodies through powerful visual storytelling.

This year’s conference will include a performance by the Chicago College of Performing Arts Jazz Ensemble and String Ensemble, and renowned author Leena El-Ali will lead a nuanced discussion that counters political rhetoric with personal narratives in “A Journey from East to West: Islam, Immigration, and Gender.”

Often celebrated as one of its greatest strengths, America is a diverse nation shaped by generations of immigrants seeking a better life; however, an unjust counter-narrative persists. Programming Chair and RU Political Science Professor Andy Trees said in a university statement, “Opposition has repeatedly arisen to argue against certain immigrant groups as ‘un-American…’ This year’s conference will explore … the complex relationship between the American Dream and immigration.”