Stand-up Comic
GLOBAL SCHOOL
4 ACTIVISTS
4 ACTIVISTS
20
Speakers
2-4th
of april 2025
of april 2025
Virginia
USA
Protecting

People's
Voices


200
Global Speakers
30
Days
90
Workshops
10
Stage



The 6th canvas people power academy presents an exciting opportunity for discourse and education about the critical topics the world is facing.
200
Global Speakers
30
Days
90
Unique
Workshops
Workshops
10
Great
Stage
Stage





Don't miss this exciting opportunity for discourse and education about the critical topics the world is facing.
Each day will feature keynote speakers, activists sharing insights from their campaigns, panel discussions, study groups, and interactive workshops.
Each day will feature keynote speakers, and activists sharing insights from their campaigns, panel discussions, study groups, and interactive workshops. This will be an engaging platform for attendees to learn new perspectives and strategies to apply to their movements, and to gain new skills and tools for achieving their goals!
Each day will feature keynote speakers, and activists sharing insights from their campaigns, panel discussions, study groups, and interactive workshops. This will be an engaging platform for attendees to learn new perspectives and strategies to apply to their movements, and to gain new skills and tools for achieving their goals!
Don't miss this exciting opportunity for discourse and education about the critical topics the world is facing.
Each day will feature keynote speakers, activists sharing insights from their campaigns, panel discussions, study groups, and interactive workshops.
Each day will feature keynote speakers, and activists sharing insights from their campaigns, panel discussions, study groups, and interactive workshops. This will be an engaging platform for attendees to learn new perspectives and strategies to apply to their movements, and to gain new skills and tools for achieving their goals!





benefits
What you will get
Politician
Andrei Pivovarov
activist
Alexa Zamora
Activist
Aysha Siddiqua Tithi
PhD., MS, Spec. - Mental Health Expert
Dr. Vanina Kala Waizmann
when & what
AGENDA
day 01
day 02
day 03
08:00-09:00
Day 01 Breakfast & Registration
08:00-09:00
Day 01 In a world where challenges to safety are rapidly increasing, building resilience is essential for those on the frontlines of social change. Prodemocracy movements are being forced to operate in increasingly hostile environments as armed conflicts grow in intensity. At the same time, many autocratic leaders effectively target opposition figures, employing advanced methods of repression in both physical and digital spaces. At the Academy, we will provide activists with the tools needed to identify threats, conduct risk assessments, and create comprehensive security protocols to protect their movements. The growing prevalence of mass surveillance poses additional challenges, requiring activists to safeguard not only their physical and digital security but also their mental well-being as they remain committed to their cause. To address the trauma caused by intensified repression and disinformation, we aim to develop strategies that prevent long-term psychological harm while strengthening effective approaches to maintaining physical and digital safety.
08:00-09:00
Day 01 In a world where challenges to safety are rapidly increasing, building
resilience is essential for those on the frontlines of social change. Prodemocracy
movements are being forced to operate in increasingly
hostile environments as armed conflicts grow in intensity. At the same
time, many autocratic leaders effectively target opposition figures,
employing advanced methods of repression in both physical and digital
spaces. At the Academy, we will provide activists with the tools needed
to identify threats, conduct risk assessments, and create comprehensive
security protocols to protect their movements. The growing prevalence
of mass surveillance poses additional challenges, requiring activists to
safeguard not only their physical and digital security but also their
mental well-being as they remain committed to their cause. To address
the trauma caused by intensified repression and disinformation, we aim
to develop strategies that prevent long-term psychological harm while
strengthening effective approaches to maintaining physical and digital
safety.
09:30-09:45
Day 01 Opening Remarks – Mayor of Charlottesville
Topic Juandiego Wade
speakers 11:30-12:30
Day 01 Physical Protection and Mental Health of Frontline Activists
Panel Isabella Cuomo (USA)
Dr. Vanina Waizmann (Argentina)
Raphael Adebayo (Nigeria), Ramy Essam (Egypt)
speakers Dr. Vanina Waizmann (Argentina)
Raphael Adebayo (Nigeria), Ramy Essam (Egypt)
14:00-16:00
Day 01 Physical Protection and Resilience When Campaigning
WORKSHOP 1 Isabella Cuomo (USA)
Leyla Latypova (Russia)
Case Study – Samady Ou (Cambodia)
speakers Leyla Latypova (Russia)
Case Study – Samady Ou (Cambodia)
14:00-16:00
University of Virginia How to Prevent Activism Fatigue: Sustainable Activism and Self-Care
WORKSHOP 2 Dr. Vanina Waizmann (Argentina)
Case Study – Nyasha Mpahlo (Zimbabwe)
speakers Case Study – Nyasha Mpahlo (Zimbabwe)
14:00-16:00
University of Virginia Digital Safety
WORKSHOP 3 Milan Raskovic (CANVAS Serbia) and Guardian Project
speakers 16:00-17:00
Day 01 Networking: Human Rights Defenders Meet UVA Students
Topic UVA professor: Steve Parks
speakers 20:00-22:00
Day 01 Movie Night: The Last Breath of Sam Yan
Topic Film Director: Prempapat Plittapolkranpim (Thailand)
speakers 08:00-09:00
Day 01 As autocratic regimes increasingly impose restrictive laws to suppress dissent, activists must adapt to new challenges that threaten their ability to organize and protest freely. One of the most significant legislative threats is the enactment of foreign agent laws, which are often used to censor activists and organizations opposing government repression. This discussion will examine the implications of these laws and explore strategies for navigating their restrictions. With the growing trend of banning protests and other forms of public opposition, we will also explore how activists can adapt their tactics to continue advocating for change peacefully, even in environments where traditional protests are criminalized. Additionally, as legal restrictions extend to activists’ use of digital platforms, movements are increasingly targeted within the online sphere. Effective use of digital tools to combat censorship is therefore essential for maintaining the stability of a movement. By understanding how and why legislation targets the rights of activists, we can develop innovative approaches to secure the freedoms necessary for sustaining nonviolent movements under repressive regimes.
09:00 – 09:15
Day 02 Opening – Canvas Host
Topic Sakdiyah Ma’ruf (Indonesia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
09:15 – 09:30
Day 02 Canvas Founders
Topic Slobodan Djinovic & Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
09:30 – 10:00
Day 02 Keynote Speaker
Topic Anne Applebaum (USA)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
10:00 – 11:00
Day 02 Panel: Foreign Agent Law
Topic Moderator: Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
Panelists: Giorgi Meladze (Georgia), Stefania Kapronczay (Hungary), ICNL Representative
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
11:00 – 11:30
Day 02 Break
Moderator: Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
Panelists: Giorgi Meladze (Georgia), Stefania Kapronczay (Hungary), ICNL Representative
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
11:30 – 11:45
Day 02 Inspirational Talk
Topic Yana Buhrer Tavanier (Bulgaria)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
11:45 – 12:00
Day 02 Inspirational Talk
Topic Pimsiri Petchnamrob (Thailand)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
12:00 – 13:00
Day 02 Panel: Institutional Censorship
Topic William J. Dobson (USA), Prempapat Plittapolkranpim (Thailand),
Rana Rahimpour (Iran), Carla Angola (Venezuela)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
13:00 – 14:00
Day 02 Lunch Break
Moderator: Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
Panelists: Giorgi Meladze (Georgia), Stefania Kapronczay (Hungary), ICNL Representative
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 02 How to Create a Social Media Video to Mobilize People
Workshop 1 Joe Smith
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 02 Artivism & Artvocacy
Workshop 2 Omaid Sharifi (Afghanistan)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 02 Closing Civic Space in Latin America
Workshop 3 Felix Maradiaga (Nicaragua) &
Camillo Sanchez (Professor, UVA)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
20:00
Day 02 People of the World – 20 Years of Canvas
Live Concert Manasseh Mathiang (South Sudan); Andre Henry (USA); Ramy Essam (Egypt)
performers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
08:00-09:00
Day 01 From Bitcoin to Artificial Intelligence and beyond, technology is changing the face of activism, emerging as both a powerful tool and a contested battleground in modern movements. Activists on the frontlines of social change increasingly leverage technology to strengthen their resilience, communication, and advocacy strategies. At the same time, authoritarian regimes and malicious actors exploit technology for surveillance, disinformation, and repression—undermining human rights and democratic institutions. Despite their vulnerability to new technologies such as AI, activists are often the last to receive support in understanding or using these innovations. This imbalance gives authoritarian regimes a critical advantage and limits activists’ ability to shape technology’s development and influence its use. Day 03 will focus on the double-edged sword of technology, exploring how movements can harness its potential while staying vigilant against its misuse. Experts and leaders from the frontlines of authoritarian use of technology will share insights into cutting-edge advocacy tools. These discussions will also tackle the critical challenge of safeguarding democracy in the age of rapidly advancing technology. Workshops will offer an overview of the technologies shaping modern movements, highlighting how they are being- or can be- used by activists and authoritarians alike.
09:00 – 09:15
Day 03 Canvas Host
Topic Sakdiyah Ma’ruf (Indonesia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
09:15 – 09:30
Day 03 Inspirational Talk
Topic Silvija Seres (Serbia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
09:30 – 10:30
Day 03 Panel: AI and Activism
Topic Moderator: Albert Cevallos (USA)
Panelists: Arzak Khan (Pakistan), Carlos Huertas (CONNECTAS),
Dishad Othman (Syria), Jared Ford (IRI)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
10:30 – 10:45
Day 03 Inspirational Talk
Topic Somaya Faruqi (Afghanistan)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
10:45 – 11:30
Day 03 Break
Moderator: Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
Panelists: Giorgi Meladze (Georgia), Stefania Kapronczay (Hungary), ICNL Representative
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
11:30 – 12:30
Day 03 Panel: Technology and Movements
Topic Anna Chekhovich (Russia), Paul Itoi (USA),
Danilo Bakovic (Serbia), Slobodan Djinovic (Serbia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
12:30 – 12:45
Day 03 Inspirational Talk
Topic
Jhanisse Vaza Daza (Bolivia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
12:45 – 13:00
Day 03 Closing Remarks
Topic Breza Race Maksimovic (Serbia)
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
13:00 – 14:00
Day 03 Lunch Break
Moderator: Srdja Popovic (Serbia)
Panelists: Giorgi Meladze (Georgia), Stefania Kapronczay (Hungary), ICNL Representative
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 03 How to Prevent Election Fraud Using AI
Workshop 1 Carlos Toriello, Paul Itoi
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 02 How to Dictator-Proof Your Money: More Cases for BTC
Workshop 2 Anna Chekhovich
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
14:00 – 16:00
Day 02 Prepare, Don’t Panic: How AI Can Serve Activists
Workshop 3 Silvija Seres
speakers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
16:00 – 17:00
Day 03 Time for UVA Students
Manasseh Mathiang (South Sudan); Andre Henry (USA); Ramy Essam (Egypt
performers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
20:00
Day 03 Farewell Dinner Party with the Exhibition
Daniel Hernandez-Salazar (Guatemala) | Hosted by William & Mary University
performers Having your business on the internet is no longer optional if you want to attract customers. So that means having SEO for your website isn’t optional either.
Gallery
Highlights from Last Year
video
After movie from Last Year
PPA 2024
Conference Recap
Conference Recap
testimonials
what people say
Great Event!
“CANVAS taught me how to lead a campaign that inspires those around me. The knowledge I gained from their workshops transformed the way I approach activism – now I know how to create a lasting impact in my community.”
Ana
ActivistIncredible Conf!
“Before CANVAS, I didn’t know how to stay resilient and focused in challenging situations. Their training helped me develop strategies for resilience and effective communication, and now I feel more prepared than ever.”
Carlos
ActivistWow!
“Working with CANVAS was transformative. I learned how to use digital tools to raise awareness about key issues and build a network of support. Their approach is practical, inspiring, and always focused on achieving real results.”
Fatima
Activist