The summit will occur November 2-4, 2022, in Birmingham, Alabama, at the Westin Hotel.
Yes, the registration fee is $199.
The registration fee covers all meals and programming for the three days of the forum. Participants are being asked to cover the cost of transportation and hotel accommodations separately.
2221 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North
Birmingham, Alabama 35203
The Westin Birmingham is a 10 minute drive from the Birmingham airport.
Uber, Lyft, and taxi services are available from the airport.
Yes, AEI has negotiated a discounted rate of $196 (plus taxes and fees) per night at the Westin. Please book your room with the hotel directly here.
Parking is available at the Westin Birmingham. The price for self parking is $28 per day and valet parking is $35.
Dress for all forum programming is business casual.
Please list any dietary restrictions under the "Conference Information" section on the Registration page.
Yes! Please send a short biography and contact information for your recommendation to Summit@AEI.org.
Confirmed participants who wish to bring a personal guest should contact us at Summit@aei.org. We will do our best to accommodate your guest for the programming. Note your guest will be asked to pay the registration fee if he or she plans to attend the programming. If you have a professional contact you would like to invite, please send a short biography and contact information for your recommendation to Summit@AEI.org.
Leader, thinker, and doer. This invitation-only gathering will feature AEI scholars, social entrepreneurs, community leaders, philanthropists, business and nonprofit leaders, and state and local policymakers.
We will release the full agenda for the FREE Forum in September. You can view our current lineup of speakers by clicking on the "Speakers and Agenda" tab.
Programming will feature content focusing on the fours pillars of the FREE Framework: Family, religion, education, and entrepreneurship. Programming will include:
The summit will feature engaging presentations, conversations, panel discussions, interviews, breakout sessions, and site visits.
Registered participants will receive an email in October with information on how to sign up for breakout sessions.
The site visits at the FREE Forum will include exclusive tours of innovative nonprofit organizations and social enterprises in the Birmingham area working to increase economic opportunity and human flourishing.
AEI has limited funding available for financial assistance for candidates who are not able to cover the cost of attendance personally, or have the costs covered as a professional development expense through their employer. Click here to apply for financial assistance. Please do not register for the forum until you have submitted this form and heard from a member of the FREE Forum team.
Please contact the FREE Forum team at Summit@aei.org if you have other questions.
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You can update your session selections any time online by going to the “Agenda” tab. Once at World Forum, changes to sign-ups can also be done in the World Forum office, which is located in the Georgian Room Library off the Cloister lobby.
Seating is open for all our participants and guests. For general sessions, you will be greeted at the door with your name tent. Please place it on the table in front of you when you select a seat.