<p>C. Dixon Osburn is the Executive Director of the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, United States, a global NGO focused on strengthening democracy against the rising tide of extremism, hate and disinformation. With more than 30 years’ experience in the NGO sector, Dixon is a noted expert at the intersection of civil and human rights, national and international security, and democracy.</p><p>Dixon started his career as the co-founder of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network that led the successful effort to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Dixon is the author of the Amazon best-seller <em>Mission Possible: The Story of Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”</em> 2023 marks the 30th anniversary of the ban on gays in the military that was ultimately repealed in 2011.</p><p>Dixon served as Director of Law & Security at Human Rights First where he secured legislation to free prisoners from Guantanamo; as Executive Director at the Center for Justice and Accountability where he led efforts to hold accountable in court war criminals around the globe, including Syria’s Bashar Al-Asaad; and as a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Carr Center for Human Rights Policy where he wrote extensively on human rights and democracy. Dixon received his AB with distinction from Stanford University and JD/MBA from Georgetown.</p><p>As a speaker and consultant, Dixon has worked with organizations including Verizon, Netflix, Prudential Financial, and the Open Society Foundations. He is a frequent commentator on television, radio and in print.</p><p>Dixon offers a wealth of experience as a civil rights pioneer, having successfully tackled some of the most vexing issues on the national and international stage. Witty, self-deprecating, and incisive, Dixon can speak to the state of our democracy, social justice and civil rights, the nexus of law and policy, and how to navigate a hyper-partisan political landscape.</p>
History-making LGBTQ and human rights advocate
<ul><li><strong>The Story of Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”</strong></li><li>Author of the Amazon best-selling book Mission Possible: The Story of Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Dixon is the foremost expert on one of the most significant civil rights breakthroughs of recent times. Under “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” the Pentagon discharged 2-4 service members every day for being gay. Some were subjects of witch hunts. Others faced criminal charges. Many endured harassment, assault and threats. Repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” was a stunning reversal of a law enacted just 17 years prior. It remains the most significant pro-lesbian, gay, bisexual legislation Congress has passed. How did it happen?</li><li>Dixon describes the strategy that he and the organization he co-founded, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, devised to overcome impossible odds. He takes his audience behind the scenes as SLDN’s lawyers repeatedly rushed to the aid of LGBT clients and demanded justice from commanders and Congress. He describes how majorities of the public and military shifted opinion from opposing lesbian, gay and bisexual service members to supporting open service.</li><li>The story of repealing “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is a story about the politics of fear and the consequences of a government that tries to muzzle its citizens. It is also a searing, heartbreaking, and ultimately triumphant story of the power of coming out, building a movement, and political savvy. The repeal of “Don’t ask, don’t tell” shows that overcoming the odds is both possible and essential.</li><li>IN THIS RIVETING PRESENTATION, YOUR AUDIENCE WILL LEARN HOW TO:<ul><li>Galvanize social justice movements</li><li>Develop and implement nimble strategies</li><li>Change social norms and public opinion </li><li>Navigate challenging political environments</li></ul></li><li><strong>How One Organization Can Change the World</strong></li><li> How can one organization hold accountable the world’s worst criminals, like Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, or achieve breakthrough civil rights legislation in a hyper-partisan Congress? Dixon has done it repeatedly at various organization he has led or been a part of.</li><li>As co-founder of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, he led efforts to repeal “Don’t ask, don’t tell,” a law that banned openly lesbian, gay or bisexual people from serving in our armed forces. The repeal remains the most significant pro-LGB law Congress has passed. At Human Rights First, he led efforts to pass legislation that would allow the Pentagon to transfer prisoners improperly detained. At the Center for Justice and Accountability, he led efforts to hold accountable international war criminals, including senior leaders of the Khmer Rouge, the Syrian regime, and those responsible for the Jesuits massacre in El Salvador. </li><li>IN THIS INSPIRATIONAL PRESENTATION, YOUR AUDIENCE WILL LEARN HOW TO:<ul><li>Develop legal and political strategies for different situations</li><li>Navigate challenging legal and political environments</li><li>Change, neutralize or overcome public and political opinion</li><li>Take initiative to implement lasting change</li></ul></li><li> <strong>Leadership Lessons Civil Rights Leaders Can Offer</strong></li><li> The private and public sectors have much to learn from another. Dixon has successfully led multi-million organizations that have disrupted the status quo, producing profound, positive change in various social justice movements. Author of the Amazon best-selling Mission Possible: The Story of Repealing “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” Dixon describes the strategy that he and the organization he co-founded, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network, devised to overcome impossible odds. He takes his audience behind the scenes as SLDN’s lawyers repeatedly rushed to the aid of LGBT clients and demanded justice from commanders and Congress. He describes how majorities of the public and military shifted opinion from opposing lesbian, gay and bisexual service members to supporting open service. Drawn from his experience, he shares leadership lessons applicable to any organization.</li><li> IN THIS INCISIVE PRESENTATION, YOUR AUDIENCE WILL LEARN HOW TO:<ul><li>Lean into problems</li><li>Embrace ambiguity</li><li>Build trust through action</li><li>Learn to recognize and seize moments </li></ul></li></ul><p><br></p>