Heritage & Culture
- Keynote
- Iwere identity, language, and the diaspora story
- Breakout
- Cultural workshops · Itsekiri language intro
- Named deliverable
- Heritage programming across all 3 days
§ INC-USA 2nd National Convention · Labor Day Weekend 2026
Bridges Across
Waters.
Heritage, Health & Horizon — three days in the Bay Area for policy, culture, youth, the member-app launch, and the constitution ratification on Saturday.
N
Hosted by the host regionNorthern California Itsekiri Association
250+Target attendees
3Days · Sept 3–6
4Programming pillars
$149Hotel group rate
§ 01 · What We Build
Four programming pillars. Four named deliverables.
Every session hangs from one pillar.
Full session list
Full session list
Health (Iwere Care)
- Keynote
- Diaspora telehealth and the Niger Delta
- Breakout
- Volunteer physician onboarding
- Named deliverable
- Iwere Care moment + Founding Physician recognition
Horizon · Youth & Future
- Keynote
- The next generation of Iwere leaders
- Breakout
- Youth Leadership track · ages 13–24
- Named deliverable
- Member-app unveil on Day 1
Constitution & Governance
- Keynote
- Article-by-article plenary + ratification vote
- Breakout
- Region governance · committee chairs roundtable
- Named deliverable
- Ratified INC-USA Constitution (Saturday Sept 5)
§ 02 · Schedule
Three days. High-level shape.
Friday welcome · Saturday plenary + ratification + gala · Sunday closing
See more
See more
AfternoonHotel Lobby
Registration & welcome kit pickup
Badges, welcome bag, and the Convention Packet for delegates arriving Friday.
EveningBay Grand Ballroom
Welcome reception · Member-app unveil
Day 1 opens with the welcome reception and the unveiling of the Congress member app. Final block times publish in the Convention Packet 30 days out.
Speaker lineup in confirmation.
The Program & Content committee is working through speaker outreach now. We’ll publish names here as each invited keynote signs. The full lineup lands with the Convention Packet 30 days before the event.
§ 04 · Venue & Travel
A waterfront Marriott. Minutes from SFO.
Free 24/7 SFO shuttle · bay views · walking trails
Hotel & directions
Hotel & directions
San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront
1800 Old Bayshore Hwy · Burlingame, CA 94010
A waterfront Marriott in Burlingame with bay views, walking trails, and a free 24/7 shuttle to SFO every 30 minutes. The full conference floor is held for all three days of programming.
Room block rate$149 / night
Room block closesAug 13, 2026
Block size200 room nights
Group codeM-VODAXZV
AirportSFO · free 24/7 shuttle
Parking$18/night self · $34 valet
AccessibilityFully ADA compliant
Saturday evening · Bridges Across Waters
An Evening of Iwere Elegance.
Saturday evening gala in the Bay Grand Ballroom — red carpet, dinner, awards, cultural performances, and a headline artist (in confirmation). Itsekiri formal attire is welcomed.
- Red carpet and professional photography
- Cocktail reception
- Awards + VIP recognition
- Cultural performances
- Headline artist (in confirmation)
§ 05 · Register
Six ways to show up.
Hotel cutoff · Aug 13, 2026
No refunds after Aug 13
No refunds after Aug 13
Tier 01
Kids
Member$60/child$80Early Bird
Non-member$80/child$100
- Full weekend access
- Saturday children's program
- Language & crafts workshop
- Kids' table at family meals
- Gala access with family
Tier 02
Standard
Member$100$125Early Bird
Non-member$125$150
- Friday reception · Saturday full day
- Lunch + welcome kit
- Gala entry (Saturday night)
- All plenaries & breakouts
- Voting rights for members
Tier 03
VIP
Member$175$225Early Bird
Non-member$200$250
- Everything in Standard
- Sunday Bay Area excursion
- Priority gala seating
- Artist meet-and-greet
- VIP reception with officers
Tier 04
Gala-Only
Member$60/seat$80Early Bird
Non-member$80/seat$100
- Saturday evening only
- An Evening of Iwere Elegance
- Cultural performances
- Awards segment
- Headline artist performance
Tier 05 · Table
VIP Table (8)
$2,000/table
- A full table of 8
- Prime gala seating
- Company recognition
- Listed in the program
- Bottle service
Tier 06 · Premier
Premier Table (8)
$3,000/table
- Front-row gala table
- Premium service
- Hosted reception with the Board
- Recognized in the Convention programme
- 4 daytime delegate seats included
Travel & logistics
SFO is the main airport — 3.2 miles from the hotel with a free 24/7 shuttle. OAK and SJC are 40–60 minutes by BART or rideshare. Uber/Lyft from SFO is $15–25.
Preferred airportSFO · 3.2 mi
Shuttle frequencyEvery 30 min · 24/7
BART stationSan Bruno · 1.9 mi
Parking on-site$18/night self (delegate rate)
Rideshare zoneHotel entrance
Before you go
Convention days run long. Plan for cool Bay Area evenings in the 50s–60s, bring a shawl for gala night, and pack comfortable shoes for the Saturday courtyard lunch.
Daytime dressBusiness casual / ankara
Gala dressItsekiri formal / black tie
Check-in opensFri · 7 AM
Weather average68°F / 55°F
Letter of invite?convention@inc-usa.org
When and where is the 2026 Convention?
Friday September 4 through Sunday September 6, 2026 at the San Francisco Airport Marriott Waterfront, 1800 Old Bayshore Hwy, Burlingame, CA 94010. The Northern California Itsekiri region hosts.
What is the theme?
Bridges Across Waters: Heritage, Health & Horizon. A three-day arc across policy, culture, youth, and the constitution ratification on Saturday Sept 5.
How much does registration cost?
Pricing tiers and add-ons are published on the registration page. Early-bird pricing closes June 1, 2026; final deadline August 13, 2026.
Is there a hotel room block?
Yes — $149/night group rate at the SF Airport Marriott Waterfront. Cutoff to book at the group rate is August 13, 2026. Free 24/7 SFO shuttle, walking trails, and bay views.
What about governance and the constitution?
The final INC-USA Constitution will be distributed to every delegate ahead of the convention. Saturday's plenary is an article-by-article review and formal ratification vote.
Can I bring my kids?
Yes. A children's program runs Saturday — Itsekiri language intro, cultural crafts, supervised play, and a youth leadership track for teens 13–17.
Is there a scholarship?
Yes. We reserve a limited number of fully-funded delegate seats for students, young professionals, and members in financial hardship. Email convention@inc-usa.org with a short note.
The floor opens Sept 4.
See you in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Registration is open. Hotel group rate cutoff is August 13, 2026. Early-bird pricing closes June 1. Reserve your seat.