Each year, this national conference draws over 1,800 passionate individuals from nationwide who desire to learn, reflect, pray, network, and advocate in the context of social justice and solidarity. Program features include: internationally-recognized keynote speakers, over 50 breakout sessions on social justice topics and skill areas, networking sessions, an advocacy day on Capitol Hill, and opportunities for prayer and reflection grounded in the spiritual tradition of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The IFTJ was born out of a response to the 1989 murder of 6 Jesuit priests in El Salvador who were killed for their work with economically poor and marginalized people throughout Central America. Starting in 1997, the IFTJ took place in Columbus, Georgia and coincided with a nonviolent vigil calling for the closure of the U.S. Army School of the Americas where many of those responsible for the 1989 Jesuit murders were trained. In 2010, the Teach-In moved to Washington, D.C. in an effort to broaden the scope of social justice issues addressed and integrate opportunities for legislative advocacy on contemporary human rights and environmental justice issues.