Conversations Archive
Conversations Around the Table: Advancing Racial Equity at the University Level
An important aspect of AntiRacism is making the invisible visible. While ongoing truth bans highlight one aspect of anti-Black racism in both primary and secondary education, we wanted to delve into other areas of racial inequity in higher education.
A college education has long been the bedrock of supposed upward mobility in America. In truth, are American colleges accessible, inclusive, and AntiRacist?
If you attended college, hope to attend college, or have children/students in your life that plan to attend college one day, please watch our enlightening discussion with Dean Clarence Lang and Dr. Jennifer Hamer of Penn State University.
Advancing AntiRacism in Education by Choosing Integrating Schools
Join us for a timely discussion with Integrated Schools about how this grassroots movement is intentionally integrating schools across America, one school at a time. As Americans struggle to find tangible ways to promote antiracism, we’ll hear from parents who are choosing to be the change they want to see. You’ll learn what integrating schools is, how it works, and how you can bring integrating schools to your community.
Learn more about Integrated Schools here:
https://integratedschools.org/
Advancing Racial Equity at the University Level with UVA Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Join us for a timely discussion with UVA’s Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at this critical moment in American history. As America continues to tackle issues of racial inequity, we’ll talk to Kevin McDonald and Rachel Spraker about what that looks like at an institution of higher education. What challenges exist? What does it take to create change? In this candid discussion we’ll discuss the steps UVA is taking to advance racial equity at the University.
Kevin McDonald is the University of Virginia’s Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Community Partnerships. He joined UVA after serving as the chief diversity officer and vice chancellor for inclusion, diversity, and equity at the University of Missouri System and the University of Missouri – Columbia.
Prior to the University of Missouri System and Flagship campus, McDonald held positions at several other universities, including as vice president and associate provost for diversity, equity, and inclusion at Rochester Institute of Technology, Vice President for equity and inclusion at Virginia Tech, as associate director for compliance and conflict resolution at Johns Hopkins University, and as campus compliance officer at the University of Maryland, College Park. Prior to his work in higher education, McDonald worked for the U.S. Department of Justice and for Network Solutions, Inc. McDonald holds a law degree from The Ohio State University and a doctoral degree in higher education leadership from the University of Rochester. He received his undergraduate degree in psychology from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan.
Rachel Spraker (she/they) is the Senior Director for Equity and Inclusive Excellence with the Division for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Rachel serves the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as the Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights. Rachel develops, implements, and evaluates policies, practices, and programs which seek to advance the representational diversity, inclusive capacity, and sense of belonging of the University’s workforce and learning community. Rachel has previously served on the executive board of the American Association for Access, Equity, and Diversity and as an equity consultant for institutions of higher education.
Rachel grew up in a small town in rural Appalachia in what is now called Virginia, on the traditional territory of the Tutelo people. Rachel was a first generation student at UVA where they earned their bachelor’s degree in history and foreign affairs. Rachel holds a Master of Science in Sociology from Virginia Commonwealth University with work focused on landscapes of racial violence and is currently a doctoral student at UVA in the School of Education and Human Development.
An American Legacy- Financial and Racial Inequity with Professor Marianne Wanamaker
As Americans continue to wrestle with what antiracism looks like and how to bring it into action, join us for a timely discussion with Professor Marianne Wanamaker about the racial and financial inequities through history that help caused today’s wealth gap. Learn about African American intergenerational economic mobility since 1880 and the current Black-White wage gap.
Marianne Wanamaker is an associate professor of economics at the University of Tennessee, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a research fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA ) and at the University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. She serves as co-editor of Explorations in Economic History and is the former chief domestic economist at the White House Council of Economic Advisors, where she also served as the senior labor economist. She is a member of the Federal Workforce Policy Advisory Board. She is a former associate consultant for Bain & Company in Boston, Massachusetts where she worked on the healthcare and retail teams.
Dr. Wanamaker's research interests include labor economics and workforce development, education, American economic history, and demography. Her work has been profiled i The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, and The Washington Post, among other outlets, and she has publications in Quarterly Journal of Economics, Journal of Labor Economics, American Economic Journal: Applied, Journal of Public Economics, Journal of Economic History, and Explorations in Economic History. The National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and private funders have awarded grants to support her research. Along with Marcella Alsan (Stanford), she is the recipient of the 2019 Kenneth J. Arrow Award for her work on the Tuskegee study, named by the International Health Economics Association as the best paper in health economics published in 2018.
The AntiRacist Table is a multidimensional platform dedicated to helping America be AntiRacist. Visit us or sign up for our flagship, free 30 Day Challenge at www.TheAntiRacistTable.com
Reclaim the Power of Your Voice
The time is now to step in and reclaim your power. We are beyond thrilled to host Justin Michael Williams at our Table for this groundbreaking workshop of self-discovery and empowerment. Find your authentic voice in the movement for liberation. Justin Michael Williams, who has shared the stage with Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra, will teach us to discover the 7 Forms of Fear that hold us back from speaking up and sharing our wholehearted truth. Learn exactly how to create a space of compassion and connection as we move forward together toward equality.
In this session experience:
* The 7 Hidden Forms of Fear and How to Overcome them
* A Model for Difficult Conversations Across Any Divide
* How to Call People "Forward" Instead of Calling Them "Out"
* The One Trick to Hearing Your Inner-Voice and Trusting Your Intuition
* How to Claim Your Authentic Voice So You Can Move Past Perfectionism and Speak Up When You Need To!
Justin Michael Williams, 32, is an author, transformational speaker, and top-20 recording artist who has become a pioneering voice for diversity and inclusion in wellness. From growing up with gunshot holes outside of his bedroom window, to sharing the stage with Marianne Williamson and Deepak Chopra, Justin knows well the pain of adversity and the power of healing to overcome. He has since been featured by The Wall Street Journal, Grammy.com, Billboard.com, The Root, The Advocate, Yoga Journal, and SXSW®. With his groundbreaking book Stay Woke, and over a decade of teaching experience, Justin’s message of hope and empowerment has spread to more than 40 countries around the globe, particularly through his national "Stay Woke, Give Back" tour bringing mindfulness to youth in underserved communities. Justin is dedicated to using his voice to serve; to being a beacon of hope for those who are lost, and to making sure all people, of all backgrounds, have access to the information they need to change their lives. Learn more at www.justinmichaelwilliams.com
Finding Love, Hope, and Humanity in Black Historical Romance with Beverly Jenkins
We are thrilled to host the one and only, Queen of Black Historical Romance, author Beverly Jenkins! Join us for a captivating conversation as we dive into Ms. Jenkin’s novels and how she celebrates Blackness and diversity in historical romance. We will explore Ms. Jenkin’s mastery of the art of storytelling, weaving in antiracism and commonly unknown historical facts of American history into stories of hope, growth, and love, while always centering Black beauty and humanity.
Ms. Jenkins is the nation’s premier writer of African – American historical romance fiction and specializes in 19th century African American life. She’s the 2018 Michigan Library Association Author of the Year, a USA TODAY best-selling author, an NAACP Image Award nominee, and the 2017 recipient of Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award. She has over forty nine published works, and been named to many Best Book of the Year lists, including NPR and the American Library Association. She speaks widely on romance, writing, and African-American history. Her books were recently optioned for film by Sony Pictures and Al Roker Entertainment.
Dr. Donna Hicks + Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates On Elevating Dignity as a Path to AntiRacism
Please join us for an engaging and interactive workshop on dignity, its power in conflict and within the context of systemic and racial injustices. Dr. Hicks will introduce her transformative Dignity Model and Ms. Oloruntola-Coates will illuminate for us how elevating dignity can be a meaningful tool in antiracism work.
Together we will dive into the work.
During this 90 minute zoom workshop, we will learn how dignity violations create shame and drive conflict while also gaining insight into how you can put dignity into practice in your life, relationships, and antiracism work. What do you need to bring with you to participate in this workshop? A pen/pencil, paper/journal, your open heart and curiosity!
Dr. Donna Hicks is an Associate at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs, Harvard University. She was Deputy Director of the Program on International Conflict Analysis and Resolution (PICAR) at the Weatherhead Center for 10 years. She worked extensively on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and as a member of the third party in numerous unofficial diplomatic efforts. In addition to the Middle East, she has worked in Sri Lanka, Northern Ireland, Colombia, Libya, and has conducted several US/Cuba dialogues. She is the Vice President of Ara Pacis, an Italian non-governmental conflict resolution organization that focuses on the human dimension of conflict. Dr. Hicks was a consultant to the BBC, where she co-facilitated encounters between victims and perpetrators of the Northern Irish conflict with Archbishop Desmond Tutu. The encounters were made into 3 television programs, Facing the Truth, which were aired throughout the United Kingdom and on BBC World.
Dr. Hicks has taught courses in conflict resolution at Harvard, Clark, and Columbia Universities and conducts trainings and educational seminars in the US and abroad on the role dignity plays in healing and reconciling relationships in conflict. She conducts Dignity Leadership Trainings in corporations, schools, churches, and non-governmental organization. She is the author of the book, Dignity: It’s Essential Role in Resolving Conflict, published in 2011 by Yale University Press. Her second book, Leading with Dignity: How to Create a Culture That Brings Out the Best in People, was published by Yale University Press in 2018.
Yemisi Oloruntola-Coates has 15 years of experience in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She has led DEI initiatives for large integrated health systems. She currently leads DEI at Baystate Health System as their Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. Her responsibilities focus on the overall development and implementation of Baystate Health System’s enterprise-wide Diversity and Inclusion strategic framework. This includes assessing the internal and external environment/culture and developing and implementing programs, culturally responsive care strategies, training, recruitment, and other methods to increase the organization’s ability to attract and retain an inclusive population that serves our diverse patients, employees, and community. One of the models of training and technique that she has successfully implemented is the Dignity Model by Dr. Donna Hicks. This model helped units and departments that where struggling with inclusive behaviors and later was adopted into the Baystate Health Platform. In addition, as a result of the brutal death of George Floyd she created and developed the Elevating Dignity education series in response to systemic and racial injustices which have been offered within Baystate and the community. The response and impact has led to operationalizing dignity into leadership practices, policies, and procedures and created a safe and brave space to speak openly regarding injustices and systemic racism.
The Fight for Racial Equity in 2021 and How We Got Here with Dr. Rashawn Ray @SociologistRay
As we continue through two pandemics, for the first time in American history, the Nation has a racial equity platform. Join us for a timely discussion with Dr. Rashawn Ray as the Nation reckons with a history and modern day legacy of systemic racism. In this honest discussion we’ll discuss how we can bring atonement and healing to America, through dismantling Anti-Black racism and supporting reparations.
Dr. Rashawn Ray, a David M. Rubenstein Fellow in Governance Studies at The Brookings Institution, is Professor of Sociology and Executive Director of the Lab for Applied Social Science Research (LASSR) at the University of Maryland, College Park. He is also one of the co-editors of Contexts Magazine: Sociology for the Public. Formerly, Ray was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Research Scholar at the University of California, Berkeley.
Ray’s research addresses the mechanisms that manufacture and maintain racial and social inequality with a particular focus on police-civilian relations and men’s treatment of women. His work also speaks to ways that inequality may be attenuated through racial uplift activism and social policy. Ray has published over 50 books, articles, and book chapters, and nearly 20 op-eds. Recently, Ray published the book How Families Matter: Simply Complicated Intersections of Race, Gender, and Work (with Pamela Braboy Jackson) and another edition of Race and Ethnic Relations in the 21st Century: History, Theory, Institutions, and Policy, which has been adopted nearly 40 times in college courses.
Ray has written for the New York Times, Newsweek, Huffington Post, and NBC News. Selected as 40 Under 40 Prince George's County and awarded the 2016 UMD Research Communicator Award, Ray has appeared on C-SPAN, MSNBC, HLN, Al Jazeera, NPR, and Fox News. His research has been cited by the Washington Post, Associated Press, Reuters, CNN, ESPN, Vox, The Root, and The Chronicle. Previously, Ray served on the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington Planning Committee and the Commission on Racial Justice with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
Windows and Mirrors, Seeing Ourselves and Others in Romance Novels with Sonali Dev @Sonali_Dev
We are thrilled to host Sonali Dev, author of The Rajes Series. Join us for an engaging and informative conversation about Ms. Dev’s novels in the context of race, patriarchy, power dynamics, and antiracism. We will explore Ms. Dev’s ability to spotlight common humanity and provide pearls of wisdom throughout her work all while focusing on joy, beauty, and the things that inspire us.
USA Today Bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that let her explore issues faced by women around the world while still indulging her faith in a happily ever after.
Sonali’s novels have been on Library Journal, NPR, Washington Post, and Kirkus’s Best Books of the year lists. She has won the American Library Association’s award for best romance, the RT Reviewer Choice Award for best contemporary romance, multiple RT Seals of Excellence, is a RITA® finalist, and has been listed for the Dublin Literary award. Shelf Awareness calls her “Not only one of the best but one of the bravest romance novelists working today.”
She lives in Chicagoland with her very patient and often amused husband and two teens who demand both patience and humor, and the world’s most perfect dog. Find more at sonalidev.com.
Where Every Black and BIPOC Student is Thriving with Dr. Daryl Howard, Joe Truss, Dr. Henry Turner
A Conversation in Imagining Schools Where Every Black and BIPOC Student is Thriving with Dr. Daryl Howard, Joe Truss, and Dr. Henry Turner
About this Event
Dismantling white supremacy culture in schools is the work of educators across America. Join us in a creative and inspiring conversation with our expert panel, who are leading the way. Together we will dig into the ways educators and school leadership can design communities of care, building new educational culture centering educational excellence, equity and positive self identity in all Black and BIPOC students through AntiRacist and restorative justice practices.
Daryl Howard, Ph.D is an equity instructional specialist whose work and research interests include race and cultural proficiency, social emotional learning, and the triumphs and challenges of African American male students. As a member of Maryland’s State Department of Education’s Task Force on Equity and Excellence for Black Boys, he researches and recommends policy and practice to disrupt harmful narratives, decrease disproportionality and elevate achievement. Howard is instrumental in the work of the Building our Network of Diversity (BOND) Project, where he leads initiatives focused on the recruitment, development and retention of male educators of color, as well as empowerment of underserved male students. Howard is the author of Complex People: Insights at the Intersection of Black Culture and American Social Life. Follow him on Twitter @darylhowardphd. In addition, Follow him on Medium here, https://darylhowardphd.medium.com/
Daryl C. Howard, Ph.D. – Medium. Read writing from Daryl C. Howard, Ph.D. on Medium. Educator doing Equity and SEL. Author of Complex People. @darylhowardphd. Every day, Daryl C. Howard, Ph.D. and thousands of other voices read, write, and share important stories on Medium.
Dr. Henry Turner has nearly 15 years of experience as a high school administrator. As a principal, he is most proud of the work at both high schools to empower students to fight hate and bigotry while strengthening their school community. Since that event, the schools have been determined to fight racism and all forms of hate in the school. This work has led to developing antiracist teaching practices, incorporating culturally responsive instructional practices, and changing structures and systems in the school to address systemic racism. He speaks nationally and locally sharing his experience speaking about race in schools, technology in education, and creating change to narrow racial and economic opportunity gaps. He also advises school districts and educators in this work.
In 2020, industry news site K12 Dive named Henry, Principal of the Year. Henry Turner, Ed.D. unifying your class and your school with equity and antiracism.
https://www.k12dive.com/news/principal-of-year-henry-turner-newton-north-high-school-2020/587980/
If you would like to join his newsletter on Social Justice Leadership, sign up at https://bit.ly/SocialJusticeLead.
Joe Truss is committed to dismantling white supremacy culture in schools. He brings 16 years of education experience, and originally grew up in San Francisco’s Tenderloin neighborhood. A first generation college student, he graduated from UC Berkeley, before attending Tufts University where he got his teaching credential.
He began as a high school Spanish teacher in East Oakland. After attending UC Berkeley's PLI program, he started school leadership work and now has been the Principal of Visitacion Valley Middle School in SFUSD, for 6 years. There, he has worked to grow Project Based Learning, restorative practices, and reading intervention. In 2018, he started his blog CulturallyResponsiveLeadership.com, where he writes about school leadership and racial equity work. He also offers workshops on antiracism and provides team coaching.
Dismantling white supremacy culture, repairing harm with an antiracist lens.
https://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/publications/
Learn more about his services here:
https://culturallyresponsiveleadership.com/services/
Conversations: Whiteness & Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
Please join us for a conversation with Peggy McIntosh, PhD. We’ll discuss her work, race, how to unpack our biases, and the SEED Project.
Peggy McIntosh is Senior Research Associate of the Wellesley Centers for Women, Wellesley College. She is Founder of the National SEED Project on Inclusive Curriculum (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity). She is the author of “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” 1989, as well as a book of 16 essays entitled, “On Privilege, Fraudulence, and Teaching As Learning,” Routledge 2020.
2021 & the Tides of Race, White Supremacy w/ Michael Steele
Join us for a timely discussion with Michael Steele at this critical moment in American history. As America steps into a new year with a new administration, we’ll talk about what that looks like and what that means in the context of the unprecedented modern day civil unrest. In this candid discussion we’ll discuss what these culminating issues of race, racism, white supremacy, and politics mean for our democracy and how Americans can move forward as a nation.When he was elected Lt. Governor of Maryland in 2003, Michael Steele made history as the first African American elected to statewide office; and again with his subsequent chairmanship of the Republican National Committee in 2009.
As chairman of the RNC, Michael Steele was charged with revitalizing the Republican Party. As Lt. Governor of Maryland, Mr. Steele’s priorities included reforming the state's Minority Business Enterprise program, improving the quality of Maryland's public education system (he championed the State’s historic Charter School law), expanding economic development in the state and fostering cooperation between government and faith-based organizations to help those in need.
Mr. Steele’s ability as a communicator and commentator has been showcased through his current role as a political analyst for MSNBC. He has appeared on Meet the Press, Face the Nation, HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher, and Comedy Central's The Daily Show. In addition to his work in television, Mr. Steele co-hosted the daily radio program, Steele & Ungar on the POTUS Channel on SiriusXM and is the host of the podcast The Michael Steele Podcast.
Mr. Steele’s writings on law, business and politics have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The Hill.com, The Grio.com, Politico.com, The Root.com, BET.com, Townhall.com, The Journal of International Security Affairs and Catholic University Law Review, among others.
He is the author of Right Now: A 12-Step Program for Defeating the Obama Agenda, which is a call to arms for grassroots America and co-author of The Recovering Politician’s Twelve Step Program to Survive Crisis.
