Join the Women of Color Task Force for its 2nd annual Juneteenth observance event. The theme for our event is “Improving Intercultural Race Relations to Develop Intercultural Solidarity.

Juneteenth, also called Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Liberation Day, or Emancipation Day, is the designated holiday commemorating the freedom of the slaves in the United States, traditionally observed annually on June 19th. President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation had officially outlawed slavery in Texas and the other states in rebellion against the Union almost two and a half years earlier on January 1, 1863. Enforcement of the Proclamation generally relied on the advancement of the Union troops. The anniversary of the June 19, 1865 date recognizes the day that the announcement by Union Army Major General Gordon Granger, proclaiming freedom from slavery and the end of the Civil War was delivered to Galveston, Texas. 

The Juneteenth holiday is celebrated on Saturday, June 19, 2021, but we invite you to join us for our celebration on Friday, June 18th, from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm.

Share your photos from past Juneteenth celebrations and events organized by your community and/or family!! If you have a picture to share, you may upload your photo by midnight on June 4th into this Google form. Submissions will be reviewed, and selected photos will be included in a slideshow that will be shown at the virtual Juneteenth event.

AGENDA:

9:00 a.m. - Panel 1: Learning from Cross-Cultural Experiences: A Global Perspective

Many racial groups abroad have benefitted and learned from the African American Civil Rights Movement. Through common experiences of oppression and the struggle against it, Asian, LatinX and African cultures have formed historical alliances with African Americans to create a global resistance to white supremacy. However, these alliances weaken or fall apart when these groups share soil in the United States. This session will highlight examples of the African American influence on international liberation movements and examine how these movements might inform a path toward cross-cultural cooperation in the United States.

Panelists:

• Keisha A. Brown, PhD Assistant Professor of History, Tennessee State University
• Kevin Brown, JD, Richard S. Melvin Professor, Indiana University Maurer School of Law
• Marta Moreno Vega PhD, Founder/President - Creative Justice Initiative
• Moderator: Imara Dawson, JD, MPA, International Institute

10:30 a.m. - Panel 2: Toward a Culturally Inclusive Workplace

Underrepresented cultural groups in the United States face a range of challenges in the workplace that impact their well-being, professional advancement, and economic outcomes. However, how racism is experienced varies amongst these groups.  To advance understanding between the races of their shared and unique experiences with workplace bias, this session will examine the range of stereotypes and discrimination that impacts people of color in their careers such as; 1) the African American burden of being the last hired, first fired, 2) the stigmatization of Asian Americans as the model minority, 3) forced adoption of whiteness for certain LatinX American groups, 4) the required conformity for all people of color, and; 5) the glass ceiling barrier to leadership and upper management positions. Finally, the session will discuss approaches to eliminate these racial barriers to create an anti-racist workplace.

Panelists:

• Carol Lee, MS, Chief of Staff for Organizational Learning and Sonya Jacobs, the Chief Organizational Learning Officer (COLO), Senior Director for Faculty and Leadership Development, and Senior Adviser to the President
• T. Shá Duncan Smith, MSW, Assistant Vice President & Dean of Inclusive Excellence and Community Development at Swarthmore College.
• Shanita Smith, Managing Director, CCO Nuveen Securities, LLC
• Moderator: Maria Flores, University of Michigan Medical School Department of Learning Health Sciences

12:00 p.m. - Keynote Program: Improving Intercultural Race Relations to Develop Intercultural Solidarity  

Greetings:

• 12:00 p.m. Keynote Program Welcome: Rachel Dawson, JD, Precision Health at the University of Michigan
• 12:05 p.m. Greetings: Robert M. Sellers, PhD, Vice Provost for Equity, Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer
• 12:10 p.m. Greetings: Corie Pauling, JD, TIAA Senior Vice President, Chief Inclusion & Diversity Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility
• 12:15 p.m. Panel Introduction: Nichole Burnside, School of Public Health
• 12:20 p.m. Keynote Program: Improving Intercultural Race Relations to Develop Intercultural Solidarity  

The 2020 election, along with the international pandemics of COVID-19 and racism, not only highlighted shared oppression amongst people of color but also revealed tensions between racial groups within the United States. This session will examine the nature of intercultural racism to develop an understanding of multiracial conflict, and then discuss approaches to resolve tensions by highlighting shared goals and experienced oppression in order to develop multiracial solidarity.

Panelists:

• Lorraine Gutiérrez, PhD, Associate Dean for Educational Programs, School of Social Work  
• Charles. H.F. Davis, III, PhD, Assistant Professor, School of Education
• Sy Stokes, PhD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow,  National Center for Institutional Diversity
• Moderator: Whitney Peoples, PhD, Center for Research on Learning and Teaching

WCTF extends special thanks to TIAA, our Platinum Plus corporate sponsor, for its generous support.