Summit Day 1 Session Details

All times listed are in EST.
Jump to Day 2.

Session 1 (10-10:45 am): Resistance and restorative practices

1A) Racist Policy and Resistance in Rochester

Presenter: Shane Wiegand

This presentation will examine the ways federal, state, and local government segregated Greater Rochester through redlining, racially restrictive covenants, urban renewal, and exclusionary zoning policy. It will also explore the ways people of color organized and resisted racism in Rochester. Finally, it will challenge participants to examine how they have been impacted by these racist policies and encourage them to continue the legacy of antiracist leaders like Howard Coles, Dr. Alice Young, Quintin Primo, and Dr. Walter Cooper.

1B) Restorative Practices: Dismantling Systems of Oppression and Creating Communities of Belonging

Presenters: Mahreen Mustafa George & Daniel Redic

Restorative Practices reflect a philosophy that all communities are based on relationships. Within the context of anti-racism and equity work, Restorative Practices can also be used as a tool to uplift the voices of historically marginalized groups, create sustainable participatory processes, and open pathways to healing. In this workshop, participants will learn how the framework of Restorative Practices can be used to interrogate and disrupt traditional power structures that are rooted in white supremacy. They will have the opportunity to engage in the Circle process with certified facilitators, and also participate in planning to bring Restorative Practices to their own communities, agencies, and institutions. This series is geared for participants who are working to address issues of oppression and injustice, whether through activism, nonprofit work, education, or other community services. Through the use of Circles, discussion, and critical analysis, participants will be asked to interrogate our beliefs and practices, in order to sharpen the direction of our antiracism and equity work.

1C) Stand Up for What's Right: Anti-Black Police Bias

Presenter: Shanique Byrd & Dr. Gayle Harrison

This presentation centers on the issue of police bias in American against Black people and people of color, such that these groups are perceived as threats and subjected to excessive force and anti-Black hatred. The acronym H.E.A.T. will be utilized; this stands for a focus on hiring, equipment, accountability, and training. Through these efforts and through reallocating funds, the police culture of racism can be disrupted.

Session 2 (10:50- 11:35 am): Unmasking the Impacts of White Supremacy

2A) The Doctrine of Discovery and the Continuing Legacy of White Supremacy

Presenter: Rev. Dr. William Huston Wilkinson

The historical interrelationships of the Church, religious authorities, and the use of governing, cultural institutions to build the structures of institutionalized racism will be explored. Their current forms in criminal justice, education, and health will be examined. The concepts of the center and the periphery, along with the challenge of identity, connectedness, and power in community organizing for social transformation will be confronted.

2B) Beyond Imposter Syndrome: Interrupting Internalized Racial Oppression

Presenter: Jasmine Fluker

Racism may take the form of an internalized oppression, whereby an oppressed group uses the same methods of the oppressing group against itself. It happens when one group thinks that they're not as valuable, or as valued, as another group so they strive to be like the more highly-valued group. Internalized racial oppression (IRO) manifests as self doubt, an inferiority complex, self-hate, powerlessness, hopelessness, apathy, addictive behavior, abusive and violent relationships, and conflict between people of color communities. This session will focus on how IRO shows up and limits us from available opportunities.

2C) How Our Racist Habits Create the Value Gap and How We Can Make a Change

Presenter: Greg Galemore

Since overt racism has become profane in our daily discourse, many Americans have developed a habit of subscribing to the myth of meritocracy. This idea plays out in the political arena, as many now believe that it is an inherent flaw in an individual that prohibits them from gaining economic prosperity and social mobility. Essentially, we don’t have a problem with race; we have a problem with those who in our eyes do not try hard enough. This illusion that we have solved our race problem often leads to very harsh judgments about Black people. The fact that hundreds of thousands of Black children struggle every day to eat and attend failed schools does not raise a national alarm. Instead it is thought that it is more of a lack of taking personal responsibility and an unwillingness to embrace education. This thinking creates a racial "value gap" that manifests itself through school policy, classroom management, and social policy decisions. These racist habits create a value gap in American society that places greater importance on White bodies than Black bodies. The goal of this workshop is to uncover some of the more insidious racist habits that we all have, understand where they came from, and how you can combat them to fight for a more egalitarian society.

Session 3 (11:40 am- 12:25 pm): What Do We Talk About When We Talk About Race?

3A) Winning Conversations: How to Communicate Successfully and Courageously About Race

Presenter: Kenston Henderson

Do you avoid conversations about race? Ever imagine that conversation going badly? Or question whether or not you're prepared for the conversation? Well, the truth is you're not alone: As a matter of fact, most people avoid talking about race in the US and all around the world. But those days are over! In the Winning Conversations session, you will discover how to communicate successfully, confidently, and courageously about race.

3B) Are You Ready to Talk?: Candid Conversations about DEI in a Time of Unrest

Presenter: Kevin M. Coleman

Do you avoid conversations about race? Ever imagine that conversation going badly? Or question whether or not you're prepared for the conversation? Well, the truth is you're not alone: As a matter of fact, most people avoid talking about race in the US and all around the world. But those days are over! In the Winning Conversations session, you will discover how to communicate successfully, confidently, and courageously about race.

3C) Strategic Decisions to Consider When Developing Affordable Housing that Embraces Diversity and Inclusion

Presenter: Stuart Mitchell

This session is a brief introduction to the conversations and potential partnerships faith-based and other not-for-profit organizations should consider when exploring the feasibility of developing affordable home communities that embrace diversity and inclusion. The impacts on at-risk populations will be considered. Attendees will also receive access to a detailed guidebook with additional materials from PathStone Foundation.

Session 4 (1:20- 2:05 pm): I’m Not a Racist… Right?: Self-Knowledge as a Social Justice Tool

4A) Not All Allies Are Wanted: Deconstructing Allyship in Antiracist Work

Presenters: Dr. Shirley Sommers, Dr. Lisa Durant-Jones, and Dr. Ana Gómez Parga

Understanding effective antiracist allyship strategies is more important today than ever, as the nation is engulfed in overt demonstrations of anti-Black racism through state-sponsored killings of Black women and men and condonation of such acts from politicians occupying the highest offices in the United States. Many organizations are complicit in this form of racism while professing to be in support of movements such as Black Lives Matter. They struggle with the practicalities of antiracist inclusion; this is evident even when White people in positions of power in these organizations call themselves allies of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) people. What are the roadblocks to implementation of an antiracist agenda from the so-called allies? What do we mean when we say we are "allies?" What happens if BIPOC folks are in positions of power but push a racist agenda? The presentation will respond to these questions. It will differentiate between effective and ineffective allyship strategies in antiracism work. It will provide concrete examples of how White people can move from words of support to actions that push the antiracist agenda forward in their organizations. The presentation will also illuminate manifestations of internalized myths of White supremacy among BIPOC folks and how these manifestations derail an antiracist agenda in the workplace.

4B) It Was Just a Joke: Micro-Aggressions and Covert Prejudice

Presenter: Sherry Walker-Cowart

Stop being so sensitive, you say, it was just a joke. But was it? Micro-aggressions are verbal and behavioral indignant, hostile, or negative insults conveyed with brevity, on an interpersonal basis because of racism, genderism, classism, and prejudice toward other marginalized groups. This workshop will focus on racial micro-aggressions. This workshop will provide cursory information on the historical theory behind the increase in racial micro-aggressions in the United States. The definition presented above will be deconstructed as it relates to individual and personal experiences with racial micro-aggressions. Images will be utilized to generate visceral implicit biases of attendees that could lead to micro-aggressive behaviors. The term "aversive racism," and its complexity, will be introduced as it relates to the rise in micro-aggressions, while exposing people who believe in equality, but are still prejudiced. Workshop attendees will receive information on the psychological impact aversive racial micro-aggressions have on the giver and receiver of such aggressions. At the conclusion of this workshop, attendees will be able to identify and deflect racial micro-aggressions, thereby changing their behavior, while offering the opportunity for others to change their behaviors.

4C) Unmasking Racism Starts with My Own Bias

Presenters: Dr. Berlin Bermudez & Hoang Pham

Racism is grounded in socio-historical, cultural, generational, and institutional contexts. Given that racism can be conscious or unconscious, the purpose of this workshop is to assist participants in acknowledging their own racial bias and how can "I" disengage from thoughts or activities that may perpetuate racism? Using an open-discussion dialogue, participants will have the opportunity to critically reflect and personally share their own ideologies and/or practices regarding racism. This workshop is a judgement-free zone, focused on providing a safe space for individuals to deconstruct notions of racism in their daily lives. We will encourage participants to suggest ideas for creating their own safe spaces (online and face-to-face settings) where they can express, explore, and expand on this dialogue to continue to help unmask and dismantle racism. The goal of this workshop is to develop a sense of self-awareness on how "I" can do "my" part to STOP racism and, in turn, encourage others to take a pledge against racism.

Session 5 (2:10- 2:55 pm): DEI: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

5A) Adjust Your Tone, Fix Your Face, and Other Unspoken DEI Rules

Presenter: Olajiwon McCadney

Bringing one’s “whole and happy self” to their professional life is becoming difficult for professionals who have to consciously filter ideologies and behavior that enhance or downgrade one’s image in organizational contexts as if they were putting on a façade to conform. Furthermore, professionals of color who do diversity, inclusion, and equity work in Higher Education or other organizations often face a harsh reality of maintaining a reputation of excellence while being visible and accessible to constituents and stakeholders even though they also contend with elements of racism, anti-blackness, micro-aggressions as well as respectability politics. This balance is expected all while dismantling said elements of systemic and systematic oppression with a smile. Additionally, these elements negatively impact these professionals in overt and covert ways because it creates a paradox of self-presentation as well as regulation of authentic leadership for these professionals. This session will present an overview of these concepts by bringing awareness and offering strategies to authentically support Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officers.

5B) How to Achieve Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Education

Presenters: Nolica Murray-Fields & Dina Johnson

Racism, disproportionality in disciplinary referrals, over-representation in special education, bullying, low graduation rates, teasing, and micro-aggressions are all too common in the lives of the youngest members of our community. Children of color are asked to navigate this educational system that presents daily barriers to education and are asked to be successful. This workshop will look at concrete ways to dismantle and evaluate the current educational system and its practices to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for our most precious commodity: our children. This workshop will take a three-tiered approach to intervention which will allow for the implementation of change on a holistic, individualistic, and systemic level. We look at the physical environment of schools, the educators within it, and curricula used to educate our children of color. It also offers ways to collect data and evaluate current data collected by many schools to identify some of the sources of discriminatory practices, pedagogy, and policies.

5C) Recognizing and Overcoming Unconscious Bias

Presenter: Charles Holley

The killing of George Floyd sparked a racial conscience awakening in America. Now, people are doing the right thing and searching for ways to improve their racial understanding and to become more socially aware. Unconscious racial bias plays an important role in racism. Thus, this presentation focuses on identifying the various sources of racial bias, provides examples of prejudice, and presents tools and techniques to overcome the effects of unconscious bias and discrimination. The goal is to lead attendees into a higher level of social awareness and promote antiracism.

Summit Day 2 Session Details

All times listed are in EST.

Session 1 (9:05- 9:50 am): Racism, a Threat to Your Health and the Planet’s Health

1A) Introduction to Intersectional Climate Action: Threats and Opportunities

Presenters: Dr. Kristen Van Hooreweghe & Dr. Abby McHugh-Grifa

This session will focus on climate change’s disparate impacts and the potential of climate solutions to bring about transformational change that prioritizes racial and economic equity. The session will start with a quick, basic introduction of climate science and a discussion of the unequal ways climate change impacts the Rochester community. Then, the session will turn to the various opportunities climate solutions can bring to addressing our community needs. Many climate solutions can also be leveraged to address other pressing concerns facing our community, including structural racism and inequities in public health, housing, energy costs, workforce development, and transportation. The session will end with a brainstorming session on how participants can integrate climate justice solutions into their own work and advocacy, as well as possibilities for building a broad climate justice movement in and beyond Rochester.

1B) Impacts and Implications of US Government Policies on the Health and Well-Being of Black Americans

Presenter: Pascale Edouard

The health and well-being of Black/African Americans disproportionately lags behind that of White Americans and other racial /ethnic groups. Despite the progressive movement and acts since the 1960s Civil Rights Era, the life expectancy of Black/African Americans continues to pale in comparison to White Americans. This workshop explores the systemic causes underlying the disparate Black-White life expectancy and mortality rates. Taking a race consciousness-based approach, the crux of this workshop will also focus on the historically legal American policies and current-day practices of residential segregation that contribute to the gaps in the Black-White life expectancy and mortality rates.

1C) Value Diversity and Inclusion and Step Into Your Power

Presenter: Sara Ting

Thought-provoking questions, poignant stories, and poetry are presented to empower individuals to embrace diversity and inclusion and step into their power. Participants will recognize the benefits personally and professionally of embracing differences and the barriers that get in the way. Change must come from within. This presentation will provide simple yet powerful tools that are catalysts to start the transformation. Participants will come away enlightened, empowered, and inspired! Once you recognize the value of embracing diversity and inclusion, there is no limit to the difference you can make in your interactions in your personal life, at work, and where you live. And if you are in a leadership role, the impact is even greater. Valuing differences can make a person, an organization, and a community grow.

Session 2 (10- 10:45 am): Interrupting Racism in Novel Ways

2A) Eradicating Racism Even When Our Hearts Are Deceptive

Presenter: Kelvin Weathers

This session will offer a historical perspective of the root of racism within America. Racism has infiltrated every system within American society (and I mean every one of them). We've often attempted to treat the symptoms of racism: unfair housing, segregation, reclining, gerrymandering, voter suppression, poverty, crime, etc. In order to change the fruit of racism, we must start at changing the root and the hearts of human beings. To get different fruit, we need a new root that speaks to defunding certain systems and bolster the funding in others.

2B) Dismantling Racism at the Organizational Level: It Takes All of Us

Presenters: Lenora Reid-Rose, Kesha Carter, Jason Kuby, Dr. Briannon O’Connor, and Tricia Williams

Right now, the entire country is paying attention to racism, but antiracism cannot be something people think about only temporarily in this moment: It has to be a commitment that is made to ourselves, our communities, and the agencies in which we work. As an organization, CCSI continues our work of nearly 30 years to eliminate systemic and institutional inequities across our community. In this facilitated panel discussion, we will highlight how staff from a cross-section of the organization including workforce development, finance, HR, and data analytics have played a role to dismantle racism both within our own organization as well as supporting other organizations in this critical work. The dual public health crises of 2020 have served to highlight that organizations today need to be agile and responsive to the community in order to create and sustain equity and social justice for those they serve as well as their staff. The work to dismantle racism is a long-term commitment to both an organizational and individual journey in which we have to closely examine our personal and systemic values, beliefs, biases and blind spots. With increased awareness and understanding, we can then move to building skill and competency in order to drive practice change to improve equitable outcomes. This session will outline a road map and identify tools that individuals and organizations can access as they begin or continue their own journey.

2C) Race Amity, The Other Tradition

Presenters: Prof. Omobowale Ayorinde & Robert Rosenfeld

Racism in the US could be considered a moving topic, owing to so many connotations and contextualization of the word depending on who you are, where you grew up, parents, schooling, church, basic grasp of American history, world history and one’s ability to locate themselves in the ever-evolving landscape of the, “race on race.” Racism is the proverbial “elephant in the room.” As this social implosion takes place, we know, historically, racism has been used as a distraction, while even more vile acts against humanity go forward. This session will view the flip side of conflict and reconstruct a tradition that led to the ideal of working together, building friendships, the formation of the NAACP and the Urban League, among others. The presentation will include little-known religious seedlings that contributed to the work of W.E.B DuBois and Alaine Locke, tracing back past the Harlem Renaissance to the first Race Amity Conference in 1921. This conference was held at a time where races gathering together faced the threat of death. This presentation will illuminate many of the monumental ideals this country was founded on and principles it has strayed from and will offer participants an option of redirecting the course of humanity through their own individual commitment.

Session 3- 10:50- 11:35 am: Intersectionality of Race and Gender

3A) White Supremacy and Male Privilege: The Fatal Poisons Used to Build the American Ideal

Presenter: Dr. Kiah Nyame

It is commonly known that white privilege and male privilege are largely responsible for the long-standing disparities between whites and people of color with regard to access to jobs, housing, health care, equal justice, etc. It should be noted that white women benefited from affirmative action policies but now vote against them. The residual impact of this privilege can be clearly seen in the formal and informal policies of oppression, racism, and sexism combined. In order to dismantle such a formidable and seemingly intractable dominating system of unfair advantage, multiple remedies are needed in the following areas: education, health care, legislative approaches, coalition building, and local and national community organizing.

3B) The Real American Struggle: Walking in the Shoes of a Black Man

Presenters: Najja Bouldin, Junior Dillion, and Jason Parker

The murder of George Floyd was the catalyst for a group of Black men coming together to process their experiences as Black men who have lived or are currently living in America. Our group consists of a four-member executive committee and 20 national and international members. L'Homme Noir Success Network is a space for men of African descent to connect, share, cultivate ideas, foster growth, and form and maintain a brotherhood. We will use our platform to educate and promote a positive Black image, dismantling stereotypical archetypes of Black masculinity. We encourage togetherness, equity, mentorship, and economic empowerment.

3C) A Firsthand Look at the QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color) Experience

Presenters: Lori Cramer & Zariah Williamson

Trained speakers will share their personal coming out stories as it relates to their identity of being LGBTQ+ and as persons of color, discuss basic LGBTQ+ terminology, look at the barriers that are in place for QTPOC (Queer and Trans People of Color), and provide tangible tips for respectful communication with LGBTQ+ people of color. ANY and ALL questions for LGBTQ+ POC are welcome, and the session is for anyone who is looking to further their understanding of LGBTQ+ people. This session is NOT closed off for LGBTQ+ folks. Allies are welcome!

Session 4 (1:20- 2:05 pm): Building Antiracist Workplaces, Schools, and Communities

4A) An Engineer's Guide to Designing Diversity and Inclusion Solutions for the Workplace

Presenter: Kari Zee

This session tackles the complex problem of “Diversity and Inclusion” in the workplace by breaking it down into more manageable pieces. By first defining the terminology and identifying the problem, we lay the foundation upon which we build our understanding of where previous attempts to address these issues, like diversity "teams," have gone wrong and how to fix them moving forward. The session will also address why "fixing" diversity and inclusion is not the responsibility of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color).

4B) Leaders' Attitudes and Perceptions Toward Workplace Diversity in Healthcare Settings

Presenter: Dr. April Aycock

Healthcare disparities and access to healthcare continue to be challenging in minority populations. Healthcare leaders who influence healthcare policies and decisions do not reflect the diverse communities in the United States. The literature indicates that minorities continue to remain underrepresented in executive leadership roles within the healthcare system (Silver, 2017; Witt/Kieffer, 2007). Additionally, the reluctance to hire diverse leaders’ risks overlooking important cultural norms and needs of marginalized groups (Silver, 2017) as well as diversity awareness and systemic bias (Armada & Marilyn, 2010). A quantitative research study was completed to understand healthcare leaders’ attitudes and perceptions of workplace diversity that may contribute to the long-standing lack of heterogeneous leadership teams (Aycock, 2020). The ecological system framed the exploration of how leaders’ attitudes and perceptions influence healthcare environments to remain homogeneous. The research questions explored were (1) What attitudes and perceptions do leaders in healthcare settings hold regarding workplace diversity? (2) Do healthcare leaders’ attitudes toward and perceptions of workplace diversity differ based on variables related to individual characteristics such as age, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, level of education, veteran, and disability? (3) Do healthcare leaders’ attitudes toward and perceptions of workplace diversity differ based on work-related variables such as length of time employed, length of time as a supervisor, and salary? A total of 157 healthcare leaders from a University Medical Center in the Northeastern United States completed the Reaction-to-Diversity Inventory and Workplace Diversity Survey to answer the three research questions. This study reveals that healthcare leaders’ attitudes and perceptions toward workplace diversity are positive. However, despite the positive attitude and perceptions, this study indicates that having a positive attitude and perceptions towards workplace diversity does not mean an increase of heterogeneous leadership teams.

4C) Making Downtown Rochester a Model for Integration: Successes, Challenges, and What to Do Next

Presenters: William A. Johnson, Jr., Bret Garwood, and Carolyn Vitale

This workshop will examine the impact that affordable housing has had on race in downtown Rochester. Using examples of two development companies that have been active in downtown Rochester, the panelists will discuss project specifics and income mix and racial composition of their properties. Discussion will focus on how these projects have evolved over time, the public policy and market context in which they were created, perceived successes and challenges, as well as next steps for the future aimed at reducing segregation in Rochester. This workshop will illustrate the importance of affordable housing and its role in moving towards a more integrated downtown. In addition to the discussion, workshop attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and offer their thoughts on the topic.

4D) Antiracist School Leadership: Lessons from Research and Current Practices

Presenters: Jeffrey Linn & Diantha Watts

School leadership requires a consistent focus on equity for all students. Due to the structure of the educational system, racial equity and justice are often neglected, however, they are central to ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education. In order to provide equitable opportunities for Black and Brown students, it is important for school leaders to hone their racial literacy knowledge and use this as a lens for decision making, thus providing equitable outcomes. This workshop will provide an opportunity to learn more about research and current practices that focus on antiracist school leadership. Participants will have an opportunity to self-reflect on current practices, increase their knowledge of antiracist leadership practices, and engage in small group discussions and exercises related to antiracist leadership. Participants will be able to use the information shared to take the next steps toward the ongoing journey of antiracist leadership. A list of resources and materials will be provided to participants.

Session 5 (2:10- 2:55 pm): Peace, Healing, and Empathy

5A) Racial Trauma: Let the Healing Begin

Presenter: Latise Hairston

Racism creates wounds of pain, grief, and loss for everyone in society, both those devalued by racism and those in the dominant, privileged group (Singh, 2019). Racism is embedded in the structures we interact with, including schools, government, institutions, and organizations. We are bombarded with implicit and explicit stereotyped messages of who we are and who we are not as Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC). Research shows that historical and racist oppression takes a physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual toll on BIPOC. The toll is passed on from one generation to the next. The purpose of this workshop is to begin healing from racism. Healing starts with unlearning the stereotyped racial messages that you have internalized about your own race and others' race (Singh, 2019). It means learning to recognize the wounds, the cost of racism, and intercepting its toll. This session will offer tools, strategies, and resources to help "heal the inner you" and move forward with purpose. It is for BIPOC and allies alike.

5B) Conversations about Black Lives Matter: A Youth 4-H Project

Presenters: Sara Jablonski, Tyler Dread, and Kenyetta Plummer

4-H teen leaders from the Youth Community Action Network (Youth CAN) program in Buffalo will be sharing their video project that addresses controversial statements made about the Black Lives Matter movement. The purpose of this workshop is to provide people more information about Black Lives Matter and to demonstrate how to respond effectively to micro-aggressions. Attendees will watch a series of short video skits and then have the chance to reflect on the material. Join with our teen leaders for a chance to learn, reflect, and plan for future actions to address racism.

5C) A Haudenosaunee Approach to Peace

Presenter: Ronalyn Pollack

This workshop will present an accurate historical overview of the Haudenosaunee People. While there is much information shared about our People regarding New York State history, there is often little that is understood about the origins of how the Haudenosaunee People embraced peace and developed the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. The workshop will include discussing the story of the Peacemaker and his ability to lead Tedadaho to agree to peace, a large part of the Haudenosaunee journey to our oral constitution, known as the Great Law of Peace. This story can provide incredible hope as it discusses how our People found peace during a time of warring and great unrest amongst our Nations.

5D) The Museum of You: Building Empathy

Presenter: Alexis Russell
The present-day racial pandemic we are facing has once again uncovered the tragic reality of who we are at our core and what our systems were built on hundreds of years ago. Systemic racism affects everyone. It limits our chances of reaching our full potential as human beings and has led us to civil disobedience and internal wars with ourselves and each other. We war with those who abuse their power and privilege, we war with failing to see ourselves as valued human beings, and we war with knowing that we are just as worthy — but we haven't been granted the space and opportunity to live in that worthiness. Too often, many of our stories go unheard and many of our voices are silenced or fall upon deaf ears. As people, we oftentimes lack the ability and effort to care about others as much as we care about ourselves or our own. We are quick to judge our neighbors — oftentimes negatively and falsely — and we fail to see each other. Simply put, we lack empathy and compassion and are unable to make progress in our relationships, businesses, communities, and personal lives.