Find out how to tell a story that makes a difference, create a podcast, use political theater to organize your community and discuss whether hair should be destiny.
Saturday, August 24th
Location: Room 102B
Podcasting Power: Using Podcasting to Amplify Hidden Histories, Contemporary Struggles and the Political Power of Black Worker Voice
10 am – 12 pm
Led by: Chenjerai Kumanyika- Journalist and Assistant Professor, Rutgers University
Using his experience as a podcaster, including creating and hosting the Peabody-winning history podcast “Uncivil” professor, journalist and organizer Chenjerai Kumanyika offers a brief introduction to the role podcasting can play in the empowerment of Black workers. After sharing his own story, and approach with audio examples, the second hour will move into a more interactive workshop. Here, participants can ask questions, discuss their own projects and generate ideas for stories and series. Technical audio aspects of podcasting will NOT be discussed in this workshop, but resources for further learning will be provided.
Public Narrative
2 pm – 3:30 pm
Led by: Kwesi Chappin- Political Director, Color of Change
What elements of public narrative motivate people to act in the service of change? Participants will compose their own story of self, then share it with others to get feedback meant to zero in on the challenge, the choice and the outcome in their stories. Storytellers may be asked such questions as what made their challenge a challenge or where they got the strength to make the choice they did. Other participants may report what images they found most vivid, what moments moved them, and how they understood the storyteller’s values. Once group members have heard the stories of self, they are in a position to create a story of us and a story of now—narratives which motivate action and change, using a similar process.
Creating a Black Worker Equity Agenda
3:45 pm – 4:35 pm
Co-led by: Jim Davenport- Ameritech Corp & Avis Ransom- Baltimore Black Worker Center
What does a Black Worker Equity Agenda look like? What will it do? How will it be used or implemented? These are some of the questions workshop leaders Jim Davenport and Avis Ransom will address. along with participants at this session, that is all about building workplace power with Black workers by creating an agenda to use as a focal point in our efforts to win equity.
Sunday, August 25th
Deconstructing White Supremacy Culture in Our Organizations and Workplaces
10 am – 11:45 am
Led by: William Pritchett- Principal, Pritchett & Associates
This workshop features discussion about the way organizations—from corporations to unions to community groups to churches—unconsciously use the practices of white supremacy culture as their norms and standards. Desired learning outcomes include the skills to assess and address how the practices of white supremacy culture:
· Are likely to show up in the attitudes and behaviors of nearly all of us
· Often show up in any group or organization, whether it is white-led, predominantly white, people of color-led, or predominantly people of color
· Get in the way of our work to create racially equitable organizations
· Can be deconstructed and curtailed from suffocating our progress toward racial justice, if we ensure these practices are no longer exclusively valued
Making Art While Black
2 pm – 3:30 pm
Led by: Giancarlo Valentine- Award Winning Photographer
Working in the art/editorial world while Black is one of the most deprecating experiences a person can have. Navigating this space while keeping your integrity, your authenticity, and the import and weight of your voice can be agonizing. As an artist, I’ve worked extremely hard to achieve my dreams and gain access to spaces that would allow my work, our stories, to reach the most people. Oftentimes I managed to achieve these goals, but in the process, I was forced to demystify the importance of these spaces, the greatness of many of the artists I looked up to. Being in these spaces threatened and still threatens to erase my voice. I want to use this workshop to discuss my journey with participants and the challenges that many Black artists face in learning and keeping their artistic voices when working within and alongside white supremacist organizations