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SOBW Conference Damu Smith Institute Pre Conference Nov. 14-16; Building Power; Sharing, Learning, Engaging and Supporting each other:

Overview:

Damu Smith, now a beloved ancestor, garnered throughout his entire life, the highest respect from all of those committed to fighting the issues of racism and for social justice. Damu Smith touched the lives of many throughout the African Diaspora. He always remained steadfast in the pursuit of eradicating injustice in any form. Danu’s fight against environmental racism is one of his legacies that will forever live in our historical memories. To keep the memory and contributions of Damu Smith with us the Institute of the Black World has established the Damu Smith Institute to provide trainings/orientation on how to build and rebuild power to create the changes in conditions in the lives of people of African descent.

The purpose of the Damu Smith Institute pre conference as part of the State of the Black World conference is to have an opportunity to share with each other; learn from each other, engage and support each other.

 

DAY ONE: WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2012

9am Registration Opens at Hilltop, Blackburn Center

 

12:00 – 2:45 pm Opening Plenary

–        Opening Libation and Ancestor Call

–        Introductions

–        Welcome and Overview by Dr. Ron Daniels, IBW Overview

–        Opening discussion: Opening discussion: Our Rich Movement Legacy:  Key lessons  of Civil Rights and Human Rights Movement  featuring Dr. Mtangulizi  Sanyika, African American Leadership Project and Shirley Gray, SSEU 371 (invited)

2:45 – 3:00 pm BREAK

 

 3:00-4:00 pm Best Practices – Culture and Healing

  • Culture Shapes All We Do: Kinaya Sankoya, DC Children’s Trust Fund
  • Successes, lessons creating space for healing: Dushaw Hockett, Black American Organizing Project

 

 4:00-5:00 pm Lessons From the Frontlines: Sharing Victories, Setbacks and Promising Practices

Liz Derias moderate an interactive discussion on the political landscape and what we are learning.

 

 5:00 – 5:15pm Preparation for Tomorrow’s Session/Closing

 

5:15pm Dinner (on your own)

 

 

DAY TWO: NOVEMBER 15, 2012

9:00 – 10:45 am Welcome/Opening and Plenary Discussion: Building Black Power – Frameworks for Change moderated by Makani Themba

 

10:45 – 11:00am Break and Transition to Skills Building sessions
  Track I: Organizing for Power Track II:

 Critical Issues

Track III:

Communicating for Change

Track IV: Resourcing Our Communities Track IV
11:00 – 12:45pm Value based organizing Principles

(Greg Akili)

Haiti Support Project (Hulbert James) Using Social Media (Kenyon Farrow) Fundraising for Institution Building (Makani  Themba)
12:45 – 1:30pm LUNCH – on your own
1:30 – 3:30pm Base Building and Volunteer Management  (Greg Akili and Felicia Eaves)  The War on the War on Drugs (Nkechi Taifa and Rick Adams) Effectively Telling Your Story

(Kenyon Farrow)

 
3:30 – 3:45pm BREAK
3:45 – 5:15pm Introduction to Electoral Organizing I (Hulbert James)

 

Environmental Justice (Jacqui Patterson)   Fundraising for Institution Building (Makani Themba)
5:15 – 5:30pm BREAK
5:30 – 6:00 Regional Breakouts

Meet participants from your region to discuss potential networking and work together.  Look for signs indicating your region

 

6:30-8:00pm State of the Black World Opening Conference Plenary and Town Hall

 

DAY THREE: NOVEMBER 16, 2012

9:00 – 10:15am Welcome Back/Building Bridges, Building Power: Identifying Opportunities for Collaboration

 

10:30 – 11:30am State of Black America Policy Roundtable moderated by Walter Fields, Shirley Chisolm Presidential Accountability Commission and  featuring economist and nationally syndicated columnist Dr. Julianne Malveaux, Hillary Shelton, NAACP Washington Office; Dr. Elsie Scott, Ronald W. Walters Center;  and Melanie Campbell, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation

 

11:30 – 11:45am BREAK
11:45 – 1:00pm Institute Reception  and  Closing Ceremony emceed by Sandra Rattley and featuring Rev. Graylan Hagler and cultural performances

 

1:00pm Adjourn to State of the Black World Conference/Lunch On Your Own


Click To Purchase Ticket & Register for the Damu Smith Training Institute