Race Forward Announces Workshops for Facing Race National Conference

NEW YORK, Sept. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Race Forward: The Center For Racial Justice Innovation today announced the program and workshop content for Facing Race: A National Conference, to be held in Dallas, TX, November 13-15, 2014. More than 60 workshops will be presented over two days, on a wide range of issues: the economy, housing, reproductive justice, LGBTQ rights, voting rights, education, health care, immigration, criminal justice, faith communities, and media. The full program and registration information can be found online at raceforward.org/facingrace.

"At Race Forward, we are intentional about race and boldly examine how race compounds and intersects with other societal issues," said President Rinku Sen. "To fully realize our racial justice vision as a community we must be multi-racial, multi-disciplinary, multi-issue, intergenerational, and we are creating a space for that work at Facing Race."

In a powerful intergenerational event that reflects the broad range of Facing Race attendees and individuals engaged in the racial justice movement, three generations of activists -  Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon, her daughter Toshi Reagon, and granddaughter Tashawn Reagon - will keynote this year's conference. Bernice Johnson Reagon, is a renowned scholar, singer/songleader, and activist for over half a century. Toshi is a composer, producer, founder, and leader of her own ensemble, and Tashawn is an emerging leader, facilitating dialogue on racial justice with student groups. Together, in this special appearance, the Reagons will tell a story of how art and activism help us transcend barriers - mobilizing generations and our nation toward justice.                     

Race Forward staff will be presenting a number of workshops and panels, including: "Designing Interactive Web Tools to Fight Racial Discrimination at Work," "Reframing Stories from a Racial Justice Perspective," "Queering Racial Justice Organizing in the South," "The Beautiful Struggle: Towards A Multi-Faith Movement," and Colorlines journalists on "Why Tribal Sovereignty Matters," and "Life Cycles of Inequity: A Colorlines Series on Black Men."

As part of an exciting and beneficial collaboration, Research and Policy Workshops including: "Implicit Bias: State of the Science and Moving From Research to Action," "Innovation is Housing Equity for Communities of Color," and "The Pipeline from School to Economic Opportunity," will be presented by The Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity.

"The Kirwan Institute is excited to partner with Race Forward to host and participate in Facing Race's research and policy workshops," said Sharon Davies, President of the Kirwan Institute. "Collaborations such as this can only strengthen the racial justice field to ensure all people and communities have opportunity to succeed."

In all, more than 40 national and grassroots organizations are represented in Facing Race's program offerings; highlights include:

Arts, Culture & Media

• "Keeping it Unreal: Decoding Gender, Race and Reality TV — a Media Literacy Workshop" sponsored by Women in Media & News (WIMN) will be presented by Jennifer L. Pozner.
• "The End of the Open Internet and The Silencing of Racial Justice Movements" sponsored by Center for Media Justice will be presented by Steven Renderos.
• "Rainbow Warriors: Lifting Up Queer and Trans Youth Resiliency" sponsored by Forward Together and presented by Amanda Wake.

Organizing, Advocacy & Activism

• "Multiply and Mobilize: Resisting Divide and Conquer Tactics in Multiracial Work"
• "Reclaiming Government: A Dialogue about the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity and the Public Sector's Role in Advancing Equity" sponsored by Public Works will be presented by Anika Fassia.
• "Controlling Our Bodies, Taking Our Children: The Abortion/Adoption Nexus in Conservative Politics" sponsored by Political Research Associates will be presented by T.F. Charlton and Dr. Andy Smith

Research & Policy

• "Innovating for Health Equity in Dallas" sponsored by United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and Health and Wellness Alliance for Children will be presented by Stephanie Farquhar
• "Poison Crossroads - Interventions at the Intersection of Disaster Capitalism and Environmental Racism" sponsored by Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, T.E.J.A.S. and presented by Monique Harden, Dr. Robert Bullard, Yudith Nieto
• "Opportunities under Obamacare to Tackle Racial Disparities in Health: Bringing the Fight for Access and Care to Your Home State" sponsored by Alliance for a Just Society and presented by LeeAnn Hall

Facing Race is for people from all walks of life who desire to build awareness of racial equity, identify solutions, and come together with people who share a passion for racial justice. Facing Race welcomes people of all ages, races, ethnicities, occupations, sexual orientation, gender identity, faith, and political ideology.

For more information on the conference including registration information and the full list of workshops and plenaries, please visit raceforward.org/facingrace.  Press passes may be requested by contacting [email protected].

Facing Race local funders include the Embrey Family Foundation, The Boone Family Foundation and the Dallas Women's Foundation. National funders include the Kirwan Institute for Race and Ethnicity, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation.

ABOUT: Race Forward advances racial justice through research, media and practice. Founded in 1981, Race Forward brings systemic analysis and an innovative approach to complex race issues to help people take effective action toward racial equity. Race Forward publishes the daily news site Colorlines and presents Facing Race, the country's largest multiracial conference on racial justice.

Contact:
Rebekah Spicuglia
[email protected]
646-490-2772

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SOURCE Race Forward: The Center for Racial Justice Innovation