JANESVILLE — YWCA Rock County is hosting their 9th annual Racial Justice Virtual Conference on Thursday, Nov. 9 from 8:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
“Is fear keeping us from eliminating racism?†is the theme this year and YWCA invites participants to watch from a location of their choice as they learn to support people of color in their community.
“Discussions aren’t going to solve much, but discussion leads to action that’s going to make our communities a better place, a safer place, (and) a more welcoming place for people of color,†said Racial Justice Director Amiee Leavy. “Conversations have so much potential, which is why they’re so important to have.â€
The keynote speakers include Dr. Mark Joseph, a professor at Case Western Reserve University that focuses on strategies to promote inclusion and equity in urban areas, and Deborah Watts, the Board President, Executive Director, and co-founder of the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation.
In addition to his work as a professor, Joseph is also a social influencer who speaks internationally about developing racial justice at both individual and systemic levels. He received an undergraduate degree from Harvard University and a Ph.D. from the University of Chicago.
He will speak from 9:15-10:30 a.m. and the topic is “Everyday Antiracism as the Antidote to the Fear Holding Us Back.†His breakout session, entitled “Building Your Everyday Antiracist Muscles†will be from 10:45-11:45 a.m.
“Part of the challenge is how to make work on racism manageable,†Joseph said. “If you enter a conversation with curiosity and a sense of inquiry and learning, that can be an entry point to a conversation that is much more constructive.â€
The other breakout sessions include topics such as micro-aggressions, racism in the workplace, and how people of color are disproportionally affected by climate change. Speakers include Sen. Mark Spreitzer, President Lisa Johnson of the ÌÇÐÄVlog´«Ã½ League of Women Voters, Dr. Bridgette Baldwin, and more.
HealthNet of Rock County, which won the Dorothy Height Racial Justice Award in 2022, is hosting a morning breakout session titled “Celebrating Diversity and Promoting Belong in a Smaller Staff Environment.â€
The Dorothy Height Racial Justice Award is given to businesses in the Rock County area that show a commitment to racial justice. The winner for this year will be presented during the conference.
Deborah Watts is a cousin of the late Emmett Till, who was lynched in 1955 at the age of 14. She co-founded the Emmett Till Legacy Foundation, which seeks to preserve Till’s memory and continue his mother Mamie Till Mobley’s fight for justice.
Watts will host a session from 12:15-1:30 p.m. with the title “Justice Deferred: Our Family’s Journey.†She will have a Q&A session from 1:45-2:45 p.m. about her family and life’s work, where she says that no questions or topics are off-limits.
“I want everyone who participates in the conference to walk away challenged, to learn something they didn’t know or learn about something they had a vague understanding of,†Leavy said. “I want everyone to walk away wanting to be better.â€
Registration is open until the morning of Nov. 9 and can be accessed online at . Tickets are $150 per person, and only $50 per student. Once registered, participants can play online with a debit or credit card or contact Danielle Squires at (608) 752-5445, ext. 200 for assistance.
All sessions are recorded by YWCA Rock County and can be accessed by participants afterwards.
