Panel on racism today
ALBANY, N.Y. » On Saturday morning, the YWCA of the Greater Capital Region and YWCA NorthEastern NY will host a Stand Against Racism symposium at the University at Albany.
The event will take place at University at Albany – Lecture Center, 1400 Washington Ave. — starting at 8:30 a.m.
Organizers said that Stand Against Racism will unite the community in a bold demonstration that delivers a clear message:” We Are On A Mission To Eliminate Racism.”
The Stand Against Racism: Civic Engagement Symposium is a call to action for individuals to create change through action in their own lives and their communities.
The theme of the symposium is “Civic Engagement: Our Power, Our Mission, Our Future.”
Organizers said that for many people, the term “civic engagement” refers only to voting, but it also applies to a much larger body of work. Defined as working to make a difference in communities through both political and non-political activities, civic engagement addresses public concern and promotes a better quality of life for community members. That full breadth of work is important, because voting alone cannot create systemic change, organizers said.
“YWCA- GCR is thrilled to partner with our sister Association, YWCA NorthEastern NY for the Inaugural 2018 Stand Against Racism Symposium,” says Daquetta Jones, Executive Director, YWCA of the Greater Capital Region in Troy. “We’re living in unpredictable and concerning times. We must be tenacious no matter the challenges and progressively exercise our right to vote at all levels. Local politics run federal politics but voting along cannot create systemic change in our nation. If all of us aren’t doing well; we are not doing well. Join us in taking a Stand Against Racism and Get Out the Vote!”
The SAR Symposium will begin with a speech from Keynote Speaker, Honorable Dr. Dorcey Applyrs. Dr. Applyrs has built a personal and professional life in the City of Albany devoted to improving the quality of life for residents in her community, Albany’s First Ward, organizers said. The Washington, D.C. native tackles health disparity and environmental safety issues affecting her constituents with a persistence and passion that city leaders have come to recognize and depend upon. Dr. Applyrs was elected to the City of Albany Common Council First Ward in 2014 and re-elected in 2018.
Light breakfast and refreshments will be served.
Organizers said they have also partnered with community groups, local political leaders, educators, and activists for social and racial justice to host breakout sessions focusing on how attendees can create change. Citizen Action of NY, Just Leadership USA, University at Albany Office for Public Engagement, RISSE, and University at Albany Journalism Program will provide these breakout sessions. Topics will span from “how to run for office” to “learning how to distinguish fact vs. fiction when reading the news”, “opportunities to create meaningful engagement with communities of color” to “Confronting & Pushing Back against Islamophobic Racism & Xenophobia”.
After the breakout sessions, attendees will be given a boxed lunch and are invited to connect with each other to share ideas and visit vendors. Once lunch is fin--
ished, all attendees are invited to a movie screening of American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, presented in collaboration with WMHT and POV, the award winning independent nonfiction film series on PBS (www.pbs.org/pov). A panel discussion will follow the film, moderated by Frankie Y. Bailey, Professor, University at Albany School of Criminal Justice.