Inaugural Capital Region Juneteenth Conference and Sigma Sleep-out for Social Justice
“Building Capacity for African Freedom in the Americas and Beyond”
June 17th – 19th, 2021
University at Albany, Albany NY
Juneteenth is the oldest commemorated celebration of the abolishment of slavery in the United States. On June 19th, 1865, Major General Gordon Granger and his Union soldiers landed in Texas with news that the war had ended and that enslaved persons were free - two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation. For some, this marked the true end of slavery in the United States.
Theme: “Building Capacity for African Freedom in the Americas and Beyond”
Sleepout for Social Justice:
The conference will conclude with a Sleepout for Social Justice on the University Campus to raise funds to support the Melodies Center’s work on Sickle Cell Research, Advocacy and Support and the H. Danston Davis Swimming Scholarships Fund.
Conference Agenda
Thursday, June 17th
11:00am Welcoming Remarks – Havidan Rodriguez, Ph.D., President, UAlbany
11:05am Greetings – Hon. Kathy Sheehan, Mayor, City of Albany
11:10am Opening Remarks CDO and IPP of PBS – Samuel J. Caldwell, Jr. MBA
11:15am Remarks and Intro. of Assemb. Hyndman – Bro. Roberto Peguero, CEO of CCC, Inc.
11:20am Opening Keynote - NYS Assemblywoman Alicia Hyndman
12p - 12:30pm Table Topic Dialogues – Moderator TBD
12:30 – 1pm Lunch (on your own) J
1-1:45pm Juneteenth 2021: How did we get here and where do we go?
Clemmie Harris, Ph.D. Director of Africana Studies and Asst. Professor, Utica Community College
2-2:45pm Know Thyself: Resources to reset you on your path towards self-discovery.
*Miciah Z. Yehudah, Ph.D., Lecturer, School of Humanities of Arts and Social Sciences, RPI
3pm - 3:45p Celebration & Commemoration: A dialogue on the ways African-Americans integrated domestic and international emancipation milestones into their freedom celebrations in the tri-city area.
Jennifer Burns, Ph.D., Lecturer, Department of Africana Studies, University at Albany
4pm - 4:45p Special Guest Speaker: The Art of Human Care
Hassan A. Tetteh, MD, MBA, FACS, FACHE
Assoc. Prof. of Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine & Johns Hopkins Hospital
Friday, June 18th
10-10:45a Grand Rising Recap and Agenda
D Ekow King, Asst. to VPSA for DEI and Pres. Mu Iota Sigma Chapter, Phi Beta Sigma, Fraternity. Inc.
11-11:45a Bigger & Better Business – What's Your Madam CJ Walker look like in 2021 JADE, Jessica Pelton, Tiffany Harris
12p - 12:30pm Table Topic Dialogues – Moderator TBD
12:30 – 1pm Lunch (on your own) J
1-1:45pm Social Action “Racism as a Public Health issue”
Dr. Darrell Wheeler, Dr. Julia Hastings- Moderator: Dr. Njai (CDC) or Barry Walston, MSW.
2-2:45pm “Education: An Achilles heel for Black and Brown students: How do we fix it? Ms. Shermaine Moore-Boakye, Principal, KIPP Albany Community Charter School, L. Oliver Robinson, Ed.D., Superintendent, Shenendehowa Schools, Patrick Jean-Pierre, Psy.D. District Director for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at Schenectady City School District
3pm - 3:45p Special Guest Speaker: The Art of Human Care (Re-Play)
Hassan A. Tetteh, MD, MBA, FACS, FACHE
Assoc. Prof. of Surgery, Howard University College of Medicine & Johns Hopkins Hospital
4pm - 4:45p Closing Keynote
NYS Senator Kevin S. Parker (Senate sponsor of the Juneteenth Bill)
5pm – 9pm Free Time (please consider supporting, in-person, local community events)
Building Blocks Together is excited to announce its first in-person event of 2021 with a Juneteenth Black Professional Happy Hour on Friday, June 19th, from 6-9pm. To purchase tickets for the event: https://juneteenth-blk-professional-real-estate-mixer.eventbrite.com
9p – 6am Sigma Sleep-out for Social Justice and Juneteenth Midnight Meditation
Sleep-out and ancestral readings begin on Dutch Quad Commons and in the Great Hall, including a Midnight Moment of Silence in Honor of our ancestors
6am Sleep-Out Concludes - Please consider supporting, in-person, local community events.
