Save the date for a full day virtual Racial Justice Conference on November 14th, 2024 and a half day in-person on November 15th hosted by YWCA Rock County.

Join us online from your home, school or office, as presenters offer insight into supporting diverse populations here in our community and beyond.

All sessions of the conference will be recorded by YWCA Rock County. All other recordings of conference sessions are prohibited.

YWCA Rock County is proud to announce its 10th Annual Racial Justice Conference, a two-day event aimed at addressing the crucial issue of racism and the role we all play in eliminating it. This year’s theme, “What is My Role in Eliminating Racism?” invites participants to engage in deep, meaningful conversations about how each of us can contribute to the fight against racism. The conference will take place over two days, with a virtual session on Thursday, November 14, 2024 beginning with a welcome at 8:30 a.m. and our final session ending at 4:00 p.m., and an in-person event on Friday, November 15, 2024 at Blackhawk Technical College. Friday’s keynote will begin at 10:00 a.m. and the conference will close with a wrap-up session ending at 3:00 p.m. A light breakfast and lunch are included with the in-person portion of the conference.

The virtual portion of the conference will feature an impressive lineup of thought leaders and activists. The morning Keynote and Breakout Speaker will be Dr. Latish Reed, Senior Leadership Consultant at Derute Consulting Cooperative with the sessions titled: Using your “ICE-T” to Eliminate Racism and Sipping on Your ICE-T (ICE-T stands for Identity, Context, Experiences, and Timing). The morning and afternoon Breakout Speaker at the virtual conference will be Dr. Marijuana Vandyck, Founder and Executive Director, Action as Empowerment Consulting and Solutions, LLC with sessions titled: Racial INequity and Personal Finance and another session titled Wealth as Resistance: The Fight for Financial Equity Starts Within.

YWCA Rock County is honored to have Dr. Sakara Wages, Founder of Subversive Social Work as the afternoon Keynote and Breakout Speaker with sessions titled: Subverting Oppression: Using Power and Privilege for Change and Subversion and Q&A with Dr. Wages. The afternoon Breakout Speaker of the virtual conference on November 14th will be Mr. David Wilson, Violence Interrupter with the City of Green Bay Office of Violence Prevention with a session titled: The Action It Takes to Talk Strategically About Race.

On Friday, November 15, 2024, attendees will gather at Blackhawk Technical College for interactive sessions and engaging presentations. There will be a student and advisor only session with Mr. Gregory Ware, President and CEO of MIND 2 MIND Consultant Services with a session titled: Do You hear what I HEAR?... Involving youth, begins by listening, which then leads to learning, which then encourages LEADING.

The in-person conference will continue on November 15th with the morning Keynote Speaker Gregory T. "Sir G." Ware, M.S. Ed, President and CEO of MIND 2 MIND Consultant Services with a session titled: Who AM I, Where AM I, and What AM I to Become? The afternoon Speaker will be Ms. Katie Bement, Director at Embrace Services, Inc. with a session titled: Anti-Racism Work in Wisconsin. This conference offers a unique opportunity for community members, educators, students, and leaders to come together and explore actionable steps in the fight against racism. By focusing on individual roles, participants will leave empowered to make a meaningful impact in their personal and professional lives.

Participants can view registration rates and register for the virtual and in-person events by visiting https://whova.com/portal/webapp/yrcar_202412/. Spaces are limited for the in-person event, so early registration is encouraged. For more information or media inquiries, please contact: Amiee Leavy, aleavy@ywcarockco.com