Prominent poet and activist Sonia Sanchez and author Maytha Alhassen will headline the Case Western Reserve University Social Justice Institute’s 2013 Intergenerational Think Tank, “Educating for Struggle: In the Academy, Schools, Prisons and Streets.”
The two-day event begins Friday, Nov. 15, in Thwing Center. Sanchez and Alhassen will present “The Struggle: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow.” Doors open at 5 p.m. The keynote lecture and dialogue begins at 6 p.m.
The event also will feature an evening performance-talk by hip-hop emcee and community activist Jasiri X on Saturday, Nov. 16, in Thwing Center. His performance-talk begins at 4:45 p.m.
In addition to the keynote speakers, the conference will offer three plenary sessions, featuring national and local scholars, advocates and grassroots activists who will explore the justices and injustices manifested in various aspects of society during the Saturday program:
- “In the Academy,” 10-11:30 a.m., with Lisa Brock, academic director of Kalamazoo College’s Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership; Donte Hilliard, assistant dean and director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Multicultural Student Center; H.L.T. Quan, Arizona State University’s School of Social Transformation; and Rhonda Y. Williams, founder and director of Case Western Reserve’s Social Justice Institute.
- “In the Prisons,” 1:15-2:45 p.m., with Dan Berger, assistant professor in Comparative Ethnic Studies at the University of Washington; Kali N. Gross, associate professor in African-American women’s history at the University of Texas-Austin; Damian Calvert, a returning citizen and re-entry advocate for prisoners; and Emeline Liu, an undergraduate student and New Abolitionists representative at Case Western Reserve.
- “In the Schools,” 3-4:30 p.m., with Pauline Lipman, professor of educational policy studies at the University of Illinois-Chicago; Matthew Cregor from NAACP Legal Defense Fund’s “Dignity in Schools” program; Shay Schearer, parent activist with the Ohio Communities United/Parent Action Committee in Cleveland; and Alexis Crosby, student advocate with SJI’s Power UP! and a CWRU alumnae.
The conference is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided, but seating is limited. Registration is required by calling 216.368.7568 or visiting case.edu/socialjustice.