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 This offering will spotlight groundbreakers in the Black community who persisted, provide tangible strategies for Black people to show up and honor themselves in the workplace, and discuss tools that organizations can implement on the structural level to address common barriers to equity. We will dissect White Supremacy Culture characteristics, define Anti-Blackness, share what equity in practice looks like, define structural racism, provide examples of policies that aim to address anti-Blackness head on, and share best practices for fostering a workplace culture of belonging.

‘Breaking Bread with Baldwin: Black LGBTQ+ Stories in Focus’ hones in on James Baldwins legacy of taking action outside the box, and shares what lessons we can learn from his life and the lasting impact that his work has made on the landscape of LGBTQ+/Black lives today. This presentation also uplifts the stories of other esteemed Black LGBTQ+ pioneers such as Marsha P. Johnson, Miss Major, Pauli Murray and more to take an intentional look at the intersection that is Black x LGBTQ+ identity. Bryce pulls on his expertise in LGBTQ+, and Black history, his 13 years of experience working in the LGBTQ+ rights movement – on the national, state and local level – along with weaving in his own personal narrative navigating life as Black/queer/trans person to shine the spotlight on the importance of Black LGBTQ+ people, an often times overlooked group when it comes to mainstream Black History remembrances.

The act of passing the mac n’ cheese to the person next to you creates a small moment of connection during a cookout. With the landscape of organizational culture continuing to shift at a rapid pace, due to the changes in “how we work” since 2020 and external factors including continued attacks on DEI initiatives, 2024 is going to require companies and leaders to get back to the basics of connection in order to drive and sustain change. Everyday connections requires a commitment to everyday allyship – and ultimately an understanding of what allyship is and how to move from being an ally to being an advocate. This offering will dive into this with definitions, historical context, discussion, hands on activities, action steps and resources for participants to continue their learning.

Southern Fried//Black History – How the Black South Has Shaped America, From Reconstruction to 2024 focuses on the arc of Black liberation, community building and joy in the United States from the 1800's through 2023. Learn how communities of the African diaspora have always found ways to thrive, build culture and forge new paths in the face of systemic oppression x injustice. This session will include a historical overview, connections from the Civil Rights Movement to the current movement for racial equity x justice, along action steps that you can take to center the humanity of Black people in your work and organizational culture.