It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™
We’ve gone virtual — and free for everyone!
To provide this experience to all, we’re pleased to announce we’ve shifted to a FREE virtual event and opened registration to the community.
Wednesday, Sept. 27
Virtual
Free
Featuring Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, HuffPost Live, BET News and VH1 Live! and Former Political Contributor for CNN
Join us for our 21st Annual It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™ which provides the opportunity for everyone to engage in crucial conversations on race and racism.
We are excited to host keynote speaker Marc Lamont Hill and breakout speakers Dr. Joi Lewis and Kyle “Guante” Tran Myhre. During our virtual half-day summit, participants can connect with one another, attend the keynote address and attend two breakout sessions advancing in their racial justice journey.
Questions? Contact engagement@ywcampls.org.
Schedule
8:00 am: Event Opens
8:30 am: Welcome & Keynote – Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
9:30 am: Break
9:45 am: Breakout Session 1
11:00 am: Break
11:15 am: Breakout Session 2
12:30 pm: Event Ends
Keynote: Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
Host of HuffPost Live, BET News and VH1 Live! and Former Political Contributor for CNN
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill shares a bold vision of the future, where social progress and the pursuit of equality depend on listening to each other while adopting a fearless attitude toward change.
As a scholar and award-winning author, Dr. Hill expertly dissects political and social moments as a way to initiate frank discussions on culture, politics and race. By identifying key issues, challenges, controversies and trends in the news, he spotlights the work that must be done to sustain the ongoing struggle for equality and freedom.
Dr. Hill’s message emphasizes the importance of working across generations to promote America’s youth and even rely on them to inspire future progress. He provides concrete solutions for bringing communities together, along with anecdotes and examples to inspire hope and courage.
Breakout Sessions
May the Revolution Be Healing: We Don’t Have to Be Raggedy Revolutionaries
With Dr. Joi Lewis
This session offers us a collective space to ask: what constitutes a revolutionary act? What does revolution look like? Do we need to martyr and exhaust ourselves in order to be considered a true REVOLUTIONARY? We take time to reflect, ground in the present moment, and engage in radical re-imagining about what may be possible in terms of racial justice as we look towards a healed future. #MayTheRevolutionBeHealing
About Dr. Joi Lewis
Dr. Joi Lewis is a visionary community healer and facilitator of social justice. As a radical self-care strategist, speaker, author, scholar, philanthropist and CEO of Joi Unlimited, and President of the Healing Justice Foundation, Dr. Joi uses the Orange Method of Healing Justice outlined in her debut book, “Healing: The Act of Radical Self-Care,” to carry out her mission to “put healing in the hands of everyone, everywhere.”
She spent 20+ years in higher education leadership as a dean, vice president, chief diversity officer and faculty member. She holds a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville, Iowa State University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. She claims the Frogtown neighborhood in St. Paul, Minnesota as her adult home. Her work is deeply informed by growing up in East St. Louis, Illinois. Dr. Joi is an unapologetic joy instigator, radical self-care evangelist, a certified kemetic and hot vinyasa yoga teacher as well as a food prep pro. She offers this meditation to all who believe in liberation: #MayTheRevolutionBeHealing — which is also the title of her forthcoming book.
White Supremacy Isn't the Shark; It's the Water: Shaping More Precise Narratives
One thread that connects racial justice work at the personal and systemic levels is narrative: the stories we tell (and are told) about identity, culture, history and beyond, and how those stories shape both individual attitudes and larger-scale policies. In this interactive session, we will examine spoken word poetry as one tool for narrative-shifting work. This is not, however, a poetry workshop, or a conversation just for artists; rather, it explores how the specific tools that poets use (related to storytelling, imagery, metaphor, etc.) can be relevant to everyone engaged in racial justice work, whether they use an arts-based approach or not.
About Kyle "Guante" Tran Myhre
Kyle Tran Myhre (also known as Guante) is a poet, educator and activist based in Minneapolis. His work explores the relationships between narrative, power and resistance, and he’s performed everywhere from the United Nations, to music festivals like Eaux Claires and Soundset, to countless colleges, universities and conferences. A member of two National Poetry Slam championship teams, Tran Myhre also completed his master’s studies at the University of Minnesota with a focus on spoken word, critical pedagogy and social justice education; in that spirit, his programs use poems as doorways into dialogue, critical thinking and community-building.
Building community to advance racial equity and inclusion
YWCA Minneapolis Forums empower community members to challenge the structures that uphold racial inequities. The largest of these events, It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™ engages over 1,000 individuals annually to facilitate change. Our events are rooted in our three pillars of impactful engagement:
Awareness
Keynote speakers have dedicated their work to deeper understandings of racism. Their insight helps attendees move along their own racial justice journey.
Engagement
Research shows dialogue is the foundation for sustained change. Led by our trained racial justice facilitators, community members make the connection between theory and the reality of racism in our lives.
Inspiration
With knowledge and the support of others committed to racial justice, attendees are inspired to advance inclusion at work, in the community and with family and friends.
From Attendees
"Because of our participation, my employer is engaged in a cultural competency initiative and I’m playing a leading role in engaging diverse communities.”
"I wish every workplace had the opportunity to participate. We need this happening in so many more places in our communities.”
"I’ve been forever changed for the better thanks to this forum.”
Our Impact
In 2022:
1,000+ individuals virtually attended It’s Time to Talk: Forums on Race™ and It’s Time to Act!™ Forum Series
2,200 diverse individuals gained racial justice understanding and were empowered to take action to eliminate racism through dialogues, workshops, forums and trainings
40+ organizations invested in creating more inclusive and equitable workplaces through Inc.lude™ Diversity & Inclusion Consulting
Sponsorship Opportunities
Event sponsorship connects your organization to this powerful racial justice program. Sponsors of the event will receive opportunities for customized consulting services by YWCA Minneapolis Inc.lude™ Equity and Inclusion Consulting.
For more information on 2023 sponsorship opportunities, please contact engagement@ywcampls.org.
Our 2023 Presenting Sponsor
Keystone Sponsors
The Bakken Museum
Comcast
About YWCA’s Racial Justice and Public Policy Work
YWCA Minneapolis is a national leader in the field of racial equity, facilitating change and generating meaningful action in the workplace and the community.
YWCA Minneapolis Racial Justice and Public Policy Department works within the community to eliminate inequities on interpersonal, institutional and systemic levels through a continuum of moving from knowledge, awareness and skills to action. We do this through assessment, inclusion planning and facilitated dialogues in the workplace.