October 7-8, 2021
Welcome. Thank you for attending the 39th Annual New Jersey Black Leadership Conference. For the next two days, you will hear from the Garden State's most influential leaders who will explore the major issues facing you and our state during these most challenging times. While many of our sessions were pre-recorded, they remain timely and provide you with the information you need to engage our communities. Please feel free to network with each other, share your thoughts in the chat and learn more about our sponsors who support our endeavors. We know you will learn a lot during these days. Don't keep it to yourself! Share!
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There is a lot to digest. Below you will see the conference agenda and links to workshops and Mid-Day Plenaries. It is suggested that you keep this page tab open for easy access to the conference and our workshops.
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Rising Beyond the Pandemic:
Leading the Way Forward, Developing Resilience
and Demanding Transformation
Conference Information and Links
Thursday, October 7, 2021
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9:00 AM
OPENING PLENARY SESSION
10:15 AM
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WORKSHOP SESSION I (Concurrent Sessions)
Workshop 1 | Economic Parity: Education Beyond the Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on how schooling
is done. With the closing and re-opening of schools, an array of academic, social,
and emotional challenges has impacted students, as well as teachers. This workshop
will explore what educational professionals are doing to assist students to catch-up
academically and transition back to in-person learning. There will be a discussion
about the need to focus on mental health, social and emotional learning and
classroom practices that help students to succeed beyond the pandemic.
Moderator:
Brenda R. Lee, Greater Newark Alliance of Black School Educators, Inc.
Panelists:
Dr. Stephanie James Harris, NJ Amistad Commission
Valerie Wilson, Newark Board of Education
Wilhelmina Holder, Secondary Parents Council
Workshop 2 | Criminal Justice Reform: Community Impact on Criminal Justice Reform
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Mass incarceration of people of color in New Jersey has damaged the lives and
livelihoods of families and whole communities. There is a need for more investment
in public safety initiatives in these communities. This workshop will explore the
criminal justice reform initiatives that have been proposed with the influence of
members of the community.
Moderator:
Ashanti D. Jones, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Panelists:
Major Carla Thomas, New Jersey State Police
Dr. Marilyn Cooper, Newark Branch of NAACP
Jiles Ship, New Jersey Chapter, NOBLE
Workshop 3 | Health: Sick of High Prescription Drug Prices
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Americans are sick and tired of paying the highest prices in the world for their
prescription drugs. Americans can't afford to pay more than 3 times what people in
other countries pay for the same medicine. Too many Garden State residents are
forced to choose between filling life-saving prescriptions and paying rent, buying
food and meeting other critical needs. It is time for action at the state and federal
level to lower prescription drug costs. Join AARP NJ to discuss the impact of high
drug prices on your wallet, your health – and the reforms needed to lower drug prices
now.
Moderator:
Lavelle Jones, AARP NJ State President (confirmed)
Panelists:
Dr. Jubril Oyeyemi, Cherry Hill Free Clinic
Danielle Combs, NAACP New Jersey State Conference
Evelyn Liebman, AARP NJ
Workshop | Hot Topics: Say the Word: Reparations
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The State of New Jersey was known as the “slave state of the north”. As a result of
this history, Black New Jerseyans face some of the worst racial disparities in the
United States. This workshop will explore the legislation (S322/A711) to establish a
reparations task force and steps needed for the State of New Jersey to take
responsibility for its role in the slave trade and repair the consequences of slavery.
Moderator:
Dr. Lanisha Makle-Ridley, New Jersey Black Issues Convention
Panelists:
Dr. Ron Daniels, Institute of the Black World 21st Century
Ryan Haygood, New Jersey Institute for Social Justice
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, 35th Legislative District
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MID-DAY PLENARY SESSION
Keynote Speaker: Michellene Davis, Esq., National Medical Fellowships
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WORKSHOP SESSION II (Concurrent Sessions)
Workshop 1 | Economic Parity: Clean Energy and Jobs
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During his State of the State Address, Governor Phil Murphy provided that moving to
clean, renewable “green” energy will create a boost to job creation in the state.
Green investments such as clean energy, improvement of water and community
infrastructure, building resilience to climate disasters, funding parks and trails, and
improving public transportation will bring significant job growth, as well as
economic, environmental and health benefits to residents of the State of New Jersey.
This workshop will explore the work that needs to be done within our Black
communities to prepare residents to meet the challenge of the “new” green economy
and the job creation that is on the horizon.
Moderator:
Rev. Ronald Tuff, GreenFaith
Panelists:
Duwan Bogert, Workforce Development Board of Passaic County
Richard Thigpen, PSEG
Crystal Pruitt, New Jersey Department of Clean Energy
Workshop 2 | Criminal Justice Reform: Civilian Complaint Review Boards
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In recent years, we have witnessed abusive, dehumanizing behavior and excessive
use of force by law enforcement officials throughout the United States. This
workshop will discuss the mission of and need for civilian complaint review boards,
and the powers that these boards must have to address these acts of misconduct while
maintaining fairness, accountability, and cultivating better relations between law
enforcement and the communities they are sworn to protect and serve.
Moderator:
Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter, New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus
Panelists:
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds Jackson, 15th Legislative District
George Gore, NJBIC/IBPOEW
Workshop 3 |Health: Impact of COVID-19 on Black Mental Health
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The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected Black people due to legal,
social, health, and economic inequalities. The stresses related to job loss, death,
financial instability, food insecurity and loss of housing that resulted from the
pandemic had a traumatic effect on the Black community. This workshop will
discuss the impact that social distancing had on the mental health and emotional well
being of adults and children. The panelists will discuss opportunities that may be
created to enhance community connections online or outdoor spaces, ways to
improve services and safe spaces for children and adults, and ways to ensure access
to services while improving existing mental health programs, and address policies
and systems that maintain structural racism.
Presenters:
Sheila Thorne, Multicultural Healthcare Marketing Group, LLC
Dr. Winston Price, Past President, National Medical Association
Workshop | Hot Topics: Black Robes, No Black Faces
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This workshop will discuss the vacancies on the Superior Court Bench with attention
to vicinages with high populations of Black New Jerseyans AND why we need more
vacancies filled with Black Judicial candidates.
Moderator:
Carolyn Chang, Association of Black Women Lawyers
Panelists:
Senator Ronald L. Rice, 28th Legislative District
Dean Burrell, Garden State Bar Association
Assemblywoman Linda Carter, 22nd Legislative District
2:30 PM
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FORUM I: Re-imagining Public Safety NEW!!!
https://vimeo.com/642128567/0c07c09b48
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The purpose of re-emerging public safety is to rapidly reimagine and reconstruct the
public safety system in New Jersey. Many people think only of a police response
when they hear public safety. Public safety is more than a police response. Public
safety means empowering communities, especially historically marginalized
communities, to participate in shaping what public safety looks like, and have the
resources to address critical social problems, such as access to housing, food security,
transportation, and healthcare. And it means minimizing the harms that often
accompany policing- such as uses of force and arrest. This workshop will bring
together community members, advocates, police, social service providers, and
government officials to discuss the issues, what public safety means, and how best to
achieve re-imagining public safety in New Jersey’s Black communities.
Moderator:
Lanisha Makle-Ridley, Ph.D
NJBIC
Panelists:
James C. Williams
Fair Share Housing Center
Darcella Patterson Sessomes
NJDOC Assistant Commissioner
Zayid Muhammad
Poet and Activist
Please Support Our Sponsors
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