link to Mitchell home pagewww.wmitchell.edu

Tuesday Oct. 7, 2008
9 am - 4 pm

Registration and networking begins at 8 am

This conference is for:

The theme of our conference

To unify the discourse on what is wrong with what is possible. What is wrong is the long-standing dynamics of structural oppression and--in our specific examination--structural racism. What is possible for all of us is a society free of structural oppressions that endure? This raises the question of how it is possible to create and sustain such a society. The point of our conference is to examine these themes and questions.

Structural racism is a recent conceptualization of how racism continues to operate in America and globally by focusing on its “path dependent dynamics” built into the core structure, and therefore all operations of society. Structural racism looks at what is built into the structure that creates or reinforces racial inequality.

On the other side of the equation, sustainable communities looks at a range of questions around how we can create a more open, fair and beautiful world for everyone and everything.

If you share our vision of just and sustainable communities for all, please join us to:

Conference Schedule

Plenary sessions:

9 - 9:20 am

Nexus Between Structural Racism and Racial Disparities Presented by Marcus Harcus

9:20 - 9:50 am

TC Compass Overview of Racial Disparities Statistics and Strategies Presented by Craig Helmstetter

10 - 11 am

Understanding Structural Racism – panel discussion Moderated by Roxanne Peyton and Marcus Harcus

1:30 - 2 pm

Democracy and Communities Presented by Lee Her

2- 2:30 pm

United States’ Obligations Under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination Presented by Peter Brown

2:30 - 3:30 pm

Sustainable Communities – closing panel discussion Moderated by Andriel Dees, Esq.

Break-out sessions

The break-out sessions will begin with short presentations on current issues related to community development and, or racial equity, followed by working sessions to develop strategies to move from structural racism to sustainable communities within the following themes

11:15 am - 12:30 pm :

Families room 230
Moderated by Quisha D. Stewart ~ William Mitchell College of Law Juris Doctor Candidate, 2009, Black Law Students Association President and Child Advocacy Coalition Member

Equitable Development room 223
Moderated by Russ Adams ~ Executive Director of the Alliance for Metropolitan Stability (AMS)

Health Concerns room 234
Moderated by Dr. Michael Golden, MPH ~ Program Coordinator for the Program in Health Disparities Research at the University of Minnesota

Exclusions and Barriers room 240
Moderated by Craig Helmstetter ~ Senior Research Scientist for the Wilder Foundation

Community Development Organizations room 219
Moderated by Mike Temali ~ Executive Director of Neighborhood Development Center (NDC)

William Mitchell College of Law, founded in 1900, is an independent, private law school located in St. Paul, Minnesota. The college is known for cultivating practical wisdom and for creating an environment that welcomes both traditional and non-traditional law students. The largest law school in Minnesota, William Mitchell has produced many distinguished leaders at the bench and bar and in the business and civic arenas, among them the 15th Chief Justice of the United States, Warren E. Burger '31.