Concurrent Session Details

Speakers: Dr. Jakia Marie

Location: CSU254/255

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM

Brief Description

Dr. Jakia Marie (she/her) is a Black Studies scholar and currently an assistant professor of Interdisciplinary Studies and Program Coordinator of the African/African American Studies program at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, MI. Born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, she went on to earn a BA in Liberal Studies and M.ED in higher education with an emphasis in college student affairs leadership at GVSU. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Pan-African Studies and M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Louisville in Louisville, KY. Her work theoretically and empirically explores the nuances of Black identities across the US and globally. With multiple peer-reviewed published works, Jakia strives to use research to better understand the complexities of Black experiences.

Speaker:   Kimberly M. Johnson, PhD and George P. Ernest Gbamanja, PhD

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Kimberly Johnson (she/her) is an Associate Professor in the Department of Special Education at MSU, Mankato. She was a Fulbright U.S. Scholar in Sierra Leone for the 2022-2023 academic year where she worked with colleagues at the University of Makeni to expand their teacher preparation program in the area of special needs education. Her current research interests center around global education issues, particularly literacy and open education resources & pedagogy.

Rev. Fr. Dr. George P. Ernest Gbamanja (he/him) is the Director of Academic Affairs and Planning at the University of Makeni (UniMak) in Sierra Leone. He holds a PhD in Education in Pedagogy of Schools and Professional Formation from the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome 2018. He teaches courses related to Administration and Leadership in Education and his research interests center on interventions to improve teaching and learning in Sierra Leone. Dr. Gbamanja has a wealth of experience in the field of education and has served in leadership positions and delivered in-service professional training for primary and secondary school teachers in Northern Sierra Leone. As a Catholic priest, he has worked in several parishes in the Diocese of Makeni - Sierra Leone, where, apart from his pastoral responsibilities, he was also actively involved supporting and promoting educational development.

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Morris Hall 212

Session Description:

It is not new information that people in low- and middle- income countries such as those in West Africa experience poverty and struggle daily for their basic needs to be met, but did you know that people in these countries also experience Learning Poverty? Approximately 70% of 10-year-olds in low- and middle-income countries cannot read well enough to answer comprehension questions after reading a simple passage (World Bank 2023). Development is thwarted by learning poverty because would-be experts cannot realize their life’s purpose if they are never given the opportunity to learn. This session will explore openness (open education resources and pedagogy) as a way to promote connection within the field of education across the globe.

Join us via zoom: https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/93791316553 

Presenter: Dr. Dani Scott & Dr. Kristi Oeding

Speaker Bios:

R. Danielle Scott, Ph.D., CCC-SLP is an Assistant Professor at Minnesota State University Mankato in the Communication Sciences & Disorders Program, leading the efforts in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI). She teaches courses such as Culturally Responsive Practices, DEI Seminar, and Cultural Humility. 

Dr. Kristi Oeding is an assistant professor at Minnesota State University - Mankato. She teaches undergraduate courses in audiology and runs the audiology clinic. Her research interests include hearing loss, aging, evidence-based practices, hearing aids, and improving outcomes for hearing aid users.

TIme: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

Location: CSU245

Session Description:

Anti-black racism is a structural and social determinant of health, contributing to poor mental, emotional, and physical health outcomes. To reduce health disparities, healthcare professionals should increase their understanding of anti-black racism and health inequity, meaningfully engage Pan-African communities, develop inclusive partnerships, and cultivate institutional accountability around health equity. Healthcare organizations and professionals need to take action to improve the conditions in people's environments, which includes making communities more inclusive for racially/ethnically diverse populations. This session will include a brief overview of anti-black racism as a social determinant of health followed by a series of student-led research article reviews centering the intersection of inclusion, health equity, and implications for future and practicing healthcare professionals. The session will close with an open discussion on how current disparities impact Pan-African communities. This session is recommended for students and faculty in the College of Allied Health & Nursing.

Speaker: William Commodore

Speaker Bio: 

William Commodore (he/him) is the author of Transformation: A Journey from Abuser to Advocate. I was born into an environment to people that were deeply involved in Civil Rights. As a child my mother ran the Minnesota delegation to the March on Washington. Those deep roots led me to study history for 42 years. I am deeply engaged in our history and have a thirst for knowledge. I dove into domestic violence and the role it plays in our homes today. I have transformed my nature with the knowledge I have received and will continue to advocate for victim's rights. I have given lectures to the inmates in the Women's prison to share my knowledge.

Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM 

Location: CSU202

Session description:

Herstory takes us 3500 years back to a Matriarchal African Woman at the top of the Kemetic Empire when the system was based on the female/male aspect of the creator in a matriarchal matrilineal system of balance, harmony when the black African Woman was at the top of the highest civilization on earth. The Great Mother who along with the African became obsolete by Patriarchy.

Speaker: Dr. Rashida Fisher 

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Rashida K. Fisher has 17+ years of expertise in clinical counseling and supervision, counselor education, coaching, consultation, and training services. Dr. Fisher is the Founder of Ujima Healing and Consulting. She is currently an associate faculty member and serves as the Dean of the Counseling program of Adler Graduate School. Rashida is an Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (IDEA) practitioner for business, government, non-profit, and education efforts. Rashida is a qualified administrator of the Intercultural Developmental Inventory (IDI). Dr. Fisher’s talks bring a mixture of expertise, passion, vision, and authentic style. She has successfully designed and executed IDEA and wellness-focused workshops, training, dialogues, and discussions for senior leaders, managers, and staff that encourage learning, reflection, self-awareness, and understanding, inspiring growth and progress toward equitable and just outcomes for diverse staff and communities. Rashida’s clinical experience includes co-occurring disorders treatment, culturally responsive care, and trauma-informed service delivery. She utilizes integrative and holistic counseling, most heavily influenced by Adlerian/ Individual psychology and other holistic and wellness-based approaches with a multicultural, liberation, and social justice lens.

Time: 2:35 PM - 3:50 PM 

Location: CSU254/255

Brief Description

This interactive lecture is designed to discuss innovative approaches to fostering collective wellness. Grounded in the transformative themes of Bell Hooks' essay "Homeplace (A Site of Resistance)" and the principles of liberation theory, the session will explore the intersection of personal well-being and systemic resistance. The session will review ways to integrate culturally responsive and empowering practices into their work. It will also benefit those looking to deepen their understanding of how systemic issues impact mental health and wellness in BIPOC communities.

Speaker: Zeke Sorenson (they/them)

Speaker Bio: 

Zeke Sorenson is the Director of the LGBT Center at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Zeke has worked in the field of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion for 13 years and established programs, support, and resources for LGBTQ+ students at their previous institution in the state of Wyoming before moving into their role at Minnesota State University Mankato in July of 2023. They consider themselves to be a Critical Optimist who strives to encourage the broadening of perspectives and critical thinking with the students and others they work with. They are a strong advocate for DEI who believes in promoting understanding through honest dialogue.

Time: 2:35 PM - 3:35 PM

Location: Morris Hall 102

Session Description:  

This session combines presentation and activities to discuss ways to cultivate belonging for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color in queer spaces. This session will also discuss obersvations made for the LGBT Center at MSU Mankato and discussion on ways we may increase inclusion and belonging for people of color in the LGBT Center.

Speaker: Reuben Moore

Time: 2:35 PM - 3:35 PM 

Location: Morris Hall 103

Session Description:

An oratory offering to inspire belonging in all places with an emphasize on power of equity and power of leadership beyond performative discussions to create action and measurable outcomes; leadership centered on and in equity. A message for current and aspiring student leaders as well as our institution's administration and faculty with the goal of shifting paradigms and embracing principles of belonging as critical leadership competencies.

Speaker: Portia Burch

Speaker Bio:   

Portia Burch (she/her) is a Black queer activist and Omaha native currently living in Chicago, with a specific focus on anti-racism work, decolonizing, and abolition. Portia was activated by the murder of Michael Brown, Jr. and the subsequent protests and riots in Ferguson, MO. As consciousness shifts towards reckoning with racism and white supremacy in the world, Portia is working to create spaces that are just and equitable as a way to build communities that are focused on healing and growing. She does this by curating and nurturing spaces to unlearn and decolonize behaviors that have upheld racism and white supremacy culture. Her priority is and will always be the uplifting of Black people, Indigenous people, and other people of the global majority. She is intentional in her work so that people working to be active anti-racists and social justice accomplices understand that by making the groups they advocate for their priority, the decolonization becomes a natural act and creates effective change.

Time: 2:35 PM -3:35 PM

Location: Morris Hall 210

Session Description:

Black women are the most disrespected people, and we see it historically and presently. With Black women being at the intersection of all marginalized identities, it follows that the experiences speak to how history is not a repetition of itself, rather a continuation. In this session, we will look at the ways that Black women have attempted to speak about the oppression faced that, if addressed with intention, would have an impact on the overall oppression that is present. This comes with the recognition and discussion about how the liberation for one is the liberation for all, and the liberation of Black women is the best place to start.

 Join us via zoom:  https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/95639838321