Race, Class, and Gender: A Cross-Generational, Frank, and Free-Wheeling Discussion!

Join these two mother-daughter pairs for an uncensored, cross-generational conversation about how race, class, and gender impact their lives. These mothers and adult daughters will reflect and converse on how they navigate and respond to micro-aggressions, deal with sexism and assumptions about their lives and their faith practices, and what cross-class dialogue looks and feels like for young people today. The four women will share thoughts and feelings with each other and then open the floor to questions and comments from the gathered group. This is an open, unscripted, and honest conversation among four remarkable women leaders. They are inviting us to listen in and then join in!

Trainers:

Olivia Ilano Davis is the Founding Artistic Director of Spectrum in Motion Dance Theater Ensemble, Hartford, CT, a dance education program celebrating people of color and the American experience. She has guided two generations of young people and is a teacher, mentor, educator, counselor, and “mom” to hundreds and hundreds of young adults.

Thulani Davis is the Director of Programming for Spectrum in Motion Dance Theater Ensemble, Hartford, CT and is a millennial activist working on struggles for women’s rights, quality education for all children, and civil rights and civil liberties for all. She is a member of the Northampton, MA Arts Council.

Tahirah Amatul-Wadud is the Executive Director and Chief Legal Officer for the Massachusetts chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations. She is a former Commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission on the Status of Women and former Democratic candidate for the Massachusetts 1st Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. She secured nearly 30% of the vote and helped to inspire a higher than anticipated voter turnout.

Safiyah Bey is a student at Holyoke Community College where she is President of the Student Senate. She has experience working with and leading youth and adults of all races and demographics in areas of food justice, racial justice, and interfaith community building.