Social Justice Week 2021

Social Justice Week 2021

For one week we hosted community and academic panels, speakers, art exhibits, workshops, and testimonies on the theme of Criminal Justice Reform.

Howard University hosted its first annual Social Justice Week on August 2 - 6th  via Zoom. For one week we hosted community and academic panels, speakers, art exhibits, workshops, and testimonies on the theme of Criminal Justice Reform. Our goal for this week was to illuminate the issues, obstacles, stereotypes, police violence, and other acts of injustice that have tormented black families and plagued the community in recent years. We covered everything from the criminalization of black bodies, that can lead to unfair and inhumane community responses, to policing. Throughout the week, we highlighted the themes that connect the various instances of injustice in the judicial system. We provided a common platform for survivors, activists, family members, educators, and medical and legal professionals to share their experiences and insights with the wider community. Finally, we collectively explored solutions to mitigate this pressing problem in our community and ways to sustain our spirits in this journey.

Special guests included Jerry Blackwell, Newark Mayor Ras BarakaTamika Mallory and Until FreedomDr. Yusef Salaam (One of the Central Park 5), the Mothers of the Movement, and local activists Tony Lewis and Angel Gregorio.    

Social Justice Week 2021

Illuminating the injustices that torment the black community

Daily Themes & Agendas

Monday, August 2nd: Perceptions, Policing and Impact

Monday, August 2nd focused on the theme Perceptions, Policing and Impact and began early with an opening address by the Honorable Ras Baraka, Mayor of Newark, New Jersey at 10:00 a.m. He was followed by a panel entitled “Refund the People,” which focused on the ways state and local funds could be redirected from policing and into community programs. The day was culminated with a panel featuring Mothers of the Movement, including Sabrina Fulton (mother of Trayvon Martin) and Tamika Palmer (Mother of Breonna Taylor).

 

  • 9:00 am - 9:30 am     Welcome Address  

Dr. Nikki Taylor, Chair, College of Arts & Sciences 

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Sciences 

Dr. Rubin Patterson, Dean, College of Arts & Sciences 

 

  • 9:30 am - 10:00 am     Welcome to Howard University   

President Wayne A.I. Frederick, MD, MBA 

 

  • 10:00 am - 10:45 am     Opening Remarks  

Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Newark, New Jersey   

 

  • 10:45 am - 11:00 am    Video: Spoken Word   

Honorable Mayor Ras J. Baraka , Newark, New Jersey 

 

  • 11:00 am - 12:30 pm     Refund the People 

Moderator: Ms. Lakeesha Eure, Director, Office of Violence Prevention Honorable Mayor Ras  J. Baraka, Newark, New Jersey  

Dr. Juan Rios, Clinical Director  

Dr. Jamila T. Davis, Credible Messenger/Consultant/Facilitator  

Mr. William Simpson, Strategist for Equal Justice USA 

Mr. Brian O’Hara, Public Safety Director 

Ms. Shoshana Page, Policy Advisor  

 

  • 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm       Criminalizing the Black Body  

Moderator: Gigi Davis, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar 

Anjanette Young, MSW, LCSW, Café Social Work 

Keenan J. Saulter, Owner & Principal, Saulter Law P.C. 

Dr. Nishaun Battle, Assoc. Professor, Virginia State University 

Dr. Anjerrika Bean, Postdoctoral Fellow, SJC Scholars 

Clifford Oratokhai, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar 

Matthew Quainoo, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholars  

 

  • 2:30 pm - 3:00 pm     Artist Video Highlight (pre-recorded)   

Lavett  Ballard,  Visual Artist, Lavett Ballard Arts 

 

  • 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm     Activist Panel- Mothers of the Movement   

Moderator: Ms. Sybrina Fulton, The Trayvon Martin Foundation 

Ms. Tamika Palmer, Breonna Taylor Foundation, Inc. 

Ms. Shareeduh McGee, The George Floyd Foundation 

Ms. Nicole Paultre- Bell, Activist  

 

  • 4:30 pm - 4:35 pm      Tribute Video and Moment of Silence   

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Sciences 

 

  • 4:35 pm - 5:00 pm     Closing and Community Reflections   

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Sciences 

Tuesday, August 3rd: Mass Incarceration and Resilience

Tuesday, August 3rd focused on the theme “Mass Incarceration and Resilience” and featured the testimonies and insights from those who survived the system and are well-positioned to critique it.  

 

  • 10:00 am - 10:30 am     Welcome Address 

Venus Amadi ,  Undergraduate Student, SJC Scholar   

Clifford Oratokhai , Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar 

 

  • 10:30 am - 11:00 am    Howard University Faculty TED Talks 

Dr. Brandon Hogan, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Science  Dr. Daryl Scott, Professor, College of Arts & Science 

 

  • 11:00 am - 12:00 pm         This Affects Us All, Incarceration And Collateral Impact        

Keyshad “Ife” Adeniyi, Doctoral Student  

Artist-in-Residence 

 

  • 12:00 pm - 1:30 pm    Prison to PhD 

Moderator: Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor  

Dr. Jamila T. Davis, Voices International Publication 

Dr. Stanley Andrisse, College of Medicine 

Dr. Zaria Davis, New Direction Coaching & Consulting, LLC.  

Ms. Michelle Daniel-Jones, New York University 

 

  • 1:30 pm - 2:00 pm     Artist Video Highlight  

Ann ‘Sole Sister’, Mixed Artist, Printmaking, Foot Painted 

Prairie View A&M University  

 

  • 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm     Formerly Incarcerated  

Moderator: Dr. Anjerrika  Bean, Postdoctoral Fellow  

Mr. Bill Underwood, Underwood Legacy Fund  

Mr. Halim Flowers, Idellionaires. LL.C. 

Mr. Momolu Stewart, Executive Director, N.E.E.D. Consulting Svcs. 

Ms. Ameenah Ritson, Reach To Teach, ECE 

Izuo-Ere Digifa, Founder/CEO, Flolango Cosmetics Line 

Sheffield Woodrow, Fit 4 Life, LLC.  

 

  • 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm        Closing and Community Reflection  

GiGi Davis, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Wednesday, August 4th: Law and Justice

Wednesday, August 4th focused on the theme “Law and Justice” and featured a panel of Howard University Law school professors who discussed policing and trauma and a feminist critique of policing stops. Another panel focused on disfranchisement of formerly incarcerated people in Texas. It featured Dr. Carla Brailey, the Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party and Harris County Commissioner, Rodney Ellis

 

  • 9:30 am - 10:00 am      Welcome 

Matthew Quainoo, Doctoral  Student, SJC Scholar   

Phillip Warfield, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Sadonna Fleming , Undergraduate Student, SJC Scholar  

 

  • 10:00 am - 11:30 am      Legal Hot Topics- Howard University School of Law   

Professor E. Christi Cunningham (School of Law) 

Professor Josephine Ross (School of Law)  

 

  • 11:30 am - 12:00 pm       Faculty TED Talks   

Dr. David Green ( College of Arts & Sciences)  

Dr. Melanee Harvey (College of Arts & Sciences)  

   

  • 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm      Disenfranchisement, Democracy & Incarceration Matters in Texas  

Moderator- Dr. Carla Brailey, Vice Chair of The Texas Democratic Party 

Commissioner Rodney Ellis,  Harris County, Precinct One 

Dr. Ben Yisrael, Policy Fellow at the Center for Justice Research, Texas Southern University 

  

  • 2: 30 pm - 4:30 pm      (In) Justice from Theory to Practice by The Andrew Rankin Memorial Chapel  

Dr. Nisa Muhammad, Asst. Dean, Religious Life 

Ms. Andreya Davis, Asst. Dean of Faith Based and Community Initiatives  

Howard University Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Students  

Howard University Juvenile Justice Advocates 

Howard University Social Justice Tutors  

   

  • 4:30 pm - 5:00 pm        Closing and Community Reflection   

Dr. Nisa Muhammad, Asst. Dean, Religious Life  

Andreya Davis, Asst. Dean of Faith Based and Community Initiatives  

Thursday, August 5th: Local, National and Global Activism

Thursday, August 5th focused on the theme Local, National and Global Activism and featured local activists and advocates plus Tamika Mallory and Until Freedom, the Innocence Project, and two men of the Exonerated Five (Central Park 5).  

 

  • 11:00 am -11: 25 am       Welcome 

Amanda Benegas, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Clifford Oratokhai, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Kendra Wilson, Undergraduate Student, SJC Scholar  

 

  • 11:30 am - 12:00 pm        Faculty TED Talks  

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Sciences 

 

  • 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm          DC Natives Day: Local Activism  

Tony Lewis, Hanover Place Press 

Angel Gregorio, The Spice Suite, LLC. 

 

  • 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm        Until Freedom  

Ms. Tamika Mallory 

Mr. Angelo Pinto, Esq. 

Mr. Mysonne Linen  

Ms. Linda Sarsour 

 

  • 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm         Faculty TED Talks 

Dr. Stephen Hickson, Professor,  College of Arts & Sciences 

Dr. Anton House, Visiting Asst. Professor, Delaware State University  

  

  • 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm          Artist Video Highlight  

Lisa Love Whittington, Mixed Media  Artist  

  

  • 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm          Survivors of Judicial Injustice 

Dr. Yusef Salaam, The Exonerated 5 

Mr. Raymond Santana (The Exonerated 5 

Mr. Huwe Burton, The Innocence Project 

Ms. Belynda Goff, The Innocence Project 

Mr. Clemente Aguirre, The Innocence Project 

 

  • 5:30 pm - 6:00 pm       Closing and Community Reflection   

Amanda Benegas, Doctoral  Student, SJC Scholar  

Clifford Oratokhai, Doctoral  Student, SJC Scholar  

Kendra Wilson, Undergraduate Student, SJC Scholar   

 

  • 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm         Pass the Mic – Social Justice Reflections  

Doctoral and Undergraduate Students, SJC Scholar 

Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad, Assoc. Professor, College of Arts & Sciences 

Friday, August 6th: Criminal Justice Advocacy in Action

Friday, August 6th, the final day of Social Justice Week, focused on the theme Criminal Justice Advocacy in Action and Jerry Blackwell held a keynote address at 6:30p.m. 

 

  • 3:00 – 3:30 pm       Welcome  

Amanda Benegas, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Matthew Quainoo, Doctoral Student, SJC Scholar  

Kendra Wilson, Undergraduate Student, SJC Scholar  

 

  • 3:30 pm - 4:00 pm      Artist Video Highlight (pre-recorded)   

Keonna Wynn, Visual Artist, Harvard University 

 

  • 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm       The Intersections of Policing and Medicine 

Moderator: Kaia Amoah, Third Year Medical Student ( HUCOM)  

Cast Down but Not Destroyed: A History of Police Reform in the United States 

Dr.  Mallory Williams, Professor, College of Medicine 

 

Deaths in Custody – The Development of a Comprehensive Research Agenda  

Dr. Roger A. Mitchell, Chair, College of Medicine 

 

  • 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm       "George Floyd and the Derek Chauvin Conviction: What Does It Mean for Racial Justice?”, Jerry W. Blackwell, Prosecutor in State of Minnesota v. Derek Chauvin 

Jerry W. Blackwell (Blackwell Burke P.A., Minneapolis) 

 

  • 7:30 pm - 7:45 pm       Closing Remarks 

Dr. Nikki Taylor, Chair , College of Arts & Sciences 

Speaker and Panel Highlights

raz baraka

The Honorable  Mayor Ras J. Baraka

The Honorable  Mayor Ras J. Baraka, of Newark, New Jersey, gave the opening keynote address on August 2, 2021. He also shared a spoken word video of his with the audience and took part in the "Refund the People" panel discussion. 

this affects us all event

"This Affects Us All" Presentation

Keyshad “Ife” Adeniyi, SJC Artist-in-Residence and Howard University Doctoral Student, presented the Social Justice Week attendees with the "This Affects Us All" presentation.

 

prison to phd panel

"Prison to PhD" Panel Discussion

People from organizations such as the Voices International Publication, New York University and Howard University came together to talk about the journey from prison to PhD. 

Social Justice Week 2021

"Formerly Incarcerated" Panel Discussion

People from organizations such as the Underwood Legacy Fund, Reach To Teach, ECE, and N.E.E.D. Consulting Svcs. came together to talk about life after incarceration.

hu faculty ted talk

Faculty TED Talks Part 1

This Faculty TED Talks discussion was hosted by Howard University College of Arts and Sciences faculty members Dr. David Green and Dr. Melanee Harvey.

dc natives day

"DC Natives Day: Local Activism" Panel Discussion

Local activists Tony Lewis, from the Hanover Place Press and Angel Gregorio, from The Spice Suite, LLC, came together to discuss activism in the district. 

faculty ted talk bahiyyah muhammad

Faculty TED Talks Part 2

This Faculty TED Talks discussion was hosted by Howard University College of Arts and Sciences faculty member Dr. Bahiyyah Muhammad. 

until freedom panel

Until Freedom Activist Panel Discussion

This panel discussion dedicated to national activism featured the social justice group Until Freedom. 

faculty ted talk 3

Faculty TED Talks Part 3

This Faculty TED Talks discussion was hosted by a Howard University College of Arts and Sciences faculty member and alumnus.

survivors of injustice panel

"Survivors of Judicial Injustice" Panel Discussion

The "Survivors of Judicial Injustice" panel discussion featured people that were incarcerated by the U.S. judicial system under false pretenses. They shared their experiences and discussed life after judicial injustice. 

policing and medicine

"The Intersections of Policing and Medicine" Panel Discussion

"The Intersections of Policing and Medicine" panel discussion featured Howard University stakeholders from the College of Medicine. 

jerry blackwell

"George Floyd and the Derek Chauvin Conviction: What Does It Mean for Racial Justice?” Keynote Address

Jerry W. Blackwell, Prosecutor in State of Minnesota v. Derek Chauvin, presented a keynote address on George Floyd and the Derek Chauvin Conviction. This keynote address was the finale of the 2021 Social Justice Week.