2021 Conference Program
Rebirth, Renewal, and the Rise of Our Power
Dear Sisters,
Spring in New England is particularly bittersweet this year. After a period in which the racial and gender politics of the nation seemed to be moving backward, recent events encourage us to embrace the possibilities of future change—including the powerful images of inclusive leadership manifested by the ascent of our new Vice President
Kamala Harris, the organizational prowess of Stacey Abrams, the forthrightness of the authors of the Green New Deal, and closer to home, the advent of Kim Janey as Boston’s interim mayor. The images of these and other powerful women of color leaders inspired this year’s conference theme, “Rebirth, Renewal, and the Rise of Our Power,” and serve as a necessary counterpoint to the violence of ignorance.
Relatedly, we designed this fifth meeting of the conference to facilitate and honor our inherent power as women of color in the academy. With intentionality, our goal is to strategize together with our most important assets: ourselves and one another—as we contribute to and benefit from our collective strengths. We affirm that the academy, our students, and our communities are better because we are present, thriving, and inspiring everyone to reach new heights and embrace new possibilities.
We have selected activities, speakers, and panels intended to facilitate and encourage support for your careers and recognize your power. We hope this day will be an opportunity to reconnect with friends and create new contacts to build conversations around strategies grounded in the power of self- and community-care.
It seems particularly fitting that this year’s Fifth Annual Woman of Color in the Academy Conference is taking place on the same day the United Nations has chosen as World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development. We too are committed to drawing on the power of the collective by mindfully supporting and elevating each other during these times of social, political, and global upheaval. Violence against one is violence against all. We need each of us to be whole, nurtured, and healthy in order to effectively wield our collective power to change the system for the better.
Welcome to each and every one of you. We see you, and we see your power.
Thank you for being in communion with us here today.
Sincerely,
Nicole N. Aljoe and Toyoko Orimoto
Women of Color in the Academy Conference Co-Chairs
