CHICOPEE — In recognition of the 100th anniversary of Black History Month, Elms College will host its ninth annual Black Experience Summit on Friday, Feb. 20, continuing the college’s long-standing commitment to celebrating Black voices, having critical academic discussions, and community building.
All are welcome to this year’s summit, co-sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph, and taking place from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. in Veritas Auditorium at Elms College. This year’s theme, “Sankofa: Rooted in Truth, Rising in Dignity – Celebrating 100 Years of Black History, Faith, Scholarship, and the Stories That Shape Our Future,” centers on the Akan principle of Sankofa, a concept that means reaching back to reclaim wisdom from the past while moving forward.
Stefan Bradley, historian and professor at Amherst College, will be the keynote speaker. He is the author of If We Don’t Get It: A People’s History of Ferguson, which embodies the spirit of Sankofa. His writing honors the lived experiences of young visionaries and community members while exploring the vivid grassroots history of the Ferguson movement, one of the most pivotal protests for racial justice in the 21st century.
The event will also include a panel discussion on Gov. Maura Healey’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment, spoken poetry by Lyrical Faith, and a song and dance ensemble by Parent Villages Youth Builders. This event is free and open to all. Click here to register.
“Elms College is proud to offer to all in Western Massachusetts, particularly to students, this annual gathering of academic experts and community thought leaders on the experience of African Americans and the African diaspora in the United States,” Elms College President Harry Dumay said. “This contribution to history, knowledge, and truth is consistent with our mission as a higher education in the Catholic intellectual tradition.”
Tyra Good, inaugural executive director of the Center for Equity in Urban Education and special assistant to the president for Strategic Equity, added, “grounded in the principle of Sankofa, this year’s Black Experience Summit brings together history, scholarship, and community voices to advance dignity, equity, and collective action as we courageously shape a more just and inclusive shared future.”
The Sisters of St. Joseph of Springfield is co-sponsoring the ninth annual Black Experience Summit with Elms College. To date, additional sponsors include Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Key Program Inc., Multicultural Community Services of Pioneer Valley Inc., the Springfield Department of Health and Human Services, YWCA of Western Massachusetts, and the Hampden County Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Assoc.
