"Empowering Change," a landmark week-long initiative celebrating the 50th anniversary of the signing into law of the Civil Rights Act, will offer an array of programs and observances during the week of Sept. 14-22 to encourage reflection, dialogue, and action in civil rights and social change.
The first-of-its-kind series is being held at the University of Hartford, located on Bloomfield Avenue in West Hartford, with the generous support of Newman's Own Foundation and in collaboration with the Library of Congress. Events are free of charge and open to the University community and the general public, with particular focus in four realms presenting opportunities to Educate, Participate, Activate, and Celebrate.
"Empowering Change" will bring notable leaders of present-day change initiatives and the civil rights movement to the University campus to stimulate discussion, share experiences, and inspire students and members of the community to pursue meaningful change to improve the world around them. Events will include interactive workshops; panel discussions; social change resource and volunteer fairs; an essay competition; a community sports clinic; music, poetry, art, and much more — all built around the themes of civil rights and social change.
The week is designed to serve as a catalyst for social change, using historic accomplishment to inform present and future opportunities to preserve and extend freedom, justice, and human dignity. Programming will highlight how the Civil Rights Act can inspire moral courage and commitment to helping others, and expand understanding of the social movements that define civil rights 50 years forward and beyond.
Among the distinguished national and local leaders are: Bob Moses, civil rights leader and founder of the Algebra Project; Eva Paterson, civil rights attorney and founder of the Equal Justice Society; Erika Maye, civil rights activist and founder of Active Voices; Guion Bluford, the first African-American astronaut; civil rights leader Ruby Sales; Stephanie Capparell, author of The Real Pepsi Challenge; and former Major League baseball player Doug Glanville.
Speakers also include Marie Spivey, vice president of health equity for the Connecticut Hospital Association; Rabbi Stanley Kessler of West Hartford's Beth El Temple; education equity activist and former Hartford City Council member Elizabeth Horton Sheff; Hartford Superintendent of Schools Beth Schiavino-Narvaez; State Senator Beth Bye; Kate Emery, CEO of Walker Group and reSET Social Enterprise Trust; Hartford business leader and former State Senator Sanford Cloud; and Oz Greibel, president and CEO of the MetroHartford Alliance.
-On Wednesday morning, Sept. 17, "Leveling the Playing Field: Education and Health Care," will be moderated by Diane Orson of Connecticut Public Radio, as educators, policymakers and providers discuss inequities surrounding access to education and healthcare.
-That evening, "What Would You Do?" will include social activists talking about ways to address discrimination, and how our reactions can reinforce moral courage to empower change. September 17 is also Constitution Day.
-On Thursday, Sept. 18, "Social Enterprise: Business as Leaders of Social Change," will be moderated by Elizabeth Gagne, vice president and chief administrative officer at Travelers.
-The concluding panel on Monday, Sept. 22, "Empowering Change: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow," will be moderated by veteran journalist and former White House Press Secretary Bill Moyers, who served in the administration of President Lyndon Johnson, who signed the Civil Rights Act into law. At the panel discussion featuring prominent civil rights leaders, an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters will be awarded to James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress.
Among the week's programs, on Thursday, Sept. 18, "Leading the Way in Innovation" will feature remarks by Guion Bluford and highlight people and programs empowering change through engineering, technology, science and architecture. The University of Hartford will recognize five organizations for their contributions: JCJ Architecture, Pratt and Whitney, Engineers Without Borders, NASA and Newman's Own.
Directly following that program on Sept. 18, "Voices of Yesterday – Leaders of Tomorrow," will feature remarks by civil rights activist Ruby Sales and five finalists in an essay contest in which University students researched a leader who has not received great public attention but had a large impact in the Civil Rights movement. Essay judges include Benjamin Foster, Connecticut NAACP education committee chairman and Rob King, Senior Vice President at ESPN.
See the full "Empowering Change" daily schedule at: www.hartford.edu/empoweringchange.
Visit hartford.edu for more information.