Sample program The Second Annual Women’s United Convention: The BLACK Woman, Empowering Yourself for a Better Life!
Comfort Inn Suites 1321 East 78th St. Bloomington, MN. 55425 (Near MOA) Saturday, September 17th 9:00- 9:45 Continental Breakfast 10:00 – 10:30 Opening Remarks and Welcome Speaker Keynote Speaker Dr. Nesa Chappelle, Ph.D The correlation between the African American female adolescence and sex trafficking
Session 1: Presentations 11:15- 12:15 Audrey Clausen She created a game called SCORE — Start a Conversation on Race Equality.
The purpose of the game is to gently encourage conversation about a subject that is too difficult for many people to raise. “It’s a game, but it is also a tool to have conversations on various issues without hurting feelings,” said Clausen. Ms. Clausen says “There are racist people, and there are others who just use the wrong words,” said Clausen. Ms. Clausen believes — and the game confirms — that people are sometimes hypersensitive about comments judged to be racist. The SCORE, Start A Conversation On Race Equality, game board has a spiral in which players advance their game pieces. With each turn, players turn up one of the 240 cards and answer the question on the back, the opponent responds, agreeing or disagreeing with the answer. At the end of the turn, the player advances the piece on the board, according to the number on the back of the card. When playing SCORE, the emphasis is on the C — Conversation.
Miss Darnella Wade Welfare Rights
This presentation will address the goals and purpose for the Welfare Rights committee. We will discuss the history of the committee it’s accomplishments and its recent activities. Sister Darnella will share her experiences and networks that are available. She will let us know how we can all help to make the committee better and more effective. She will inform us of current legislation and future goals. Professor Francine Chakolis Spirituality and Critical Illness
This session will take a sociological perspective on how critical illness is physiological and how spirituality intersects with the healing process. Critical illness can be a challenging situation for families, friends and community members, however when a holistic approach is taken the results are positive for all who love the person who is in the healing process. The spirit and the body may become one when healing from both aspects are considered and penetrated. Yes, mind body and spirt truly do work together in these circumstances. This session will give you the strategies to consider if you a family member or friend is, or becomes faced with critical illness. Healing is a process thus the manner in which the medical community, the patient, family, friends and community members experience healing is all very relevant. 12:15- 1:15 Lunch in Pavilion Introduction of Speaker Dr. Carolyn Williams 1:30- 2:30 Keynote Speaker Attorney General Lori Swanson Minnesota
Lori Swanson is Minnesota’s 29th Attorney General and its first female Attorney General. AG Swanson is one of only nine women in the country holding this office. Attorney General Swanson has been an advocate for Minnesota citizens in areas like consumer protection, criminal justice, charities compliance, health care, public safety, and senior citizen’s protection. Lawyers USA named Attorney General Swanson one of the top ten attorneys in America in 2009. In 2012, the national publication "Health Leaders" magazine named Lori as one of 20 Americans who are making a difference in healthcare. The National Consumer Law Center gave Lori the Robert Drinan “Champion of Justice” award for her consumer protection work.
Attorney General Lori Swanson: Sex Trafficking in Minnesota and Beyond Minnesota Attorney General Lori Swanson will provide remarks on the problem of sex trafficking and focus on its impact in Minnesota and the United States. She will discuss some of the ways in which individuals and groups have responded to the problem and open up a discussion about how the public can fight back and work to stop sex trafficking in our communities.
Session 2: Presentations 2:45- 3:45 Dr. Nesa Chappelle, PhD America’s forced child prostitution enterprise. Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking issue This session will take a closer look at the issues and exam the information Dr. Chappelle previously gave us. This session will go deeper into the effects of childhood molestation and it’s effects. NASTY SECRETS: Human Trafficking, And Its Effect on African American Communities Sex trafficking is a 3.5-billion-dollar enterprise that presently exists in America. There is a correlation between African American female adolescence and sex trafficking according to The Victim Trafficking Protection Act, (VTPA, 2000). While race in and of itself concerning DMST (Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking) is not considered a strong variable, Dr. Nesa Chapelle submits that it is! This is a community crisis that attacks African American morality and mortality. It will take a village to protect our children.
Denise Jamison Cultural Capital & Global Advantage
The subject of Cultural Capital inspires greatness. What can we as Women bring to every table and every environment? We bring Ourselves! and we infuse our children, our communities, this great nation and beyond. In this presentation Ms. Denise Jamison shares how within our cultural difference throughout the diaspora, we share the same challenges and responsibilities in strengthening our global ties (social, economic and political). Explore how women of Africa, South America, Canada, US… can bring together their experience to create an economic advantage that will create global competitiveness for our next generation. Shirlynn La Chapelle President Minnesota’s Black Nurses Association This session will inform the audience on Disparities & Strategies to Improve Health. The National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) was organized in 1971 under the leadership of Dr. Lauranne Sams, former Dean and Professor of Nursing, School of Nursing, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama. NBNA is a non-profit organization incorporated on September 2, 1972 in the state of Ohio. NBNA represents 150,000 African American registered nurses, licensed vocational/practical nurses, nursing students and retired nurses from the USA, Eastern Caribbean and Africa, with 92 chartered chapters, in 35 states. Minnesota is one of those chapters. The National Black Nurses Association’s mission is “to represent and provide a forum for Black nurses to advocate and implement strategies to ensure access to the highest quality of healthcare for persons of color”. The Minnesota Black Nurses Association also provides this space for advocacy.
Millie McMillian, Entrepreneur Black Hair Care: In this Round table presentation Millie will explore with participants how to keep hair healthy naturally, weather straight, curly or kinky. As women we are always so hair conscience. Millie will offer professional strategies to care for your hair no matter how you want to wear it. 4:15 Bus Tour of Twin Cities Attractions
Sunday September 18th 9:00- 10:00 Continental Breakfast 10:00- 10:30 Opening Remarks and Welcome Dianne Thomas
Session 1 Presentations 10:45- 11:45
Dr. Mary Whitney Robbed of a Childhood Raped by the System
Dr. Mary Whitney has overcome horrendous life experiences by not only sharing her shattering childhood sexual abuse, but by designing and creating curriculum that helps walk others through their own traumatizing ordeals. These trainings create balance, empowerment, and teaches others to engage in the design of their own life purposes. Her book Robbed of a Childhood, Raped by the System under her pseudonym Sunny Love has been rated 5 stars nationally by Reader’s Favorite, and is displayed in the Hennepin County Library amongst others throughout Minnesota. It opens the blocked passages and gives sight to the blind spots hidden in the crevices of your thoughts. Her valuable expertise on women’s issues is insurmountable. In July of 2015 Reverend Whitney was nominated and given an Honorary Doctorate in Divinity by Global Obed Dei Seminary & University after being in Ministry for over 25 years. She is also a graduate of A.W. Wilson Bible College and is passionate about sharing lessons learned with others. Dr. Caroline Ruth A. Williams STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math)In this session the presenter will discuss the need for women of color to pursue careers in the STEM fields where many career opportunities exist and they are underrepresented. Participants will be able to use this knowledge to empower female students, and help shape their future by providing good guidance for women in a male dominated field. 12:00- 12:45 Lunch in Pavilion Caroline Carter Nutrition This session will address the impact of food on our health and how we can position our nutrition as part of a preventative health process and other segments to make our lives better. As women we are often the caregivers and preparers of meals for our families and we must know how to relate to meal planning with the growing food crisis in the country and the world. Our relationship to fresh fruits and vegetables become more critical as food prices, processes and movement changes. Keynote Address 1:00- 2:00 Introduction of Speaker Dianne Thomas
Minnesota Chapter of the National Association of Black Military Women (NABMW) This session will give the history of the organization. The presenter will share information about the goals and objectives and roles in which Black Women have participated. The presenter will discuss the challenges and successes of local Black Women veterans and how they have intersected with the community. This is an opportunity for learning and participating in an open dialogue about the women who have served our country.
Kristen Sukura Executive Director of the Sexual Violence Center This round table session will share the history, goals and accomplishments of the Sexual Violence Center. The presenter will share what services the center offers the community and what each of us can do to address sexual violence. We will give information on the prevalence and manifestations of sexual violence in our communities and what legislation can help eradicate this problem. Kristen will also distribute literature about the center. Q and A will follow the presentation.
Session 2 Presentations 2:15- 3:15 Announcements 3:30 Panel Discussion Special Guest Dismissal Information Tables Million Woman March 20th Anniversary October 2017 information Nellie Stone Johnson Statue at the State Capitol Black Farmers Association information Authors/ Books Dr. Nesa Chappelle Dr. Mary Whitney Nellie Stone Johnson The Life of an Activist