The keynote speaker for the conference is civil rights activist Bree Newsome. Newsome first gained national attention for her daring act of peaceful disobedience in June 2015. She climbed the flagpole at the South Carolina statehouse and pulled down the Confederate battle flag as a protest against racist symbolism. Her arrest galvanized public opinion and led to the permanent removal of the flag. As a speaker, Newsome skillfully outlines the relationship between activism and art, and captivates audiences by describing, in cinematic detail, the heroic gestures of ordinary people on the front lines of activism.
Additional conference speakers and educational session presenters include:
- Mireya Reith, co-founder and executive director of the Arkansas United Community Coalition.
- Gayatri Agnew, senior director of the Walmart Foundation.
- Gracie Zeigler, brand manager of Innovation at Tyson Foods
- Sarah Martin Hood, senior director of marketing at Mitchell Communications Group
The conference opens with a public lecture sponsored by New Student and Family Programs, the Center for Multicultural and Diversity Education, and the Office of Student Activities. Newsome will speak at 7 p.m. Friday, April 6, in the Arkansas Union Verizon Ballroom, on the fifth floor of the Arkansas Union. The event is free and open to the public. Her lecture, “Tearing Hate from the Sky,” will discuss how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference with courage, zeal and the support of others.
Saturday’s conference schedule includes a Keynote Address by Newsome, educational sessions, lunch with professionals, and opportunities for attendees to learn how to speak their own truth. Attendees will be recognized at a reception on April 26 at the University House.
For more information please email osa@uark.edu or call (479) 575-5255.