Join us for a two-day convening to celebrate the bold life and continuing legacy of William Monroe Trotter- a Harvard University alumnus who advanced the cause of civil rights and social justice. The convening will to introduce attendees to Trotter’s legacy and provide an opportunity for academics, activists and artists to consider how Trotter’s radical activism can address critical issues facing us today, and offer opportunities to hear from distinguished professors and practitioners.
On Thursday, April 7th we will celebrate the 150th birth date of William Monroe Trotter at the JFK Jr. Forum with a keynote talk by Dr. Keisha N. Blain, followed by an intergenerational panel discussion with members of the Trotter family.
On Friday, April 8th morning panels will cover three broad topics—voting rights in the midst of immoral voter suppression, the global existential crisis of environmental degradation, and reparations for centuries of enslavement and legal punishment. The panels will be followed by a series of advocacy workshops in the afternoon focused on nonviolent direct action, using media for movements, fundraising for social justice campaigns, and how to draft legislation. The complete program is available here.
Speakers and panelists:
- Skylar Aldridge, student activist
- Carol Anderson, Emory University
- Lawrence S. Bacow, Harvard University
- Linda J. Bilmes, Harvard Kennedy University
- Keisha N. Blain, University of Pittsburgh
- Kenzie Bok, City Councilor, District 8, City of Boston
- Yael Bromberg, The Andrew Goodman Foundation
- Cornell William Brooks, Harvard Kennedy School
- Hamilton Brooks, Generation Vote
- LaTosha Brown, Black Voters Matter Fund and Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute
- Mary Ellen Butler, journalist
- Lalou Trotter Dammond, Craftwork Productions
- Christopher Trotter Day, Asian Pacific Consortium in Employment (PACE)
- Deborah D. Douglas, The Emancipator
- Douglas W. Elmendorf, Harvard Kennedy School
- Aria Florant, Liberation Ventures
- Archon Fung, Harvard Kennedy School
- Stephen Green, Faith for Black Lives
- Danyelle Honoré, Juvenile Justice Congressional Fellow, U.S. House of Representatives
- Derrick Z. Jackson, The Boston Globe
- Wally Mazon, Sunrise Movement
- Chastity Pratt, The Wall Street Journal
- Peggy Trotter Dammond Preacely, civil rights activist
- Sydni Scott, The Amendment Project
- Belén Sisa, Democracy Initiative
- Mariko Silver, Henry Luce Foundation
- Samantha Tweedy, Black Economic Alliance Foundation
- Fredricka Whitfield, CNN
Email trotter@hks.harvard.edu for more information.
Sponsored by the William Monroe Trotter Collaborative for Social Justice, with additional support from the Center for Public Leadership and the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School.