The Hedgeman Center

Our symposium begins with a keynote speech by Seena Hodges, exploring Chisholm’s impact on politics, leadership, and social justice. Seena is an award-winning businesswoman, activist, and intersectional feminist who has spent her career advocating for historically underrepresented communities and training leaders to use their positions of privilege to create lasting change.

What does it mean to be an ally? How can you shift from focusing on intent to focusing on impact? Join us to learn how you can individually and collectively make a positive difference in your community, workplace, campus, educational system, or any other type of group by recognizing and responding to barriers.

Join us for Social Justice Cinema! We will be watching Shirley in honor of Shirley Chisholm. Don't miss this inspiring film about a trailblazer in American history!

This interactive workshop explores Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy (CSP) as a tool for fostering belonging, engagement, and success for BIPOC and other minoritzed students. Dr. Kareem Watts will share insights from his arts-based research on how Black and African American professors use hip hop pedagogy (HHP) to enhance student learning and challenge traditional education norms. Join us to gain practical strategies for creating inclusive, culturally sustaining classrooms that advance equity and social justice.

In this poetry workshop, nationally touring artist and activist Joe Davis will interweave poetry, body-centered skill-building, and healing justice practices to invite participants to reclaim their collective power. No need to identify as creative, all experience levels are welcome. Together we'll practice envisioning and embodying a world of joy, beauty, and human flourishing!