In 2020, the New Haven Pride Center launched a new type of programs titled “Days of Action,'' that emerged as an idea from our community-focused panels and conversations series. Each Day of Action consists of workshops, conversations, and artistic experiences focused on themes of gender equity, racial justice, and LGBTQ+ Latinx experiences.
These mini-conferences aim to foster an immersive environment to educate, mobilize, and challenge participants to combat divisive issues of injustice within the community. The Center believes that the Days of Action workshops and trainings empower our present and future thought leaders to tackle challenges faced by our community.
The Center’s second Day of Action for 2022 will take place on Sunday, June 12, 2022, and is dedicated to the diverse needs and struggles of LGBTQ+ Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). This mini-conference will aim to directly combat racism through discussion, group learning, and artistic perspectives. It is presented in partnership with the International Festival of Arts & Ideas.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
@ 10:30a | Welcome & Reading by Andrea Jenkins
Ala Ochumare, Malakhi Eason, and Andrea Jenkins
To welcome and to set the tone for the second Day of Action for 2022, we kick-off the day’s programming with a special artistic presentation by Transgender poet and political leader Andrea Jenkins. The full day will be focused on racial justice, combating racism, and confronting demons within our own community contributing to anti-blackness and anti-immigrant sentiment so the goal of this program is to center the audience in art as we prepare to tackle series conversations. There will be additional words of welcome from Center Director of Youth Services Ala Ochumare and Arts & Ideas Director of Programming and Community Impact Malakhi Eason.
@ 11:00a | Panel : Closing the Generational Wealth Gap : How do we Empower Queer BIPOC Entrepreneurs?
Kamora Herrington (moderator), Dawn Leaks, Jasmine T. Jacobs, and Sonia Salazar
Queer Entrepreneurship is on the rise as our state and country solidify LGBTQ+ arts with laws of protection and equality. Similar to the straight community however, generational wealth gap for BIPOC Queer folks is still a reality, one that is often also impacted by other factors such as structural racism. How do we as a community uplift and empower our BIPOC entrepreneurs and ensure that they have not just the support but also the resources for success. This panel will feature perspectives from Executive Director of Collab Dawn Leaks, Founder of Black Remote She Jasmine T. Jacobs, and Owner and Chef of Te Amo Tequila and Barracuda Bistro and Bar Sonia Salazar and will be moderated by Founder of Kamora’s Cultural Corner Kamora Herrington.
@12:30p | Panel : Pushing Back Against Invisibility : Queer Asian Representation
Emily Chew (moderator), Anthony Buell, Varun Khattar Sharma, and Valor
Similar to the straight community, Asian representation within the Queer Community is nearly nonexistent. We must do better as a community of uplifting our Queer Asian siblings. In this panel we will discuss and explore the idea of representation within the community, talk about the wagfys in which we could do better, and explore the stigmas and racism faced by Queer Asians, including anti-Asian racism and the fetishization of Queer Asians’ sexualities and bodies. This panel will feature perspectives from performance artist Anthony Buell, CT Students for a Dream Educator Training and Engagement Coordinator Varun Khattar Sharma, and Asian youth advocate Valor and will be moderated by Yale China’s Senior Program Officer for Education and Arts Emily Chew.
Between 2:00p and 4:30p there will be a series of Anti-Racism Anti-Bias workshops as well as healing spaces for the community.
@ 5:30p | Keynote : Health Equity & the Queer Racial Justice Movement
Ala Ochumare (moderator), Dr. Justin B Terry-Smith, DrPH
Dr. Justin B Terry-Smith, DrPH is an Air Force disabled veteran and a recognized HIV/AIDS activist and public health expert. He is also a proud Black LGBTQ+ Jewish man. In this conversation, Dr. Terry-Smith sits down with local Health Equity and Racial Justice advocate Ala Ochumare to talk about Health Equity and Public Health through the lens of being a Black Queer person. How do these combined identities effect access to healthcare and services. How does racism impact public health? How can we successfully advocate for better healthcare for our Queer BIPOC siblings? This conversation will feature perspectives from Public Health expert and LGBTQ+ advocate Dr. Justin B Terry-Smith, DrPH with Founder of Black Lives Matter New Haven and Center Director of Youth Services Ala Ochumare.