#THECOUCHCONVERSATIONS PRESENTS: Let My Crown Be Free Wednesday, October 27th, 2021 Zoom Webinar: 6:00PM – 8:00 PM EST PROGRAM Opening:
An Ode to Mi Corona
Welcome:
Nicole Price, NEBiP Board Chair
Remarks:
Councilor Lydia Edwards; Rep. Liz Miranda; Rep. Chyna Tyler
Speakers:
Zenda Walker, Yvette Modestin, Matthew A. Cherry, Donna Chaplin, Shellee Mendes, Dallas Rachal, Kelli Richardson Lawson; moderated by Bithiah Carter, NEBiP President & CEO
Question and Answers:
Audience
Closing:
Hair Love
DESCRIPTION
Hair is not just hair; it is one’s identity and an extension of culture. Hair has been politicized and policed starting with the Europeans who sought to enslave Black people and used their hair as evidence that they were not people. As the laws around hair have morphed into cultural norms, Black people are often encouraged to change/control their hair to fit into a society where they are neither valued nor fully accepted. Comments from schools, workplaces, and sports are complicit in creating a culture of oppression. For Black people, it’s not enough to work hard and prove yourself; you also must conform to a Eurocentric corporate image of beauty and acceptance. It’s important that we continue this conversation, thereby encouraging the rest of the country, and particularly our legislators, to get on board and change attitudes and policies about black hair. To quote Alice Walker once again, “Oppressed hair puts a ceiling on the brain.” We must have the freedom show up as our authentic selves. When the self is denied, the person cannot be fully realized, and his/her unique gifts are lost.
_________________________________________________________________ ABOUT NEW ENGLAND BLACKS IN PHILANTHROPY (NEBIP) Our mission is to inform, reform and transform philanthropic giving in the black community. We inform by providing tangible facts about, and a deeper understanding of, black philanthropy. We reform by offering an alternative view of the Black community and the power of Black philanthropy. We transform by assisting in establishing strategic philanthropic partnerships for black philanthropy.
SHORT BIOS of SPEAKERS
Bithiah Carter Bithiah is the President of New England Blacks in Philanthropy. She previously served as Executive Director of Grand Circle Foundation, Senior Director in the Community Impact Division of United Way, and Program Director at the Girls' Coalition of Greater Boston. In addition, she serves as a member of the board of directors of several local and national nonprofit organizations. Learn more here.
Donna Chaplin Donna Chaplin is the owner of Epiphany Hair Care Studio. She and the Epiphany Hair Care team have been featured on WCVB’s Chronicle, BET's Rip the Runway, and recognized by the Improper Bostonian for Best Ethnic Hair Salon. Mrs. Chaplin was awarded the City of Boston Community Service Award by The African American Ball and has lectured at leading institutions on textured hair. Learn more here.
Matthew A. Cherry Matthew A. Cherry is an award-winning director, writer, and producer. His animated short film, HAIR LOVE, follows the relationship of an African-American father, his daughter, and her hair. It won the Academy Award for Best Animated Short Film in 2020. Later, HAIR LOVE was adapted into a picture book for Penguin Random House. In 2020, Matthew was listed as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business and Fortune's 40 Under 40 in Media and Entertainment. Learn more here.
Lydia Edwards Boston City Councilor Edwards has spent her entire career as an advocate, activist, and as a voice on behalf of society's most vulnerable. As an attorney, politician, and civic leader, Councilor Edwards focuses her efforts on improving the lives and equitable opportunities for all of her constituents. Learn more about Councilor Edwards here.
Kelli Richardson Lawson Kelli Richardson Lawson is an Emmy Award-winning creative visionary and the founder and CEO of JOY Collective, a Black and woman-owned marketing and creative agency based in Washington, DC. JOY was named the 6th fastest growing agency of 2019 by AdWeek and recently won the 2020 Global SABRE Award for the Best Campaign for Dove/The CROWN Act. She is also CEO of The SonRise Project, a safe space for parents of children who struggle with mental illness or addiction challenges. Kelli hosts weekly calls every Sunday morning for parents to share in an environment that allows growth and healing. Learn more here.
Shellee Mendes Shellee is a self-made businesswoman with a passion for helping those who are seeking to build a business career of their own. Shellee grew up in public housing developments in Boston, one of five siblings raised by a single mother. Shellee pursued her passion for hair by working parttime washing hair for Vidal Sassoon’s Boston salon on Newbury Street. From that modest start, Shellee rose to owning her own establishment, Salon Monet on the very same street. Learn more here.
Elizabeth Miranda Since elected in 2018 and re-elected in 2020, Elizabeth "Liz" Miranda has served as State Representative for the 5th Suffolk District of Roxbury and Dorchester. She currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Committee on Human Resources and Employee Engagement and serves on the Joint Committee(s) on Community Development and Small Businesses, Public Safety and Homeland Security, and Veterans and Federal Affairs. Learn more here.
Yvette Modestin Yvette Modestin is the Founder/Director of Encuentro Diaspora Afro in Boston, which emerged as a response to the silence surrounding the existence of the Afro-Latino/a identity in the Americas and speaks to the commonalities of people of African descent. Yvette is the Diaspora regional coordinator for Red de mujeres afrolatinoamericanas, afrocaribeñas y de la diaspora where she participated in the UN Commission on the Status of Women focusing on “eliminating discrimination and violence against girls.” Learn more here.
Dallas Rachal Dallas Rachal is a freshman at Ithaca College in New York, majoring in Biochemistry and PreMed. She graduated with honors from Chapel Hill Chauncy Hall High School located in Waltham. Dallas is a competitive gymnast and has participated in gymnastics since the age of two. She successfully competed at the highest level of gymnastics and earned regional recognition for her high scoring vaults before joining the Ithaca College gymnastics team. Dallas thoroughly enjoys giving back to her community and participates in activities geared toward homelessness and underserved youth. Dallas aspires to be an orthopedic surgeon.
Chynah Tyler In 2016, at just 26-years-old, Representative Tyler ran a successful campaign for the Massachusetts House of Representatives, where she is currently serving her third term representing the 7th Suffolk District. She is the Vice-Chair of the Judiciary committee and Chair of the Black and Latino Caucus. Learn more here.
Zenda Walker Zenda Walker is a licensed cosmetologist, beauty executive and author of the number one Amazon New Release Know Your Hairitage: Zara's Wash Day. She is passionate about beauty education and helping people to discover the magic of textured hair. Stay tuned for the upcoming launch of www.knowyourhairitage.com. Learn more here.
Thank you again to YOU & Sponsors and Supporters! Today’s programwas made possible by the generous sponsorship of:
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