One of the long-standing effects of institutional racism in the United States has been a bleak economic outlook for African Americans. In this recent Kenan Insight, we ask whether today’s activism might prove to be a defining moment in turning the tide for Black economic futures, and if so, who will play the key roles in creating lasting change.

Featured Panelist(s):

Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President, Center for Responsible Lending
Ajenai Clemmons, Public Policy Ph.D. Candidate, Duke University
Majestic Lane, Deputy Chief of Staff and Chief Equity Officer, City of Pittsburgh

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE

What is the place for universities with Black communities grappling with COVID 19’s impact? What histories and ethics do universities need to be mindful of?

Featured Panelist(s):

Arto Woodley, Executive Director, Center for Community Engaged Learning, Fordham University
Karen Wheel Carter, Associate Dean for Business and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Perimeter College

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

What impact is COVID 19 having across the African diaspora? Is this pandemic an opportunity to create more connections or will our communities be driven apart?

Featured Panelist(s):

Ariel Smith, Founder, The Food Truck Scholar
Sha’Von Terrell, Deputy Director, Black Church Food Security Network

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

How have Black communities survived and navigated disasters of the past? Are there aspects of Black communities today that make them more susceptible or less susceptible to the pandemic?

Featured Panelist(s):

Chaitra Powell, African American Collections and Outreach Archivist, UNC Chapel Hill Wilson Library
N.Y. Nathiri, Executive Director, The Association to Preserve the Eatonville Community, Inc.

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

Conference co-chairs, Mark Little and Karla Slocum, discuss the events surrounding the horrific killing of George Floyd and protests across the country against persistent anti-Black violence and police brutality. The discussion covered community building amid racial trauma, ongoing legacies of racial violence, and how it all relates to our work and lives.

Featured Panelist(s):

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

What impact is COVID-19 having across the African diaspora?

Featured Panelist(s):

Omotayo Owoeye, Socio-Cultural Anthropology Lecturer, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria
Alexa Potashnik, President and Founder, Black Space Winnipeg
Samuel Mathey, President and Founder, African Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

How will the current economic crisis impact Black businesses? What will this mean for economic development in Black communities?

Featured Panelist(s):

Elijah Davis, Strategic Growth Manager, Urban Impact Birmingham
Vanessa Perry, Associate Dean for Faculty, George Washington University School of Business
Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President, Center for Responsible Lending

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Napoleon Wallace, Co-Founder, Activest

As we rely increasingly on digital technologies to communicate and work during COVID 19, how will Black communities’ access to and engagement with those technologies?

Featured Panelist(s):

Kamela Heyward-Rotimi, Executive Director, Knowledge Exchange Research Group
Lauren A. Rhue, Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Information Systems, Robert H. Smith School of Business
Saeed Ahmadi Oloonabadi, Graduate Extension Assistant, PhD Candidate NC State University
Daryl Gaston, Pastor & Community Advocate, Charlotte, NC

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

What role do the arts and cultural organizations have in helping us understand and engage with the ways that COVID 19 has and will transform our world and communities?

Featured Panelist(s):

Jonell Logan, Executive Director & Founder, 300 Arts Project, LLC
Sonny Kelly PH.D, Graduate, Communication & Performance Studies at UNC Chapel Hill
Carl Juste, Arts Curator & Photojournalist, Miami Herald

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

We will explore issues impacting Community Development such as: How will the current economic crisis impact the development of Black communities? How are Black communities responding to the COVID-19 crisis?

Featured Panelist(s):

Omar Muhammad, Executive Director, Lowcountry Alliance for Model Communities
Secunda Joseph, Co-Founder, Imaginoir & BLMHTX
Simone Smith, Chief Reporter, Toronto Caribbean Newspaper & MyTCNTV

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research

Today's discussion about health and health disparities in Black communities amidst COVID-19 will explore equitable access to healthcare, mortality rates and the overall impact of COVID-19 on Black peoples’ mental and physical health.

Featured Panelist(s):

Diane Francis, Assistant Professor, LSU Manship School of Mass Communication
Janeé Avent Harris, Assistant Professor, ECU Counselor Training Program
Giselle Corbie-Smith, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Social Medicine, UNC School of Medicine

Moderator(s):

Mark Little, Executive Director, UNC CREATE
Karla Slocum, Director, UNC Institute of African American Research