Past Events

Generational Trauma of Racism: Hispanic American/Latinx
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 - This moderated panel discussion addressed the importance of migrants’ contributions to creating and building America — efforts that often aren’t recognized. It also addressed the contentious status of building The Wall, Dreamers and the current influx of migrants impacting the need for immigration reform.

Panelists

• Jessica Cartagena, Program Manager, Hispanic Council
• Heidy Vazquez Walsh, Tri-C Student
• Vincent Holland, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Sociology

Generational Trauma of Hate: LGBTQ+
Wednesday, June 21, 2023 - In observance of Pride month, this moderated panel discussion shared how the Stonewall Movement launched the fight for LGBTQ+ rights. However, campaigns for same-sex marriage legislation, affirmative identity pronouns, access to gender-affirming health care and sports participation are threatened by exclusionary state and federal legislation and hate crimes.

Panelists

• Jada “JD” Harrison (they/them), Office Coordinator, LGBT Community Center of Greater Cleveland
• Vincent Holland, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Sociology, Metro Campus
• Melissa M. Soto-Schwartz, Associate Professor, History, Women and Gender Studies, Western Campus

Generational Trauma of Racism: Asian American Pacific Islander
Wednesday, May 3, 2023 - This moderated panel discussion addressed the plight of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in America, from internment camps to the level of violence arising since the pandemic. 

 Panelists

• Amy Chan, Instructional Specialist, Tutoring Services
• Neeta Chandra, Associate Professor, English
• Cheryl D’Mello, Instructional Specialist, English
• Vincent Holland, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Sociology
• Jeremy Wong, Instructional Assistant, Veterans Initiative

Food Insecurity ― Advocacy 101
April 18, 2023 - This virtual session outlined key pieces of state and federal legislation impacting food insecurity and strategies to engage with elected officials on the importance of these nutritional programs. Speakers provided an overview of federal and state nutritional programs, the legislative and budget process, and the basics of communicating with your member of Congress and local officials.

The Gender Wage Gap: Women’s History
March 8, 2023 - This moderated panel discussion addressed the gender wage gap and its economic impact on women of color — from salary disparities to access to affordable housing, health and child care.

 Panelists

• Tatiana Wells, Ph.D., Program Director, Early Childhood Education Program
• Beverly Owens-Jackson, Records Specialist, Founder of CHOICES
• Vincent Holland, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Sociology

Generational Trauma of Racism: African Americans
Feb. 22, 2023 - This moderated panel discussion addressed the impact of racism on the African American community through generations. Panelists discussed historical context, long-term and current societal implications, and forging ahead for advocacy, change and ally relationships.

Panelists

• Contae Bentley, Assistant Professor, Counseling
• Kenneth Hale, Program Manager, Community Relations, Government Relations and Community Outreach, Member of Tri-C Speakers Bureau
• Vincent Holland, Ph.D., Adjunct Faculty, Sociology
• Johnie Reed, Assistant Professor, Business Administration, Member of Tri-C Speakers Bureau
• Carol Stennis, Coordinator, Television and Video Services, Adjunct Faculty, First Year Experience

Building Sustainable Communities: Advocacy Strategies for Women, BIPOC and LGBTQ+ Populations

Oct. 17, 2022 — A discussion on the impact of reproductive rights legislation on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. Learn strategies for building sustainable communities and advocating on behalf of others.

Presenters

Stacie McCormick
Black feminist scholar, writer and associate professor of English, comparative race and ethnic studies, and women and gender studies at Texas Christian University.

D’Andra Willis
Full-spectrum doula and childbirth educator with The Afiya Center, a Dallas-based advocacy group dedicated to improving the lives of Black women and girls through reproductive justice. Download the slide deck here.

We recognize the diversity of beliefs within our communities and acknowledge that many thoughtful and informed persons adhere to perspectives not represented here. Views expressed during this presentation are not necessarily those of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C^®) or its Stand for Racial Justice alliance.

100 Tips for Budgeting Food Dollars

April 26, 2022 — Does healthy eating seem too expensive? Learn from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank nutrition team how to eat healthy for less cash!

From planning and gardening to shopping, preparing and dining out, we’ll share tips for eating better while saving money, time and energy.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Law Enforcement

April 18, 2022 — Explore the intersectionality of race, culture and gender in law enforcement and learn about best practices for diversity, equity and inclusion among U.S. police districts.

Panelists

• Capt. Leonard Redhorse III, Navajo Police Department (Nevada)
• Sheriff Kandy Fatheree, Summit County Sheriff’s Office
• Deputy Chief Victor McDowell, Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority

Event sponsored by Tri-C’s Stand for Racial Justice alliance, United Way of Greater Cleveland and the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).

Let’s Talk About Sustainability Advocacy

April 13, 2022 — The Stand for Racial Justice Sustainability committee and the Collegewide Common Reading program hosted a virtual panel discussion on engaging in activism to promote change. The panel addressed effective advocacy strategies, including how to address community issues while using an intersectional lens. Speakers will address local and national experiences, including Jen Deerinwater's recent advocacy at the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland.

Presenters

• Jen Deerinwater, journalist and advocate
• Keymah Durden, Rid-All Green Partnership Cleveland
• Michelle Davis, professor and advocate

Food As Medicine

April 12, 2022 — Food insecurity affects one in five Cuyahoga County residents and correlates with higher rates of chronic disease including cancer, diabetes and heart disease.

Learn about food insecurity, its relationship to health, and what the Greater Cleveland Food Bank is doing to improve health outcomes in Northeast Ohio.

Food Insecurity

March 1, 2022 — Representatives from the Greater Cleveland Food Bank discuss food insecurity in Northeast Ohio, along with proven solutions to ensure access to nutritious food. They also discuss opportunities to address food insecurity and economic instability at the state and federal levels.

An Introduction to NAACP Cleveland

Feb. 23, 2022 — A virtual presentation by Crystal Bryant, NAACP Cleveland’s new executive director. Learn the history of the Cleveland branch, where they are today and how you can support their mission and vision. Download the slide deck here.

The Color of Education

Feb. 22, 2022 — The pandemic — which has disproportionately affected people of color — ­illustrates the connection between race and higher education. Students of color from Tri-C, Ohio State, Case Western Reserve University and Baldwin Wallace University will discuss how they have advocated for their educational and individual needs and interests while pursuing a degree.

Two higher education leaders — Ohio State professor Stephen John Quaye and Tri-C Metro Campus president Denise McCory — join the conversation to share best practices for postsecondary educators and institutions to support and empower students of color.

The Color of Environmental Health

Dec. 1, 2021 — Tri-C hosted a panel discussion about environmental health as a social issue. Learn how environmental challenges are affecting physical and mental health in our community.

Program panelists included: Kim Foreman, Executive Director at Environmental Health Watch; Jesus Sanchez, Recreation Specialist at Cleveland Metroparks; and Aneisha Young, Student and Mandel Scholar at Cuyahoga Community College.

The conversation was moderated by Derrick Williams, Ph.D., Professor, Communication Studies at the Metropolitan Campus of Cuyahoga Community College. View a list of local resources here.

Navigating A Polarized World Workshop Series

Nov. 8, 2021 — But I Heard It on TikTok: Media Literacy and Why You Should Be an Information Skeptic

Presented by Meagan Fowler, Assistant Professor/Librarian, Metropolitan Campus and
Nancy Weissman, Professor/Librarian, Westshore Campus

Explore the concept of media literacy and learn how to more effectively engage with the information you encounter on a daily basis — and become a more discerning and responsible consumer (and producer) in the process. Download the slide deck here.

Nov. 10, 2021 —Emotional Intelligence and Conflict Resolution

Presented by Jessica McLaughlin, Assistant Professor, Psychology, Metropolitan Campus and
Ty Olson, Program Manager, Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies, Western Campus

In these polarizing times, it can be difficult to know how to interact with someone whose worldview differs from your own. Learn how emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and engagement can help you constructively navigate difficult conversations while still taking a stand. Download the slide deck here.

Nov. 15, 2021 — Spin Zones and Echo Chambers

Presented by Derrick Williams, Professor, Speech Communications, Metropolitan Campus

Discover how echo chambers and spin zones perpetuate the polarization of politics, opinions and positions and learn strategies for avoiding or escaping from them in order to become a better consumer. Download the slide deck here.

Nov. 17, 2021 — Statues, Fascists and Memory: The Use and Abuse of History

Presented by Matthew Phillips, Assistant Professor, History, Metropolitan Campus and
David Redles, Professor, History, Western Campus

The past matters. It informs every discussion of every social tension we experience. Yet our understanding of the past is not set in stone. Often, especially when it's part of political discourse, history exists in the realm of imagination or mythology — a way for people to validate their own points of view, raise themselves up and lower others. How do we separate myth from real historical analysis? Is it possible to develop a nuanced understanding of the past that bypasses bias and helps us better navigate the present? Download the slide deck here.

Cleveland Consent Decree: Community Conversations

Oct. 13, 2021 — United Way of Greater Cleveland and the Cleveland Branch of NAACP is engaging in monthly Community Conversations that address police reform mandated by the 2015 Consent Decree between the City of Cleveland and the United States Department of Justice. A 90-minute session on Youth and Policing was sponsored by Stand for Racial Justice.

The Legacy of George Floyd

May 6, 2021 — Tri-C hosted a conversation with Angela Harrelson and Selwyn Jones, aunt and uncle to George Floyd. The conversation was moderated by minister, activist and scholar Nyle Fort. In the hourlong Zoom call, Floyd’s relatives reflected on his life, the international movement caused by his death, and how the attitudes of society and the actions of law enforcement must change to attain meaningful progress in improving race relations in America.

Read a full summary of the event here.

Health Disparities: A Case for Closing the Gap

March 16, 2021 — Learn about the chronic diseases that strike minority populations in Northeast Ohio at higher rates and discover why Black babies in Greater Cleveland die at a significantly higher rate than white babies. We also explore how these two issues are being addressed. Presented by Claude L. Jones, DO, MPH, MSc, President and CEO of Care Alliance Health Center and Frances Mills, Director, Community Health Initiatives, Cleveland Office of Minority Health - Healthy Cleveland. View the PowerPoint slides.

The Color of Health: Examining Racism as a Public Health Crisis

Feb. 24, 2021 — “The Color of Health: Examining Racism as a Public Health Crisis” explored how systemic racism impacts health equity through social determinants such as housing, education and employment. 

Program panelists included: Yvonka Marie Hall, executive director of the Northeast Ohio Black Health Coalition; J. Nwando Olayiwola, chair and professor of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at The Ohio State University and chief of family health services for the OSU Health System; and Sherrie D. Williams, a pulmonologist with The MetroHealth System, associate professor at Case Western Reserve University’s School of Medicine and medical director of Tri-C’s Respiratory Therapy program. 

The conversation was moderated by Ohio State’s Winston C. Thompson, an internationally recognized scholar with a specialized focus on social, political and ethical issues related to justice and education.

Stand for Racial Justice High School Essay Contest

January 2021 — Tri-C asked Northeast Ohio teens to weigh in on a question society often struggles to answer: What is racism, and what should we do about it? Nearly 200 students answered.

Submissions were judged in two groups assigned by grade levels. One category for seniors and juniors, the other for sophomores and freshmen.

Winning essays received cash prizes along with a scholarship to Tri-C’s Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Scholars Academy. The six winning essays were also posted on cleveland.com, with the first-place winners published in The Plain Dealer on Sunday, Jan. 17. Visit tri-c.edu/essaywinners to read the winning submissions.

The Color of Law: Race, Racism and Public Policy in America

Nov. 20, 2020 — Historian and best-selling author Richard Rothstein discussed the ways in which government policies, well into the 20th Century, created and reinforced racial segregation in America. Rothstein’s book, The Color of Law, is an extremely important contribution to our national conversation on race and has been celebrated across the political spectrum. Following his presentation, Rothstein answered selected questions from the audience.

Uprising!: A Lecture on the Necessity of Social Justice Movements and Rebellions in Pursuit of Democracy in America

Sept. 29, 2020 — America’s history is filled with racialized violence as a form of suppression. Not all Americans have been fully granted their rights or equally protected, even after a bloody Civil War. How have the disempowered and disenfranchised expanded our understanding of participatory democracy? Listen to the lecture as we examine these issues in light of the summer 2020 uprisings protesting the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Presented by Tri-C Associate Professor of History and Women's Studies Melissa Soto-Schwartz.

A Community Conversation with Tim Wise

Sept. 16, 2020 — Tri-C hosted Tim Wise, one of America’s leading racial justice educators, to kick off its new Stand for Racial Justice alliance. Wise has spent the past 25 years speaking to diverse audiences across the country and has trained numerous professional groups on methods for dismantling racism in their institutions.

A panel of local business leaders, moderated by WKYC-TV Anchor and Managing Editor Russ Mitchell, also discussed how their organizations promote equity in hiring, in services, and in support of the neighborhoods in which their consumers reside. Panelists included: Dr. Akram Boutros, President and CEO, The MetroHealth System; Micki Byrnes, President and General Manager, WKYC-TV; Joe DiRocco, Regional President, Fifth Third Bank; David Reynolds, Private Banking Executive, Key Wealth Management.