ONLINE – FREE – OCTOBER 16, 2024
Truth and Transformation Conference 2024
In the U.S. today, the campaign against racial equity programs and policy is well-orchestrated and well-funded. What tactics are being used to target DEI, and how can antiracist advocates stay one step ahead?
On October 16, join us for a virtual edition of the Truth and Transformation Conference, exploring the theme: Standing our Ground: Strategic responses to the anti-DEI movement.
A solution-driven program
At this year’s conference, we’re exploring strategic responses to the anti-DEI movement.
In three afternoon sessions, the online program will feature:
→ An interactive panel learning from equity leaders in four sectors;
→ A keynote talk by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell; and
→ An in-depth conversation between Professor Jason Stanley, author of Erasing History, and Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad.
Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of the anti-DEI playbook — and clear strategies to counter it.
Standing our Ground:
Strategic responses to the anti-DEI movement
Over the past three years, it has become evident the campaign against DEI initiatives in U.S. institutions is an attack on democracy and truth. From billionaires to politicians, some of the most powerful individuals in the country are publicly discussing their strategies of banning racial equity programs, ousting leaders, and suppressing knowledge. In higher education alone, since 2023, there have been 85 bills (and counting) legislating against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in 28 states and the U.S. Congress.
The 2024 Truth and Transformation Conference will explore strategic responses to the anti-DEI movement. On October 16, the virtual convening will unpack narratives and tactics being used against racial equity in education, business, health, and government. In an interactive format, key leaders across sectors will offer advice on how to debunk myths, defend vital policies, and continue to advance equity.
Program | Wednesday, October 16
Welcome
October 16 @ 2:00-2:15PM EST
Introductory remarks from Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and Ash Center Faculty Director Professor Archon Fung.
Plenary Panel
October 16 @ 2:15-3:15PM EST
This interactive panel, moderated by Erica Jacqueline Licht, will feature four leaders from higher education, journalism, venture capital and philanthropy sharing how they have tracked and responded to the attack on DEI and racial equity initiatives. We’ll learn from their experiences in the field, answering: How can practitioners across industries remain steadfast to commitments for racial justice? What tactics should we be using, and why?
Katie Mangan
Senior Writer, The Chronicle of Higher Education
See bio
Katie Mangan covers a variety of issues involving campus diversity, student life, student success, and college completion. In 38 years at The Chronicle, she has written extensively about student activism, free-speech concerns, sexual harassment, and colleges’ enrollment challenges. Katie has been a regular contributor to The Chronicle’s DEI Legislation Tracker, as well as its Race On Campus newsletter.
Dr. Shaun Harper
Executive Director of the USC Race and Equity Center & Forbes Contributor
See bio
Shaun Harper is a Provost Professor in the Price School of Public Policy, Rossier School of Education, and Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He also is the Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership, as well as founder and executive director of the USC Race and Equity Center. Dr. Harper has published 12 books and over 100 academic papers.
John Palfrey
President of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
See bio
John Palfrey is a well-respected educator, author, legal scholar, and innovator with expertise in how new media is changing learning and education. Prior to joining the Foundation, he served as Head of School at Phillips Academy, Andover. Palfrey is the board chair of the United States Impact Investing Alliance and serves on the board of the Fidelity Non-Profit Management Foundation.
Ayana Parsons
Co-Founder of the Fearless Fund
See bio
Ayana Parsons co-founded the Fearless Fund, the first venture capital fund created for
women of color by women of color. She is an extraordinary entrepreneur, visionary executive, and charismatic speaker on an
unwavering mission to drive global change through inclusive leadership and economic freedom. She held
influential roles at firms like Heidrick and Struggles and as Senior Partner, Board & CEO Inclusion
at Korn Ferry, where she spearheaded the firm’s global commitment to diversifying the ranks of
leadership at the highest levels.
Erica Jacqueline Licht
Research Projects Director, IARA Project (Panel Moderator)
See bio
Erica Licht has been engaged in racial equity and organizational change research and training for over 15 years. She is currently Research Projects Director at the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project (IARA) at Harvard University where she leads and co-designs IARA’s projects and partnerships. Erica is a Fulbright Scholar, and holds a Masters in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and a Masters in Justice Policy from the London School of Economics where she was a Maguire Fellow.
Keynote
October 16 @ 3:30-4:00PM EST
Attorney General of Massachusetts Andrea Campbell will deliver a keynote address based on her years of experience embedding racial equity into policy and law. At a time of attack in every direction of this work, she will shed insight on what is needed to sustain racial justice and DEI efforts — and push back against the pushback.
AG Andrea Campbell
Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
See bio
On January 18, 2023, Andrea Joy Campbell was sworn in to be the 45th Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, pledging to build economic prosperity and stability for all residents, prioritize the mental health and well-being of children, stop cycles of incarceration and violence and ensure the people across the state have access to the AG’s Office regardless of their zip code, language or ability.
Book Talk
October 16 @ 4:00-5:00PM EST
In this session, acclaimed author and philosopher Professor Jason Stanley will discuss the rising fascist movement in conversation with Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad. The professors will unpack the authoritarian right’s attacks on education and explore what’s needed to preserve democracy in America and abroad.
Professor Jason Stanley
Jacob Urowsky Professor of Philosophy at Yale University
See bio
Jason Stanley is the author of six books, including How Propaganda Works. Stanley serves on the board of the Prison Policy Initiative and writes frequently about propaganda, free speech, mass incarceration, democracy, and authoritarianism for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, and many other periodicals.
Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad
Ford Foundation Professor of History, Race and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School
See bio
Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad directs the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project and is the former Director of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, a division of the New York Public Library and the world’s leading library and archive of global black history. Before leading the Schomburg Center, Khalil was an associate professor at Indiana University.
Interested in taking part?
If you are committed to antiracist change, you’re invited to participate. We welcome advocates, scholars, organizers, DEI leaders, and anyone seeking antiracist change at the institutional level — in any sector.
Registration is free and required. Participants can log on for a specific session or join from start to finish.
Accessibility details
All sessions will have automated closed captioning, and recordings will be available with closed captioning after the event. With any questions or requests about accessibility, please contact iara@hks.harvard.edu.
Session recordings
If you can’t make it on October 16th, sign up to receive recordings of the event using the registration link below.
About the organizers
This sixth edition of Truth and Transformation Conference was created under the leadership of Professor Khalil Gibran Muhammad and organized by the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability (IARA) Project at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation.
Contact the IARA team
With questions about this year’s event, please reach out to iara@hks.harvard.edu.
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