Summit Schedule

Thursday, March 12th

8:30am-Ongoing Registration and Breakfast (Tivoli Turnhalle)

9:00am-9:30am Opening Ceremony (Tivoli Turnhalle)

9:45am-10:45am Breakout Sessions

• Decolonizing Professionalism (Tivoli 444) Netty Rodriguez - Associate Director for GITA and Eric Silva - TRIO Scholar Advisor, MSU Denver - Participants will leave the presentation with an understanding of how professionalism is rooted in white supremacy, how to challenge professional norms, and apply practical approaches to navigating their authentic-selves in the work-place.
• Latinx Leadership (Tivoli 329) Abenicio Rael - Director of Latinx Student Services, UCD and Dr. Jose Silva, Ed.D. COAIMH Chief Executive Officer - In Colorado, Latinos are expected to make up 40% of the population in the next 20 years. Participants will walk away with a better understanding of Colorado’s Latinx landscape and the importance of leadership within the Latinx communities.
• Managing the Backlash: How to Respond When Your Activism Gets Under People's Skin (Tivoli 440) Lynda Gernhard - Equity Peer Leader, MSU Denver, Jordan Mathews - Equity Peer Leader, MSU Denver, and Juan Gallegos - Director, Center for Multicultural Engagement and Inclusion, MSU Denver - Ever seen or worried about the backlash you may encounter as a result of your activism? How do you respond when your activism gets under people’s skin? Join us for an interactive session on strategies to process and respond!
• Dismantling Oppression Through Art Practices (Tivoli Garage Lounge) Karma Leigh - Painter, Creator and Educator -This workshop will consider how representations in mass media have created and perpetuated narratives and stereotypes of Latinx people and will feature a hands on and interactive approach to consider, dismantle and recreate representations on their own terms. All materials provided.
• The Land Belongs to the People (Tivoli Multi-Cultural Lounge) Noe Orgaz - Community Organizer, Protégete - Public space such as parks and playgrounds are important to the well-being of community. Parks and open space provide opportunities to recreate and appreciate nature. The conversation of land use has been a long debate over how to best utilize the states natural resources and who has the rights to it. In this workshop will discuss the importance of protecting public spaces as a means to liberation.

11:00am-12:15pm Keynote Speech from Olmeca and Dr. Michael Benitez (Tivoli Turnhalle)

12:30pm-1:45pm Lunch and Entertainment (Tivoli Turnhalle)

2:00pm-3:15pm Decolonizing Identity and Power (Tivoli Turnhalle) Olmeca - Hip Hop Artist / Scholar / Activist - Olmeca shares personal stories as a hip-hop artist, activist and scholar. With humor, sincerity and lyricism, he delves into the notion of identity, while challenging the idea of “belonging” and what it means to be and become “American.” He encourages all forms of communication providing the audience a safe space to engage in. Ultimately, attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of hip-hop pedagogy and how to better navigate conversations around poverty, race, gender and their intersections.

3:30-4:15pm March and Closing Ceremony (Tivoli Turnhalle)