The Racial Justice Conference brings together community members, leaders, educators, and advocates to engage in meaningful dialogue.
For generations, YWCA Rock County has worked to create communities where everyone can belong, thrive, and live with dignity. Our Racial Justice Conference brings that mission to life by bringing together community members, leaders, educators, and advocates for meaningful learning, honest dialogue, and connection across differences.
This year, we invite you to Build Belonging, to deepen your understanding of racial justice, reflect on personal experiences, challenge the barriers that divide us, and explore how each of us can help create more equitable and inclusive communities.
Together, we will learn from experts, engage in courageous conversations, explore solutions, and consider what it takes to move beyond awareness toward meaningful action. Because belonging does not happen by accident, it is something we build together.
Day 2 In-Person Conference at Blackhawk Technical College 8:30am - 4pm
8:30 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakfast and Check In
9:00 AM - 9:15 AM: Main Stage: Welcome and Dorothy Height Award
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM: Main Stage:“DEI is Dead” Advancing Equity from a Label to Leadership Standard: Dr. Rick Daniels
In this provocative and inspiring keynote, Rick Daniels reframes Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) not as a static initiative but as an evolving discipline of organizational practice. Drawing parallels to Miles Davis’s rejection of artistic labels, Daniels argues that equity-minded leadership must transcend acronyms and political framing to become a sustained mode of inquiry and action. Grounded in his work with higher education institutions, mission-based organizations, and civic partners, Rick invites leaders to reimagine DEI as a living, evolving commitment to shared humanity and organizational transformation.
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: Main Stage: Who Gets to Belong? Immigration and Rock County’s Future: Mark Holzman, Judge Ashley Morse, Ginna Isunza, Vanessa Beckham
Immigration has long shaped the American story, influencing our communities, economy, culture, and national identity. “Who Gets to Belong? Immigration and Rock County’s Future” brings together diverse voices to examine the evolving immigration landscape and its impact on individuals, families, and Rock County’s community. Experts in education, law, and advocacy from around Rock County will explore immigration from their respective perspectives and consider a fundamental question: “What does belonging mean in our community today.” This panel discussion will consider how we can build a future that recognizes the contributions of immigrant families, strengthens inclusion and belonging, and addresses the challenges and complexities surrounding immigration in Rock County.
10:45 AM - 11:45 PM: Workshop: Beyond a Horizon, Processing Comunity Resillience Across Generations: Jennifer Esperanza
Our family histories shape who we are today, carrying the heavy memories of moving away from home, losing loved ones, and leaving behind familiar cultures. For African-American, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander communities, the pain of being uprooted can feel like a hidden weight or a deep longing for places we may never have even visited. Recognizing our shared struggles reminds us that we are not alone and in order to strengthen our communities, we need to weave our unique stories into the fabric of the places we live. But our history isn't just about what was lost—it's about how strong we are: through ancestral survival, adaptation and resilience. In this session, Dr. Jennifer Esperanza will discuss how struggles can be utilized as tools for healing, support, and long-term resilience. The session is intended for audiences of all backgrounds and ages.
10:45 AM - 11:45 AM: Workshop: Thrive at Work, Presentation and Physical Activity: Ann Matuska
11:50 AM - 12:30 PM: Lunch
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM: Main Stage: Interview - Women, Race and Careers: Jeni Lindstorm, Genia Stevens, Heid Deininger
Women in the Workplace, a study conducted by LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company, is the largest study on the state of women in corporate America.1 Over the past 11 years, more than 1,000 companies and almost 500,000 employees have participated. For this report, information has been collected from 124 organizations employing approximately 3 million people, surveyed 9,500 employees, and conducted interviews with 62 HR leaders. This annual study provides companies with the insights and tools to advance women in the workplace. A majority of companies say diversity is a high priority this year, and more than 8 in 10 remain committed to inclusion. However, commitment to women’s advancement is much lower: only about half of companies say women’s career advancement is a high priority, and fewer are prioritizing women of color’s advancement. This matters: companies that place a high priority on gender diversity and women’s advancement see larger gains in women’s representation.
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM: Workshop: “You Belong, MAKE it known”: Greg Ware
Presentation will center around empowerment and self-advocacy. Participants will learn how students are indeed the sculptures and molders of the environment in which they occupy. They will learn the keys to use to manage belonging both for themselves as well as others. Also, they will understand how “Belonging” can impact academic success…. and/or failure, within learning environments and other areas of their lives. To achieve a better outcome, the formula to apply is simply, P+O=S.
12:35 PM - 1:35 PM: Workshop: Updates Coming Soon
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM: Main Stage: Keynote Speaker - Updates Coming Soon
3:00 PM - 3:15 PM: Closing
3:15 PM - 4:00 PM: After Conference Networking