The day will start at the Atrium in Hamilton Smith Hall at 9 AM where you will hear the speech, "Be Limitless: Living your life without Limits!" by our Keynote Speaker, Angel Simone!

Then the conference will spilt into 5 morning breakout sessions & 6 afternoon breakout sessions in rooms throughout Hamilton Smith Hall. The sessions will be occurring simultaneously. Spots are limited for each session and attendees will receive information on how pre-register for the sessions after purchase of a ticket.

The conference will close out with a panel titled, “Speak It Into Existence: Expanding Black Youth’s Definition of Excellence in New Hampshire." It will be presented by Diannely Antigua, Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, New Hampshire & NH PANTHER (Plymouth Area Network To Help End Racism).

Every participate will receive a complimentary conference bag full of items from our Sponsors and Black Owned Businesses. Our Sponsors and Black Owned Businesses will have vendor tables positioned throughout Hamilton Smith Hall.

We will be also providing Complimentary Breakfast & Lunch available and will be catered by UNH.

Information about Parking, pre-registration for Conference sessions and additional information will be provided to attendees after purchase of a ticket. The conference will be able to access via zoom for additional accessibility. If you have any accessibility needs or any general questions & concerns, please contact us at info@blmseacoast.org.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

CLOSING PANEL

Speak It Into Existence: Expanding Black Youth’s Definition of Excellence in New Hampshire

Host: Diannely Antigua, Poet Laureate & NH PANTHER (Plymouth Area Network To Help End Racism)

Session Description:  Diannely Antigua, who is both the youngest and the first person of color to be named Poet Laureate of Portsmouth, will lead a panel of three 2022 Black Excellence Fund & Storytelling Project Community Grant recipients. Through insightful questions, storytelling, and nuanced conversation, Antigua will lead panelists to discuss Black Excellence, expanding and showcasing it through the lens of their individual lived experiences here in New Hampshire. The Black Excellence Fund & Storytelling Project provides unrestricted community grants directly to young (under 35) Black and BIPOC individuals across all disciplines who are striving to embody excellence against the tides of systemic oppression. Recipients were nominated by a peer or community member in 2022 and received an unrestricted $5,000 community grant. 2022’s recipients are: Akon Nakdimo of Manchester, NH, Niamiah Perry of Concord, NH, and Ronelle Tshiela of Manchester, NH.

Audience: Teen, Youth, Young Adult, Adult

CONFERENCE MORNING SESSIONS

Session 1: Black Queer Excellence Through History

Host: Jason Green/ ACLU-New Hampshire

Host Bio: Jason Green currently serves as the Deputy Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. He is the founder of UGIMA (United Gay Informed Men of African-descent) and the author of The ABCs of Coming Out. He is a certified GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) facilitator and was the principal organizer of the Arizona Black AIDS Task Force. For his work in the community and his dedication to justice, equity, inclusion and diversity, he received the Martin Luther King "I Have a Dream Award" from the City of Phoenix and the Spirit of Activism Award from Equality Arizona.

Session Description: A Celebration of Same-Gender Loving African-Americans from the 1920s to Present. At the end of this presentation, attendees should be able to generate a list of notable LGBTQ African-American's, understand why queer visibility is important, and appreciate the need for allyship for all marginalized communities.

Audience: Adult, Young Adult

Session 2: Surviving and Thriving While Black on Campus

Hosts: Dr. Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, Sherri Simmons-Horton & Sheryl Thompson

Hosts Bio: Shantel Palacio is the Principal Advisor at Urbane Advisory and a consulting partner at the Perception Institute. She consults on education policy and on implementing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. Her community work and research have been featured across several mediums, including NPR, GQ Japan Magazine, West’s Education Law Reporter, The Gotham Film and Media Institute, and citations in Harvard’s IOP. She is currently a doctoral candidate in Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of New Hampshire.

Sheryl Thompson is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Social Work at the University of New Hampshire. Sheryl has taught in academia in Canada for 10+ with an interdisciplinary focus. Her research includes mental health and first responders, anti-oppressive practice, with a focus on racial disparities. In clinical practice she offers counselling and consulting services, using trauma informed, and culturally sensitive approaches.

Chanda Prescod-Weinstein is an assistant professor of physics and core faculty in women’s and gender studies at the University of New Hampshire. Her research in physics focuses on theoretical particle physics, cosmology, and neutron stars. She is also a researcher of Black feminist science, technology, and society studies. Dr. Prescod-Weinstein’s first book, The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred, won a 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize, the 2022 Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science, and a 2022 PEN Oakland Josephine Miles Award.

Session Description: Black women faculty at the University of New Hampshire will discuss Black academic life and what it means to be intellectual creators in sometimes hostile academic spaces.

Audience: Adult, Young Adult

Session 3: The Power of Allyship to Drive Inclusion

Host: Flo Nicolas

Host Bio: Flo Nicolas is a lawyer, tech startup Founder, and CEO of CheapCheep, a social platform for bargain hunters. She wants to utilize artificial intelligence technology to help bargain hunters find deals. She is a Director, Producer, Creator & Host of a local TV show called "Get Tech Smart. She is a dedicated professional with a passion for technology and creative innovation, intent on helping her community to become more tech-savvy and forward-thinking. LinkedIn recently selected her as a creator in their first-ever US LinkedIn Accelerator Program: Technology & Innovation. Flo has been featured in Above the Law & Law.com, Legal News Websites! She has been featured in the New Hampshire Union Leader, New Hampshire Business Review, and NH PBS The State We're In and is a Guest Speaker at NH Union Leader's first-ever Wicked STEM New England Event. She is an International Speaker known on social media as the #NonBoringLawyer. She is a writer & speaker. Flo advocates STEM for all, Women in Tech & Diversity in Tech.  In her already hectic schedule, Flo also finds time to volunteer in her community as a Board Member of the cable and Utilities committee, Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE) advisory board, and Board Member of the Library Trustee. She also mentors underrepresented professionals looking to pivot into technology.

Session Description: Allyship is about actively supporting people from marginalized groups—using position, power, or privilege to advocate for them. Allies can use their influence to benefit those who come from underrepresented groups. Fostering an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace through allyship is crucial to creating a sense of belonging and welcoming environments for marginalized groups. Being an ally not only helps create an equal society and world for all but also helps us learn, grow, and find our voices. We should use our voices for good to support the voiceless and advocate for marginalized groups.

Audience: Adult, Young Adult

Session 4: Piece it Together

Host: Jermai Harrison, LMHC via A Fighting Chance Counseling Services, LLC

Host Bio: Jermai Harrison is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Transitional Life Coach, and a graduate of Eastern Nazarene College with a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. She has a heart for reaching the souls of those who have, at one point in their life, struggled to maintain along their journey. For some who have been misunderstood, misplaced, overlooked, or abandoned, she wants you to know that you are not alone, and there is hope for your future! As a Christian Counselor, it is always important to remind everyone, an investment in your soul, is the most beneficial investment you will ever make in your life! With a background in working with underserved and urban youth, she has made it her life's goal to empower young people with whatever she puts her hands to. Please know, your life is worth fighting for, and you are not in this fight alone! You are seen, heard, and valued!

Session Description: Every day we are faced with 24 hours to live through. Sometimes we are faced with things that do not make sense until we reflect back on them. Excellence is not a one time decision, action, or thought; it is a series of events compiled into a lifestyle. The difficult part of adolescence is figuring out the meaning of life and how to navigate through it. This interactive discussion will focus on how to build a life of excellence by piecing together daily decisions, emotional awareness, and creating strong connections to others. Every puzzle starts with the vision and then the assembly!

Audience: Young Adult, Teen

Session 5: Rest is Resistance

Host: Saniyah Bolton & Yasmin Salerno

Host Bio: Saniyah Bolton (she/her) is an junior attending Exeter High School while currently being the co-director of the BLM Seacoast youth division. Yasmin Salerno (she/her) is attending PEA in Exeter while currently being the co-director of the BLM Seacoast youth division. Both known for their strong aspiration within equal rights, they are involved in many initiatives working to increase racial justice and diversity within her community. They have completed many projects and writings in hopes to educate others and will continue their devotion to achieving equity and inclusiveness for all communities. Still continuously being involved in promoting representation for people of color everywhere, they hope to create long term change, intersection, and education for youth.  

Session Description: The phrase "Rest is Resistance" is often used to express the idea that taking a break from work or daily activities can be difficult, especially when there are deadlines to meet or expectations to fulfill. The phrase is meant to encourage people to take time for themselves and to prioritize their mental and physical health, despite the pressures of life. It is a reminder that rest is not laziness, but a necessary and valuable aspect of self-care.

Audience: Teen, Youth, Young Adult, Adult

CONFERENCE AFTERNOON SESSIONS

Session 1: Black Granite - Our State, Our Stories

Host: Samantha Searles, BLM Nashua Co-founder

Host Bio: Sam Searles is a co-founder of Black Lives Matter Nashua and lived in New Hampshire for 21 out of her 24 years. She was a member of the NH Legislative Youth Advisory Council for 3 years, and works in communications and events for BLM Nashua. She attended UNH Manchester for 2 years before transferring to Suffolk University in Boston where she received a B.A. in Journalism. College internships included New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and New England Cable News (NBC). Since June of 2022 she's been working as an audio and web journalist at Philadelphias' WHYY (NPR/PBS) where she reports on Gun Violence Prevention.

Session Description: We know what it's like. You're the only melanated person in the room. All eyes turn to you when someone mentions the new Little Mermaid. Nobody understands our hair. But, of course, it goes deeper than that. You drive by a confederate flag. Your kids' school board is in an anti-CRT frenzy. You're seen as a threat. In my case, someone in Concord yelled I should go back to Africa.But there's also stories of strength and overcoming. There are Black families experiencing Juneteenth for the first time. There are generations of storytellers coming together at the Black Heritage Trail. There are changemakers and rebels. There is a special kind of power that comes in being Black in New Hampshire, power as strong as the rock all around us. This is Black Granite, a podcast dedicated to Black stories in New Hampshire. Hosted by Sam Searles, this is a chance for all of us to show the state who we are - beautiful.

Audience: Young Adult, Adult

Session 2: What does it mean to be an Ally to the Disability Community

Host: Deborah Opramolla

Host Bio: Deborah joined DRC-NH in the Spring of 2022. Deborah is a former oncologist and holds a Master of Law from Washington University School of Law. For the past twenty-five years, Deborah has served as an Educational Surrogate Parent, assisting children in foster care who have Individual Education Programs (IEPs). In 2017, Deborah was appointed to the New Hampshire Council on Developmental Disabilities as a parent advocate. Deborah is passionate about creating positive systemic changes that create Equity, Inclusion, and Justice for the Disability community. Deborah enjoys spending time with her family, riding her horses, and knitting.

Session Description: Learn How to build a table that listens and includes the Disability Community and how to tell difference acknowledgment vs. inspiration points. This session will focus on understanding the difference between being an ally vs you know what the community needs.

Audience: Adult, Young Adult

Session 3: How do you know what you know?

Host: Dr. Carrie Colbert

Host Bio: Dr. Carrie Colbert is a marketing management professional with over 20 years of experience in strategic marketing, promotion development, data analysis, and marketing management. Currently, Dr. Colbert is an Associate Professor, Business Administration for New England College in Henniker, NH, where she manages the marketing side of the Management Division. She teaches most of the marketing courses, including Advertising and Brand Promotions, Digital Media Marketing, and Consumer Behavior. She also teaches Leadership Across Borders and Cultures, a course that helps students understand the differences in human culture, values and customs in the context of a shared humanity. Dr. Colbert owns and operates Doctor Colbert Consulting, a marketing management consulting company where she helps small businesses build their customer base and increase exposure.

Session Description: How is knowledge acquired? Where does it come from and how does knowledge affect how we behave towards others? Individuals base their source of knowledge on the following: perception, memory, introspection, inference and testimony. We live in a world of “misunderstandings” where we tend to rely on those sources of knowledge before trying to understand the person or situation in front of us. In this interactive session, we will explore how we perceive others will shape our behavior, and the behavior of the person we are interacting with.

Audience: Young Adult

Session 4: From Praisin' to Twerkin' (Celebrating Black Queer Artists)

Host: Jason Green/ ACLU-New Hampshire

Host Bio: Jason Green currently serves as the Deputy Director of the ACLU of New Hampshire. He is the founder of UGIMA (United Gay Informed Men of African-descent) and the author of The ABCs of Coming Out. He is a certified GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network) facilitator and was the principal organizer of the Arizona Black AIDS Task Force. For his work in the community and his dedication to justice, equity, inclusion and diversity, he received the Martin Luther King "I Have a Dream Award" from the City of Phoenix and the Spirit of Activism Award from Equality Arizona.

Session Description: Black Queer Artists are present in every genre of music. Hip-Hop, R&B, Jazz, Dance and Gospel. Join us for a celebration of black musicianship as we go through each genre, lift up these names and their music, and maybe sing and shake our ass along the way!!!

Audience: Teen, Young Adult

Session 5: Staying Healed in your Roots: Healing Circle

Host: Vanessa Weathers with Espirito Libre 

Host Bio: Vanessa is a certified spiritual healer and coach residing in Manchester, NH. She has 20 years of experience in guiding, developing, and counseling others in all aspects of their lives. Her goal is to bring awareness to the role that spiritual health plays in overall well-being and to provide trauma informed spiritual health care to those seeking to heal from trauma and stress. Vanessa is a member of the International Association of Therapists and an Accredited Training Provider. To learn more about Vanessa please visit: https://www.espiritolibre.org/about.

Session Description: You are invited to join this healing circle for people who have experienced, or are experiencing, racial trauma. This healing circle will include facilitator led discussion that will allow for validation of your feelings and that will guide you on different protective measures. There will also be a guided meditation focused on balancing your root, sacral, solar plexus, and crown chakras to aid you in feeling safe and secure.

Racial trauma, or race-based traumatic stress (RBTS), refers to the mental and emotional injury caused by encounters with racial bias and ethnic discrimination, racism, and hate crimes. Similar to other forms of trauma, experiences with racial discrimination are associated with negative mental (e.g., depression, anxiety, hopelessness, violent behavior) and physical (e.g., hypertension, thickening and calcification of the arteries, and heart rate variability) health outcomes.

Part of self-care for many individuals includes relational care because healing from racial trauma does not happen in a vacuum.

Audience: Teen, Young Adult

Session 6: Hip-Hop History and Hip-Hop AS History

Host: Akrobatik

Host Bio:  Boston Hip-Hop legend has been performing professionally for 25 years and has also been a lecturer at UMass Boston since 2014.

Session Description:  Boston Hip Hop artist and UMass Boston lecturer Akrobatik gives a crash course on the history of America's cultural phenomenon and the world's favorite musical genre, Hip-Hop. The focus will be on emphasizing the importance of Hip-Hop History in every American history curriculum.

Audience: Teen, Youth, Young Adult, Adult