Equity Summit 2011
Inspired by the immediate needs of tomorrow's America, over 2,300 people—activists, advocates, policymakers, foundation officials, and equity leaders—converged in Detroit November 8-10, 2011 for PolicyLink's fourth national Equity Summit. The Motor City served as a base of operations and inspiration for the several thousand people who had come to advance an inclusive policy agenda for sustainable and equitable development with access to jobs, transportation, education, health, and housing for all. Pre-Summit attendees had the opportunity to attend mobile workshops that allowed attendees to visit city's neighborhoods—Woodward Corridor, Brightmoor, the Lower eastside and Southwest Detroit—or witness the initiatives around food systems, arts and culture, job creation and social organizing that are on the ground and revitalizing the city of Detroit. Simultaneously, groups also gathered for Equity Institutes that paired trainers with organizers to provide technical assistance on issues of leadership development, evaluation, policy development, and communications. America's Tomorrow: Equity as a Superior Growth Model Boggs' wisdom was followed by a panel discussion, "America's Tomorrow: Equity as the Superior Growth Model," moderated by Angela Glover Blackwell and featuring Antonio Gonzalez, President, William C. Velasquez Institute; Manuel Pastor, Professor of American Studies and Ethnicity, University of Southern California; Shaun Donovan, United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development; Geoffrey Canada, President and CEO, Harlem Children's Zone; and Joan Walsh, Editor-at-Large, Salon.com (above). The conversation about how a changing demographic can and will strengthen our country and our responsibility to allow everyone to prosper was echoed by all of the speakers throughout the conversation. A World of Change: Lessons from Across the Globe  In the afternoon, lessons learned from the global stage were shared with participants. The panel discussion, "A World of Change: Lessons from Across the Globe," moderated by Maya Harris, Vice President, Ford Foundation; featured Tralance Addy, Founder and President, Plebys International; Alejandro Echeverri Restrepo, Architect, Medellin, Colombia; and Jody Heymann, Founding Director of the Institute for Health and Social Policy, the WORLD Global Data Centre, and the Project on Global Working Families, McGill University, (above) discussed sustainable water, using architecture to addressing social ills by improving physical spaces, and keeping track of research and information about equity throughout the world. Politics, Power, and Equity
Equity is fair and just inclusion. Equity is love in action. The summit closed much the way it opened: with motivation and energy to change the world we live in. The artists/activists Rha Goddess and Invincible (right) both shared with their fellow advocates dramatic interpretations and songs of the difficult, sometimes harsh realities, faced by everyday people: from lack of transportation to destitute homes and cities. With attendees taking the stage to share their experiences, a final message shared by Nate Smith from the Atlanta delegation, summarized why everyone was there: "Equity is love in action. Never be afraid of the power of love." If you weren't able to attend or want to continue the conversation, MyEquitySummit, will become Demand Equity Now beginning December 1. Keep talking, keep thinking, keep changing! |
Over the course of the next two days, attendees exchanged ideas, concepts and successful models to use in their own practices and how to take their equity ideas from theory to practice. Not only did participants physically see our host city that welcomed them, but were taught about its history and the resilience and dynamism of its residents thanks to the documentary, "Lemonade Detroit." A conversation between leaders about how to ensure the needs and aspirations of low-income communities and communities of color are at the forefront of any policy or political agenda. The panel, "Bring It On: Politics, Power and Equity," moderated by PolicyLink President Judith Bell, featured Derek Douglas, Special Assistant to Domestic Policy Adviser, White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC); Maria Teresa Kumar, Voto Latino; Nelini Stamp, organizer from the Occupy Wall Street Movement; and Steve Phillips, President and Founder, PowerPAC (left). Their message of self determination, education, and active participation made it clear that we the moment to push for equity is now. 