Empowerment Congress Celebrates Juneteenth and 4th Anniversary  – Los Angeles Sentinel

The soul of Los Angeles has endured important challenges, from disruptive ICE raids to an awesome army presence, reworking peaceable protests in opposition to Trump’s immigration insurance policies into violent unrest. Amid this turmoil, the Empowerment Congress’s 4th Annual Juneteenth Expertise offered an area for significant dialogue, emphasizing the significance of resilience and unity throughout instances of disaster. 

 The Empowerment Congress commemorated its anniversary and the Juneteenth vacation by holding a neighborhood celebration at The Beehive on June 21. Roughly 200 ministers, neighborhood advocates, and elected officers attended, together with Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas and Assemblymember Mike Gipson.  

The occasion included a stimulating program of historic reflection and cultural leisure offered by Rhythm Arts Alliance and The Younger Shakespeareans. KBLA Speak 1580 founder Tavis Smiley served because the honorary grasp of ceremonies.  

“The theme for this yr’s commemoration is Educate, Have interaction, Empower: Resilience In The Face of Chaos,” mentioned Empowerment Congress Co-Chair Glora Davis. 

“We sit up for a considerate dialogue and dialogue dedicated to the that means of resilience as we confront the unprecedented political, social, and financial challenges we face. The mission of the Empowerment Congress is to teach, interact, and empower. It’s by way of this lens that we hope to watch Juneteenth by way of our distinctive follow of civic engagement and hope for a joyous train of neighborhood constructing, “ added Davis. 

Days of Dialogue was established in 1995 by then-Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas, who convened civic leaders and neighborhood activists in response to rising tensions following the decision within the O.J. Simpson prison trial.  

Since then, 1000’s of individuals have participated in Days of Dialogue packages in colleges, church buildings, civic auditoriums, and political City Corridor boards (https://daysofdialogue.org). The timing of this discussion board happens at a turbulent time,  as sanctuary cities that host immigrants like Los Angeles deal with Trump’s brutal and unconstitutional ICE Raids, which have unfold terror and divided our nation.  

The occasion dialogue key questions had been: “What instruments of resilience have we inherited and from whom/the place (legacy) which might be relevant at the moment?” and “What does resilience imply within the context of chaos?” The dialogue adopted keynote speaker Lawyer Maya Wiley’s inspiring evaluation of African Individuals’ historical past of resilience within the quest for justice. Wiley cited Black Wall Road’s current reparations victory for the survivors of the Tulsa race bloodbath in 1921 as a sterling instance of resilience.  

“Final yr, a Black mayor from Tulsa, regardless of a loss within the lawsuit, had two Black girls who had been each over 100 years outdated and survived (the Tulsa’s bloodbath) had been alive to see the day a signed promise that inexpensive housing might be constructed; that cultural heritage could be preserved; and that different types of training and packages could be invested in as reparations for Tulsa. These girls lived their complete lives preventing for it and had been in a position to see it. …That’s resilience!” mentioned Wiley. 

Wiley can also be the president and CEO of the Management Convention on Civil & Human Rights and the Management Convention Training Fund. Attendees loved this system, which additionally included a complimentary lunch, and felt it gave them a substantive approach to rejoice the emancipatory vacation. 

 “I cherished the way in which the dialogue was facilitated,” mentioned Dorcia White-Brake, an occasion attendee.  

“There have been nice questions that actually made you suppose… My biggest takeaway is that all of us can aspire to encourage. All of us have a approach to make an affect. We’ve to withstand what is going on proper now.”