2024 Overcoming Racism Conference: Reparations in Action
Highlighting current efforts to repair the harm caused by racist policies and practices in our Minnesota communities
The 2024 Overcoming Racism Conference happened at Metro State University (700 E 7th St., St. Paul, MN) on Friday, November 8, 2024.
Keynote Speaker:
Jim Bears Jacobs
Jim Bear Jacobs was born in St. Paul, he is a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, an American Indian tribe located in central Wisconsin. He has degrees in Pastoral Studies and Christian Theology and has served various churches as youth minister, adult Christian educator, and director of Men’s Ministries. Presently he is parish associate at Church of All Nations Presbyterian Church. He is a cultural facilitator in the Twin Cities and works to raise the public’s awareness of American Indian causes and injustices. He is the Director of Community Engagement and Racial Justice for the Minnesota Council of Churches. Additionally he is the creator and director of “Healing Minnesota Stories,” a program of the Minnesota Council of Churches dedicated to ensuring that the Native American voice is heard in areas where it has long been ignored.
Keynote Speaker:
Pamela Ngunjiri
Pamela Ngunjiri (pronounced go jeri) is a transplant to Minnesota by way of Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska and Portland, Oregon, where she was born. Her family moved as the military dictated. She is the 5th sister of 8 girls, the mother of 2, grandmother of 6, great-grandmother of 2 plus two great-grand dogs.
She is currently completing the requirements for her Doctorate of Ministry in Global and Contextual Leadership degree at Bethel University. Prior to moving to Minnesota, she received her Master of Theological Studies degree from Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, Texas and her Master of Social Work degree from The University of Texas at Arlington.
In addition to serving as co-director of racial justice, Pamela is the current pastor of St. James AME Church in St. Paul, MN
Conference Goals
- Define harm of racism in numerous sectors of State
- Identify concrete steps toward repairing the harm of racism
- Imagine and name new possibilities for repairing the harm
- Provide opportunities for sharing and collaborating across sectors
- Invite participants to address racism through participation in FREC.
Sectors represented with afternoon sessions: Health Care, Faith Based, Finance/Wealth Creation, Housing, Criminal Justice, Education, Child Welfare/ Social Services, Employment/Economic Development, Government, Neighborhood/Grassroots/Local
Scholarship Options
- If you cannot pay full price, pay what you can.
- Indigenous/Native persons can always register and participate without payment.
- American Descendants of Slavery can also register and participate without payment
- Conference volunteers can register for free.
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