Author: Brittany R Walker

BSU Presents 2013
Ebony Weekend
Conference

February 15-17, 2013

Speakers

Carl Wesley - Keynote Speaker Friday, February 15th 7:15-8:00p.m. Is currently serving as the Assistant Director for the PEOPLE program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Carl Wesley is a UW-Platteville graduate. During his time in Platteville, he served as the Director of Pre-College programming, Professor for the Ethnic Studies Department, and made many other contributions to help students of color be successful. Mr. Wesley helped to re-establish Ebony Weekend.(2003). According to Carl Wesley, former Black Student Union President, the purpose of Ebony Weekend is to gather people across generations and create dialogue concerning issues in the Black community.
"Students should come to gain a better understanding of the Black community, to become well-rounded people, and culturally confident in an ever changing society."

Torri Stuckey - Featured Speaker Sunday, February 17th 11:15-12:45p.m. Torri Stuckey was raised in Robbins, Illinois and started for Eisenhower on the football field before playing for Northwestern University, in which he graduateed. After beginning his career on offense (running back), was moved to defense (safety) prior to start of junior season . He developed into a solid player, especially when defending the run. Today, he’s a published author & screenplay writer. His latest, Impoverished State of Mind is a self-empowering book for teenagers and young adults living in urban poverty. The book's premise is that being impoverished is more than just a socioeconomic status; it is a state of mind. Beyond the absence of money and all other necessities, this mindset is the reason why many who live in poverty struggle to rise above it. Impoverished State of Mind attempts to tear down the four walls of poverty and provide readers with knowledge and understanding of the broader world around them, which will further shape their perspective on life
and result in better decision making. The author
uses himself (someone who was raised in
poverty, but found a way out) as a running
example throughout the book to help readers
identify with his struggle and subsequently their own.

Break Out Session Schedule

	Mining Room	Mississippi / Room	Mound / Room	Computer Conference / Room	Platteville Rooms
10-10:50am	Group A / Jelena Gagula	Group B / Coree’ / Burton	Group C / Santana / Wilson	Group D / Nneka Abuzeke	Group E / “A Time for Justice” / Video
11-11:50am	Group E / Don / Franklin	Group A / Coree’ / Burton	Group B / Santana / Wilson	Group C / Angela Jones	Group D / “A Time for Justice” / Video
Noon-12:50 pm	Group D / Don / Franklin	Group E / Jelena Gagula	Group A / Nneka Abuzeke	Group B / Angela Jones	Group C / “A Time for Justice” / Video

In an order to balance the educational sessions, we have assigned you a group listed on your name bag. Please go to the sessions you have been assigned. Thank you!

Presenter: Coree’ Burton
In his sixth year as the Residence Hall Director of Porter Hall on UW-Platteville’s campus, Coree’ is working on a Master’s degree in Student Affairs Administration at UW-La Crosse.
10:00 a.m. Stop the Hate, What’s in Your Box?
[Mississippi Room]
The Stop the Hate program has been a staple on the UW-Platteville campus for years. The program introduces students to the concepts of hate crimes and bias incidents on college campuses. This session will go over those concepts as well as ways that people can become allies for those who have been targeted and can better educate other on creating inclusive communities
11:00 a.m. Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up [Mississippi Room]
What does it mean to be a young man or young woman? How are we “supposed” to act/portray ourselves when we’re interacting with others? What happens when how we’re supposed to be doesn’t match up with how we want to be? With some clips shown from the documentary “Straightlaced: How Gender’s Got Us All Tied Up,” we will have an open discussion as to what it means to be a man and a woman as well as does it compare to the “box” that we are sometimes put it.

Presenter: Jelena Gagula
Jelena Gagula is the United Council Southwest Regional Field Organizer working with the campuses of UW-La Crosse, UW-Baraboo/Sauk County, UW-Richland Center, UW-Platteville, UW-Rock County, and UW-Whitewater. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Platteville, where she was heavily involved with diversity organizations during her undergraduate years. Much of her work revolves around social justice issues and building allyship with underrepresented groups in order to foster conversation and change. As an RFO her goal is to organize students around issues that they are passionate about and provide resources, trainings, and support to aid them in their leadership development.
10:00 a.m. White Privilege & Allyship [Mining Room]
Noon White Privilege & Allyship [Mississippi Room]
Through definitions and discussion we will explore the topic of white privilege. Gaining an understanding of this type of privilege is the first step in the lifelong commitment to becoming an ally to people of color. Learn what an ally is and walk away with a clear idea of what qualities allies possess. Additionally, learn how to interrupt oppressive moments as they may occur in your day to day life.

Presenter: Santana Wilson
Santana Wilson is a senior majoring in Communications Technologies and Creative Writing at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. She is a member of Teaching Awareness thru Drama, I Pledge to Respect and Inter Tribal Council. 10:00 a.m. Natural Hair [Mound Room]
11:00 a.m. Natural Hair [Mound Room]
The session will cover some of the basics of Natural hair, transitioning, Big Chop and more. We will discuss how the world, men, women and professionals view natural hair and how it can bring us closer and pull us apart. Additional questions and topics will be covered afterwards.

Presenter: Nneka Abuzeke
Nneka Abuzeke is the United Council Southeast Regional Field Organizer working with the campuses of UW-Milwaukee, UW-Parkside, and UW-Waukesha. She is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
10:00 a.m. Addressing Act of Discrimination Effectively [CCR Room]
Noon Being Black in the UW System [Mound Room]

Presenter: Valerie Wetzel
Valerie Wetzel is the manager of the Pioneer Involvement Center and serves as the Advisor to BSU. She also coordinated the Stop the Hate program and “I Pledge to Respect.”
10:00 a.m. “A Time for Justice” [Platteville Rooms] 11:00 a.m. “A Time for Justice” [Platteville Rooms] Noon “A Time for Justice” [Platteville Rooms]
A Time for Justice depicts the battle for civil rights as told by its foot soldiers. They rode where they weren’t supposed to ride; walked where they weren’t supposed to walk; sat where they weren’t supposed to sit. And they stood their ground until they won their freedom. This video is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Presenter: Angela Jones
Angela Jones is a UW-Milwaukee student leader and community organizer around the issues of community deployment, social action, housing crisis and the prison industrial complex.
11:00 a.m. One Voice One People: Unifying the Struggles of those On the Continent & Diaspora [Computer Conference Room]
Noon One Voice One People: Unifying the Struggles of those On the Continent & Diaspora [Computer Conference Room]One Voice One People is an upcoming documentary that explores concepts of Blackness and the struggles each group (those on the continent and the diaspora) faces in the world. It is designed to bring forth a realization of connectedness amongst African people and to understand the commonalities between them. This workshop will explore history and the devastations of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade and the psychological effects of western civilization and the psychological effects of slavery on the difficulties in unifying African people.

Presenter: Don Franklin
Don Franklin’s biography, title and description were not available by the time we printed the program. Session descriptions will be announced at Sat. breakfast.
11:00 a.m. TBA [Mining Room]
Noon TBA [Mining Room]

A Struggle for Success Panel

1:00-1:50p.m. A Struggle for Success Panel [University Rooms]
Moderator: Brittany Walker, UW-Platteville
Panelists: Quincy Bufkin, UW-Platteville
Aunton Terry, UW-Platteville
Nicole Evans, University of Central Missouri
Brent Green, UW-Milwaukee

Kelly Kellz * T/dot Kingsby * JP Hinton
Comedians Friday Night
8:15pm in the Pioneer Crossing

Stop by the check in tables and donate to the Black Aids Institute! We appreciate your support!
Thank You.
For more information: blackaids.org

Thanks & Acknowledgements

For all of our Sponsors:
Chancellor Shields
Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Joanne Wilson
Social Science Department
Campus Programming & Relations (CPR)
Criminal Justice Department
Women’s and Gender Studies Department
Office of Multicultural Student Affairs
Mound City Bank
Livingston State Bank
Clare Bank
Walmart
Momentum Bikes
Every Woman
Rea Kirk
BSU Executive Board
Valerie Wetzel, Jennifer deCoste, and Roger Jones
Joe & Kathy Lomax
Pioneer Involvement Center
UW-Platteville Women’s Cross Country Team

Thank you for helping to bridge the gap in our Black Community. We would like to express our thanks to the faculty/staff, family, friends and students for all their support. Thank you all for attending the Black Student Union (BSU) Ebony Weekend conference and making a difference in our community!

Schedule

Registered Conference Delegates please wear your name tag and wrist band, as it serves as your ticket for meals.
February 15, Friday: Markee Student Center 4-7:00p.m. Check in Markee Lower Level 4-7:00p.m. Dinner (Haus/Crossing Card up to $10) 7:00p.m. Welcome by Dr. Joanne Wilson (University Room)
7:15p.m. Keynote Speaker Carl Wesley (University Room) 8:15-10p.m. Milwaukee’s Finest Comedians (Crossing)
Featuring: T/dot Kingsby, Kelly Kellz, & JP Hinton
February 16, Saturday: Markee Center 8:30-9:45a.m. Continental Breakfast (Platteville Rooms) 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m. Break Out Sessions (See chart with room locations)
1-2:00p.m. A Struggle for Success Panel (University Rooms)
2:00p.m. Appetizers (Platteville Rooms)
3:00p.m. BSU 365 Talent Show Logistic Meeting for Performers (Pioneer Involvement Center) Break
Ullsvik Hall: Velzy Commons [Hickory & Main Streets] 6:30p.m.-8:00p.m. Dinner Buffet
6:30p.m.-1:00a.m. Cash Bar
7:30p.m. Recognition Program - Brittany Walker, BSU President 8:00-9:00p.m. Best Dressed Chris Jones Award 9:00-11:00p.m. 365 Talent Show Competition [$5 Fee for non-registered conference attendees] 11:00p.m.-2a.m.– Late Night DANCE with DJ Dot Nick Ziebart [$10 Fee for non-registered conference attendees] February 17, Sunday: Markee Student Center 11:00a.m. Coffee & Juice (University Rooms) 11:15a.m. Featured Speaker Torri Stuckey 1:00p.m. Conference Concludes