WEST CHESTER, PA — West Chester University (WCU) will host the Ruby Jones Conference on Race, Social Justice, and Civic Leadership on Saturday, October 28. The conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Sykes Student Union Ballrooms, located at 110 West Rosedale Avenue.
The free event, organized by WCU’s Lawrence A. Dowdy Multicultural Center, aims to foster an educational environment where students, faculty, and staff can engage in meaningful dialogue about racial, cultural, and social issues. The goal is to raise awareness and promote action-oriented dialogue that impacts how participants experience life on campus, in communities, and in society.
Amber M. Sessoms, founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Natural Inclination LLC, will deliver the keynote address. Sessoms, a nationally certified school psychologist, and adult educator has over two decades of experience in the educational and mental health sectors. Her work focuses on cultivating liberatory spaces for individuals to be their full, authentic selves, centering the voices of historically devalued communities.
The conference honors the legacy of Professor Ruby Jones ’40, a West Chester State Teachers College alumna, and the institution’s first Black faculty member. Jones, who was also a K-12 educator, was actively involved with the NAACP, the YWCA, and the American Association of University Women. She is remembered as an educator, humanitarian, and civic leader.
The conference is co-hosted with WCU’s Office of Student Leadership and Involvement, the Center for Women and Gender Equity, and the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
West Chester University, the largest institution in the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, offers a diverse range of more than 200 undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs in more than 50 fields of study. The University is known for its commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
The Ruby Jones Conference is a significant event that reflects WCU’s commitment to social justice and civic leadership. It promises to be an enlightening and inspiring experience for all attendees.
To register for this event, visit https://ramconnect.wcupa.edu/DMC/rsvp_boot?id=2128832.
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