Description: Dr. King's final speech described the state of full social, economic, and racial equality as the mountaintop. While he saw the promised land, he left it to us to get there, with or without him. This event tackled racial injustice in America today and how it manifests in several aspects of our daily lives. King never made it to the mountaintop, but we can continue the climb by starting with our community changes. The Rainbow Coalition of Indiana University created a unique nine-step model to allow for effective coalition building to develop and implement progressive programs and initiatives. Coalition building is a powerful tool in combating centuries worth of discriminatory and bias practices against various communities. Complacency is the death of all progression; therefore, this presentation provided means to establish brave spaces and acknowledge one's ignorance. Growth ensues when one is comfortable with being uncomfortable as deconstructing the colonization of our minds is a continuous process. This presentation guided participants through that uncomfortable space to connect with diverse people and build sustainable coalitions.
Panelist(s): Ky Freeman, JaWuan Kenreich, Monica Pineda, Evelyn Sanchez, Kulsoom Tapal, Lindsey Batteast, Rebekah Amaya, Brian Hancock