A C Wharton Jr.
OXFORD, Miss. – “Vulnerability, Historical Memory and Healing” is the theme of the third Race and Sustainability Conference, set for March 29-31 at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
The event kicks off at 3 p.m. Wednesday (March 29) with a civil rights-themed tour of Oxford and an opening dinner at the Burn-Belfry Museum. A C Wharton Jr., civil rights attorney, former Memphis mayor and a 1971 graduate of the law school, is the keynote speaker for the event.
“The Race and Sustainability Conference seeks to create a deeper understanding among communities in the region and across the nation,” said Michele Alexandre, UM professor of law and the conference organizer. “Together, the participants collaborate to provide solutions and models for improving the conditions faced by marginalized communities.
“This conference continuously attracts scholars, activists, students and community members from across the United States and abroad.”
Rita and Bill Bender, civil rights attorneys, activists and educators, will deliver the opening lecture “Historical Memory, Archival Findings and Mississippi” at 9 a.m. Thursday in the Robert C. Khayat Law Center, Room 1115.
Following the opening lecture is a series of panel discussions featuring scholars, activists, students and community members, all set for various locations at the law school. Topics for the panel discussions include “Immigration and Access to Sustainable Life,” “Historical Memory Across Disciplines and Regions,” “Historical Memory, Trauma and Incarceration” and “The Environment: Where We Go From Here.”
Devin Carbado, professor of law at UCLA will deliver the conference keynote on “Understanding the Dynamics of Marginalization, Connections and Healing Moving Forward” at 4:15 p.m. Thursday in Weems Auditorium. Carbado is the 2017 McClure Lecturer at Ole Miss.
Partnering with the School of Law to present the conference are several co-sponsors: the UM Center for Inclusion and Cross Cultural Engagement, UM Center for Population Studies, Mississippi Sustainable Agriculture Network, UM School of Education, Meek School of Journalism and New Media, and the UM Law Journal.
For more information about the conference or to register, visit http://law.olemiss.edu/sustainability-conference-series/2017-2/ or email Michele Alexandre at malexand@olemiss.edu.