Inclusive citizenship and the role of women as transformative change agents for voting rights, economic policy, prison reform and education access will be the focus of a keynote conversation March 6 at the Women of Color Task Force Career Conference.
Joy DeGruy, an internationally renowned social work researcher, educator, author and presenter, and Julianne Malveaux, economist, author, social and political commentator, will speak at the 38th annual inclusive professional development event.
There is a $150 registration fee for the conference, which is open to all U-M staff, faculty, students and the public. Conference registration is not needed to attend only the keynote, which is free and begins at 8:30 a.m. in Hill Auditorium.
Joy DeGruy 
Julianne Malveaux
Conference attendees may select from a variety of workshop sessions designed to support their professional and personal development. The deadline to register for the conference is Feb. 26.
DeGruy was an assistant professor at Portland State University’s School of Social Work for more than two decades, and now serves as president and chief executive officer of Joy DeGruy Publications Inc.
Her research focuses on the intersection of racism, trauma, violence and American chattel slavery. With a 30-year professional background in social work, DeGruy conducts workshops and trainings in the areas of intergenerational and historical trauma, mental health, social justice, improvement strategies and evidence-based model development.
She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication, master’s degrees in social work and clinical psychology, and a doctorate in social work research. She has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. Her most well-known publication is “Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome: America’s Legacy of Enduring Injury & Healing.”
DeGruy also has developed an assessment scale for measuring respect with regard to African-American male youth.
Malveaux has long been recognized for her progressive and insightful observations as a labor economist, noted author and colorful commentator. Her contributions to the public dialogue on issues such as race, culture, gender and their economic impacts are shaping public opinion in 21st century America.
Currently, Malveaux serves on the boards of the Economic Policy Institute as well as The Black Doctoral Network. She is president of PUSH Excel, the educational branch of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition.
A native San Franciscan, she is the founder and president of Economic Education, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit charitable organization focused on personal finance and economic policy education and their connection. In 2019, she began recording “MALVEAUX!” for University of the District of Columbia TV.
Conference sponsors include CEW+, the Office of the Provost, University Human Resources, Michigan Medicine Human Resources, and Precision Health at U-M. TIAA is the Platinum Plus corporate sponsor.
Founded in 1979, WCTF provides professional development, networking and training opportunities for employees, with a focus on addressing the needs of women-of-color staff. For more than 35 years, WCTF has served as a support network and forum for the exchange of information about the status of women-of-color staff at U-M.
CEW+ empowers women and underserved individuals in the U-M and surrounding communities by serving as an advocate and providing resources to help them reach their academic, financial and professional potential.
