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Taking inspiration from the work, life and legacy of Grace Lee Boggs, the School of Social Work and the Multicultural and Gender Affairs Committee are hosting a panel discussion on the future of activism, including the role of “solutionaries” in movement building.
Solutionaries are individuals who are creating alternative modes of work, politics and human interaction that will collectively constitute the next American revolution.
The discussion will take place at 4 p.m. Jan. 18 at the School of Social Work in the Educational Conference Center, 1840. Please RSVP at archive.ssw.umich.edu/forms/rsvp/?eventID=E2078.
Grace Lee Boggs, who died in 2015 at the age of 100, was one of the nation’s oldest human rights activists. She waged a war of inspiration for civil rights, labor, feminism, the environment and other causes for seven decades with an unflagging faith that revolutionary justice was just around the corner.
She was a philosopher and activist who was involved with the civil rights movement, black power movement, and decades of work in Detroit.
The panel includes:
• Steven Ward, associate professor, Department of Afroamerican & African Studies and the Residential College. He is writing a dual-biography of James and Grace Lee Boggs titled, “The Next American Revolution: A James Boggs Reader.”
• Raina LaGrand, Master of Social Work student and member of the People of Color Collective.
• Jim Toy, MSW graduate and co-founder of the Spectrum Center.
• Sharon (Shea) Howell, professor of communication and journalism at Oakland University. She is a longtime friend of Boggs and co-founder of Detroit Summer, a multicultural, intergenerational youth leadership program that engages the talents and energies of young people to rebuild and redefine Detroit.
Following the panel discussion, participants will reflect on Boggs’ life and legacy, and engage will in small-group dialogue about working in the fight for justice today. A light supper of some of Boggs’ favorite food will be provided.
