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Medical research from several studies show that racism in both the systemic level and interpersonal spheres carry negative consequences for those who bear the brunt of racialized aggression. In fact, some research has indicated how racism impacts people of color at the cellular level. And while resistance to overwhelmingly debilitating effects of racism have resulting in significant societal change (the abolitionist agency of both enslaved and free Black people; the role of women of color in the civil rights movement; and the multi-racial, multi-generational 2020 spring and summer uprisings in response to the murder of George Floyd), the resistance has come at great cost to the comprehensive wellness of those who organize, rally, and maintain, and seek to advance social and racial justice initiatives and movements. As a result, The Office of Social Equity and Community focused on wellness and social justice for the 2024 annual series. The centering concern and question is how do social justice advocates maintain their own wellbeing as they work to make to “promote the general welfare” and advance the cause of justice.

Our panelist are:
- Oleta Garrett Fitzgerald - Director of the Children’s Defense Fund’s Southern Regional Office (CDF-SRO), and Regional Administrator for the Southern Rural Black Women’s Initiative for Economic & Social Justice (SRBWI).

- Talon Bazille Ducheneaux - a versatile artist of Cheyenne River Lakota and Crow Creek Dakota heritage, embodies roles as a rapper, producer, and sound designer. Talon is a Penn Alum, Class of 2015 with a bachelor's in psychology.

and

- Batsirai ‘Batsi’ Bvunzawabaya, PhD - Dr. Bvunzawabaya brings over a decade of dedicated experience in public health initiatives, clinical counseling, and mental health to her role as Director of Integrated Care Initiatives with Wellness at Penn. With roots in Psychology from Alabama A&M University, she holds a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from Auburn University, specializing in minority mental health, body image concerns, sexual trauma, racial and ethnic identity development, and suicide prevention.

- Co Moderated by Ranim Albarkawi Program Coordinator for MENA (Middle East and North Africa) & Arab Student Communities and Rev. William Gipson Special Advisor to the Vice President of Social Equity & Community.

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