Case Western Reserve University’s Social Justice Institute Think Tank convenes this week from Oct. 24–26. “Coalition Building: We Are Better and Stronger Together” is this year’s theme.
Over three days, participants will hear from national and homegrown experts on human rights, community organizing and more. Panel discussions will explore the intersections of power, race, class and political repression. All events are free and open to community members. Register here or call 216.368.7568.
Key events include:
- Oct. 24: The screening of the short film Black Beauty, directed by and featuring Elle Moxley, a leader in the movement to defend the human rights of Black trans people.
- Oct. 25: An all-community reception at Rid-All Green Partnership, a community-based farm in the heart of Cleveland’s Kinsman neighborhood.
- Oct. 26: Keynote speaker Marc Lamont Hill, an author, academic and human rights activist.
Signal Cleveland checked in with Social Justice Institute Director Ayesha Bell Hardaway to learn more about this year’s event.
Signal Cleveland: Why the theme of coalition building?
Hardaway: I’m crystal clear that we are in a moment of governmental and institutional repression. I’m not being hyperbolic. We see how conversations and laws and policies moved after 2020, and how social justice efforts have been absconded with and twisted. Some might say that you might need to ‘go along to get along.’ That is not what we mean by coalition building. Instead we talk about recognizing those intersections of oppression and uplifting them to make the repression less harmful or at least call it out as it is.
The hierarchy of harm — this display of whose needs should be met. I patently disagree and so many others across generations do, too.
Signal Cleveland: Social justice is inherently movement based, which means results of some efforts and actions aren’t seen for a generation or more. That can be tough. Does that make gatherings like this even more important?
Hardaway: This convening is so critical for us to wrap our arms around the current moment. When you are in the trenches, it is so easy to feel siloed. That is why coalition building is important and to have that backward and forward perspective – to realize and to be part of a larger thing. Whether you call it community building or solidarity, this sort of caretaking has the potential to produce change.
Signal Cleveland: What are the stories about social justice efforts in Cleveland that are not being told that people might hear during the think tank?
Hardaway: I’m really looking forward to our Thursday night’s screening. We’ll hear from a national advocate for lesbian, gay and trans rights. It’s really important for us to have this conversation at this moment and to have our students and broader community digging into the struggle and lending insights.
I’m also really excited about some of the history we’ll be learning about around Indigenous rights and culture stealing.
We’ll also be hearing about all of the work done by student organizers and Justice for Palestine. Because it hasn’t hit the shores of America we aren’t confronted with it daily we can have conversations that will crystalize the humanitarian crisis.
We’ll also take some time with one panel to peel back the layers of what has happened in the 70 years since the U.S. The Supreme Court decided the Brown v Board of Education case including what it hasn’t accomplished.
Signal Cleveland: The community reception is at Rid-All Farms. Is this the first time you’ve taken the think tank into the neighborhood?
Hardaway: Yes. The thing I love about SJI – it is my education and intellectual home. It’s not just what we do with academics but also with people who have degrees from their own experiences. Rid-All Farms just feels wonderful and welcoming. It’s our responsibility to go out into the community and be in community and not require people to come to the quote, unquote ivory tower to have these experiences.
