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Past Conferences

2021 Amplify

2021 Amplify Theme

Healing, Justice, Remembrance

Friday, November 12, 2021

2021 was “AmpliFive,” the fifth annual Amplify conference. It was also Amplify’s first hybrid event, with in-person as well as virtual activities.

On Friday evening, Amplify attendees arrived for a night of networking, mingling, and comedy from keynote Micia Mosely. The night ended with a presenter’s dinner at the Black Archives.

A breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference. The screen reads: "#BLACKJOY"
A breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference. The screen in the front of the room reads, “#BLACKJOY.” Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Dena Simmons from LiberatED wears a t-shirt that reads on the back: "'When I liberate myself, I liberate others.' – Fannie Lou Hamer"
Dena Simmons, LiberatED, shows the quote on the back of her shirt: “‘When I liberate myself, I liberate others.’ – Fannie Lou Hamer.” Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Saturday, November 13, 2021

Dr. Zaretta Hammond gave opening keynote remarks to kick-off the second day of Amplify. Her remarks about culturally responsive teaching was also a topic in a breakout session later in the day.

Dr. Zaretta Hammond speaks at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Keynote speaker Dr. Zaretta Hammond at the 2021 Amplify Conference. Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Attendees at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Attendees at the Amplify 2021 Conference. Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Breakout I

  • Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain, with Dr. Zaretta Hammond
  • Creating Open Education Systems, with Doanne Tran, Faneshia Jones, Stacie Gamble, and Penny Christian
  • Chair Flow, with Dwana Smallwood
  • Healing Through the Power of Our Ancestors, Somatic Practice, and Our Purpose, with Rito Martinez
Breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
A breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference. Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
A breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference. Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Fireside Chat

A fireside chat between Karis Walker and Heather McGhee, author of The Sum of Us, followed lunch.

Karis Walker and Heather McGhee, Amplify 2021
ACAC member Karis Walker with Amplify 2021 keynote speaker Heather McGhee. Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Karis Parker and Heather McGhee at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Breakout II

  • Seeing Justice in Unjust Times, with Monica Washington and Afrika Afeni Mills
  • Multi-racial affinity group convening, with Dena Simmons, Cliff Vogel, George Deveney, Miles Marshall, and Anisa Arrington
  • Celebrating and Responding to Black and Brown Joy, with Dr. Edmond Adjapong
  • The Power of Group Dynamics, with Sabrina Thompson
  • Dance, Movement, and Mindfulness, with Abrahm Jackson and Juluis Hampton
  • Latin X, E, or O — Liberating or Limiting?, with Angela Maldonado and Myrla Feria
Breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Breakout session at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Afternoon Keynote

Javier Guzman gave a practitioner’s perspective for the afternoon keynote.

Breakout III

  • Retaining Black Educators, with Sharif EL Mekki
  • Education for Liberation, with Isoke Nia
  • Sister Circle: Superwoman Syndrome is Soooo Pre-Pandemic, with Laina Cox
  • Celebrating Spaces for LGBTQIA+ Students & Educators, with Chong Hao Fun and Tina De La Fe
  • Using Indigenous Wisdom to Ground Our Leadership, with Dinah Becton Consuegra
  • Rhythmic Conversations, with Ivyanna Robinson and Serice Grant
Amplify attendees at the 2021 conference
Photography by Estuardo Garcia.
Attendees at the 2021 Amplify Conference.
Photography by Estuardo Garcia.

Closing Keynote

Keynote speaker Jarvis Givens gave a speech on Fugitive Pedagogy: Carter G. Woodson and the Art of Black Teaching.

The 2021 Amplify Community Advisory Committee

2021 Committee Members:

  • Dr. Jennifer Collier
  • Dr. Trinity Davis
  • Cornell Ellis
  • Nicole Goodwin
  • Keith Jones
  • Charles King
  • Elise Kwenin
  • Tysie McDowell
  • Edgar Palacios
  • Rohan Pidaparti
  • Selina Rios
  • Karis Walker