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WXXI presents this Indie Lens Pop-Up film that charts the history and enduring legacy of a groundbreaking multi-ethnic coalition that rocked Chicago in the 1960s.
In 1969, the Chicago Black Panther Party began to form a multi-ethnic coalition with the Young Lords Organization and the Young Patriots. Banding together in one of the most segregated cities in post-war America, the Rainbow Coalition changed the face of 1960s Chicago politics and created an organizing model for future activists and politicians. Join WXXI on Monday, November 25, 2019 at 6:30 p.m. at the Little Theatre for this FREE Indie Pop-Up series presentation of The First Rainbow Coalition. A panel discussion will follow. Kit Miller, director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence, will moderate. Panelists include: Robert K. Hoggard, Development Associate for Major Gift Qualification and Cultivation for Rochester Regional Health and Elisa DeJesus, M.S., Director of Diversity and Language Services at Ibero-American Action League, Inc.
More about the moderator and panelists:
Kit Miller serves as director of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence in Rochester, New York. She draws on Gandhian and Kingian nonviolence, as well as Nonviolent Communication and permaculture, for direction and daily practice. In addition to using the Institute itself as a learning laboratory, she teaches and works on community projects related to restorative justice, sustainability, and anti-racism. Kit has taught hundreds of groups world-wide and has spoken at the United Nations in 2017 and2018 about nonviolence. Kit has an MA in Social Innovation and Sustainability from Goddard College and a BS from Cornell University.
Robert K. Hoggard holds a B.A. degree from American Baptist College, a Historical Black College and University (HBCU) and an M.A. degree from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. At both institutions, he studied the role of faith-based institutions in social change. In this work, he explored the utility of The Civil Rights Movement and The #BlackLivesMatter Movement.
Robert served as the Director of Fundraising and Membership at Metro Justice. During his time, Metro Justice fought alongside families for a new code of conduct that prioritized restorative practices in the Rochester City School District (RCSD) and a $15 statewide minimum wage. In January of 2018, Robert joined Metro Justice as a board member. He is now the Vice-President of the board.
As an educator, Robert has taught and mentored students at Leadership Academy for Young Men, Vanguard High School, and Keuka College. His experience in education dovetailed into his current pursuit to a Ph.D. in Higher Education at The University of Rochester’s (UR) Margaret Warner School of Education and Human Development.
Elisa DeJesus, M.S. currently serves as Director of Diversity and Language Services at Ibero-American Action League, Inc. She has many years of experience implementing and supervising programs in the human services field. Other areas of experience include training development, conducting trainings and assessments in cultural competence.
Not having grown up in mainland USA, she did not have to confront issues of diversity in the same way as she has had to consider until she moved to Rochester, N.Y. It was then, through her work at a community-based organization serving primarily the Latino population, serving in various boards and committees that she became aware of issues related to diversity and discrimination. She recognizes that individuals’ different worldviews, biases, prejudice and stereotypes are at the core of discrimination and oppression practices in our society.
She is committed to raise the awareness of cultural diversity and cultural competence as crucial elements to create communities where peace instead of discrimination and oppression are the norm. She believes that the journey through cultural diversity and cultural competence start very near, it start with you and me. She has a Bachelor in Human Services from the University of Puerto Rico, a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Rochester and a Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.
THE FIRST RAINBOW COALITION (Documentary) from ray santisteban on Vimeo.
About Indie Lens Pop-Up
Indie Lens Pop-Up is a neighborhood series that brings people together for film screenings and community-driven conversations. Featuring documentaries seen on the PBS series Independent Lens, Indie Lens Pop-Up draws local residents, leaders, and organizations to discuss what matters most, from newsworthy topics to family and relationships. Make friends, share stories, and join the conversation.
Presented by ITVS. Funded by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting with additional support from MacArthur Foundation, Wyncote Foundation, Art Works and the National Endowment for the Arts
