On January 18, 2021, YWCA San Antonio will host “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: Re-imagining Possibilities for Race and Gender,” a one-day online conference to explore and discuss innovations for improving the lives of women and individuals of color post-pandemic and beyond. The event will begin in the morning at 8:00 am and run through the afternoon, ending at 4:00 pm. YWCA San Antonio’s mission is to eliminate racism and empower women, and the goal of the conference will be to highlight YWCA San Antonio’s programs and initiatives the create opportunities for all races, women, and those who identify as women to build a fulfilling life, live with liberty, and pursue happiness on their own terms. In highlighting these programs, we aim to connect our work with the community – aligning our mission with DreamWeek and also with the theme of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit of Happiness.
Proposed schedule for the day (All presenters TBD)
– 9:00 – 9:15 – Opening session: live and recorded reading, poetry slam, or acting of the “I Have a Dream Speech” interpreted by the children and youth at YWCA
– 9:15 – 10:00 – Opening Panel: State of the Union: Intersection of Race and Gender Amid COVID – Moderator, Francesca Rattray, CEO, YWCA San Antonio
– 10:00 – 11:00 – Breakouts
Breakout a) Not Just Babysitting: Child Care and the Life, Liberty and Happiness of Working Mothers – Moderator, Franzcesca Guidry-Jackson, Director YWCA Child Care Center — OR
Breakout b) Beyond Remote Learning: Innovating for Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness of our Youth – Pershama Dailey, Director, Youth Services
– 12:00 – 1:00 – Keynote Address or Video – TBD
– 1:00 – 2:00 – Breakouts
Breakout a) Healthy Families, Healthy Communities: Race, Gender, and Health Equity – Moderator, TBD
Breakout b) Creating Opportunities for Economic Empowerment, Financial Literacy, and Self-Employment – Moderator, Veronica Sanders, Director, YWCA Economic Empowerment
– 2:00 – 3:00 – Closing Plenary Panel
Equal Pay for Women Benefits All – Panel Discussion with the SA Hispanic Chamber – How Expanding Women’s Economic Opportunities Contributes to Economic Growth for All – Moderator, Coda Rayo-Garza, Director, Racial Justice, and Gender Equity YWCA
-3:00 – 3:15 – Closing Performance (TBD)
