3rd Annual Conference Session Information

View the full schedule information here.

Friday, February 11, 2022 | 9:00 AM-5:00 PM (EST) | Virtual (via Zoom) | Register at this link: https://bit.ly/3annualWOCC

WOCC Conference Welcome

9:00 AM-9:20 AM (EST) | Zoom

WOCC Recognition Ceremony & Networking

3:15 PM (EST) | Zoom

Session # 1: Fairness is false: Find confidence in your lane!

Friday, February 11, 2022 | 9:30 AM-10:20 AM (EST) | Zoom (must register for Zoom info)

Session Description: Sometimes we often lose opportunities to be great by expecting things to be fair. This talk will inspire you to be great in ways other people can’t.

Speaker: Nekeyta Brunson

Speaker Bio: Nekeyta Brunson is a wife, business owner of Uncovered, LLC and homeschool mom of 4. Native of Flint Michigan, she has had many obstacles and hurdles to cross. One of her biggest hurdles that held her back has now become a growing nonprofit.

Session # 2: Academic Sisters in the Movement to Decolonize the Ivory Tower

Friday, February 11, 2022 | Session Time 10:30 AM – 11:20 AM (EST) | Zoom (must register for Zoom info)

Speaker: Wenona Singel

Speaker Bio: Wenona Singel is an Associate Professor of Law and Associate Director of the Indigenous Law & Policy Center at Michigan State University College of Law in East Lansing, Michigan. She recently completed a two-year leave of absence from MSU to fulfill an appointment as Deputy Legal Counsel and Advisor for Tribal Affairs for Governor Gretchen Whitmer. While working for the Governor’s Office, Wenona advised the Governor on all aspects of tribal-state relations, and she was responsible for advising the Governor on issues related to the Flint water crisis, the environment, natural resources, and gaming. At MSU, Wenona teaches and publishes in the areas of Property, Federal Indian Law, and Natural Resources Law. She is a member of the American Law Institute and an Associate Reporter for the Restatement of the Law of American Indians. She also received an appointment by President Barack Obama to the Board of the Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, a position she held for five years. She received an A.B. from Harvard College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. Wenona is a citizen of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians, and she is married to Matthew Fletcher, with whom she has two sons named Owen and Emmett.

Session #3: Radical Rest: A Revolutionary Act for Women Leaders of Color

Friday, February 11, 2022 | 1:30 PM-2:20 PM (EST) | Zoom (must register for Zoom info)

Session Description: Transformative leaders who are protecting our future through their commitment to our collective freedom need a break! Wellness is a critical part of any activism. Taking purposeful time to rejuvenate is paramount if we wish to be effective change agents. During this talk, we will explore myriad reasons women leaders need to rest and discuss ways to restore. We’ll offer practical wellness tips, leadership advice, and research on creating brave and vulnerable spaces for women of color to find rest.

Speaker: Dr. Rema Vassar

Speaker Bio: Rema Vassar, PhD was elected to the Board of Trustees for an eight-year term that began January 1, 2021. Dr. Vassar earned her doctorate from UCLA in 2009 and currently serves as an Associate Professor in the College of Education at Eastern Michigan University. She is the Morris Endowed Chair leading The Leadership Talent Development Project in the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Dr. Rema teaches Leadership and was named Faculty of the Year in the College of Education in 2020. The author of many scholarly journal articles, her research interests include school and community relationships with an emphasis on parent-school partnerships; race, gender, and class implications in schools; implications of policy and practice on student achievement and outcomes; and equity, justice, access, and inclusion for minoritized communities. In addition to her work in higher education, Dr. Vassar has extensive experience in K-12 public education, having served over 20 years as a teacher, counselor, and principal. She maintains a steadfast commitment to community service through her committee work, as a mentor, and community liaison. Dr. Vassar resides in Detroit with her husband and three children.