Dillard University Students and Local Entrepreneurs Unite in a Commemorative Panel Discussion on the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 29, 2023
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Dillard University Students and Local Entrepreneurs Unite in a Commemorative Panel Discussion on the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington
Sevetri Wilson, Judy Reese Morse, Cleveland Spears III, and more reflect on the progress of racial equity and the importance of Black entrepreneurship
NEW ORLEANS— In honor of the 60th anniversary of the historic March on Washington, the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice and community partners held a momentous student-led panel discussion Monday night to mark the end of their three-day celebration. The event provided a platform for insightful dialogues, profound reflections, and a renewed commitment to the ongoing pursuit of civil rights and social justice. Judy Reese Morse, President and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana, delivered a powerful and reflective keynote speech ahead of an engaging panel discussion with Dillard University students and a diverse group of local business owners.
“I have been renewed and revitalized by Dillard University’s series of events to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the March on Washington,” said Judy Reese Morse, President and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana. “However, it is essential to recognize that this isn’t merely a commemoration but an unyielding continuation. Together, with committed allies, we must champion solutions that pave the way for meaningful change.”
In her keynote address, Morse acknowledged the significance of 2023, marking the 85th anniversary of the Urban League of Louisiana. She emphasized the crucial role of today’s youth to embody the same values of unity, perseverance, and activism that defined the March’s legacy.
The evening’s discussions infused historical context with contemporary viewpoints shared by entrepreneurs. These insights shed light on the foundation of their success and underscored the value of maintaining a lifelong student mindset. Panel participants included entrepreneurs Dr. Ryan Mitchell, Founder of Chiropractic Care; Larry Morrow, Founder of Larry Morrow Events; Jade Brown Russell, Founder of Maroon Workspace and Principal of J.D. Russell Consulting; Cleveland Spears III, Founder and CEO of Spears Group; Dr. Courtney Arianne Washington, Founder of Fleur De Lis Primary Care Clinic; and Sevetri M. Wilson, Founder of Resilia and Solid Ground Innovation. Student panelists included Ravien Burns, Keyona Herbert, Isabel Mitchell-Starks, Rajah Thomas, and Meleah Williams.
“It was such an amazing opportunity to share the stage with so many successful Black business owners in New Orleans,” said Rajah Thomas, senior at Dillard University. “The evening allowed me to hear from entrepreneurs creating real change in the community and to learn more about the positive impact my peers are already making in their respective industries as we begin our career journeys.”
In addition to the panel hosted by the Center for Racial Justice, other commemoration events included a documentary screening and Q&A of Louisiana Diary and an Interfaith Community Service hosted by Rev. Herbert Brisbon III. The Center for Racial Justice is committed to being a conduit for change on campus and in the surrounding areas by engaging community leaders, law enforcement officials, and citizens to acquire the cultural competence needed to bring about systemic and social change in communities of color.
To learn more about the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice, please visit https://www.dillard.edu/racialjustice/
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About the Dillard University Center for Racial Justice
The Dillard University Center for Racial Justice was established in June of 2020. The focus is to reach out to the academic community, local communities, political leaders, and most importantly, our students who are shaping our future to address implicit racial issues. The focus of the Center is to work with various leaders and citizens of the community who want to do the right thing to address systematic and institutionalized racism inside America’s borders. The Center for Racial Justice works with leaders who have emerged to offer support to communities in the form of strategies and programs that will help bring and assure that issues of race are addressed. The Center for Racial Justice is involved in community engagements, organizing initiatives, and enhancing public relationships and accountability.
About Dillard University
Dillard University is a historically Black institution that cultivates leaders who live ethically, think and communicate precisely, and act courageously to make the world a better place. Located in New Orleans, Dillard is a private faith-based liberal arts university that offers 22 majors and two certificate programs. Ranked 5th on 2021 The New York Times Overall Mobility Index and 14th in 2022 by Academic Influence for Best Colleges and Universities by Academic Stewardship, Dillard’s call to future leaders is to Write Your Legacy. Find out more about Louisiana’s oldest HBCU by visiting www.dillard.edu.
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