Norfolk State University’s Center for African American Public Policy (CAAmPP), in partnership with YWCA South Hampton Roads and Dominion Energy, hosted the fourth annual Conference on R.E.S.T. (Racial, Equity and Social Transformation) with this year’s theme: “What About the Women?”
The daylong event featured panel discussions and presentations that explored the impact of systemic injustices and inequities in communities, with a focus on the experiences of women.
The conference began with the Community Legacy Awards Breakfast and a keynote fireside chat with author and activist Mikki Kendall. Kendall is the author of the New York Times bestselling book Hood Feminism, which received the Chicago Review of Books Award and was named one of the best books of the year by TIME, Bustle and the BBC.
Kendall emphasized the need for civic engagement and collective progress.
“None of us is going to make it if we leave each other behind,” she said. “There will be those that you can’t help because solidarity must be a two-way street, but moving collectively as a group is imperative.”
Conference sessions included Men in the Mission, a conversation encouraging men to serve as intentional allies in eliminating racism and empowering women, and Bridging the Gap, a panel connecting voices across generations to share strategies for achieving equity.
View the R.E.S.T. Conference photo gallery HERE.