RETHINKING RACE

Sparking Courageous Conversations at The University of Akron

Presented by The University of Akron's Office of Inclusion and Equity.

In 1997, U.S. President William J. Clinton chose The University of Akron as the location for his first Town Hall Meeting on Race. In honor of this historic moment, University of Akron students, faculty, and staff have come together annually to plan a series of events known as Rethinking Race. The Rethinking Race forum offers a series of films, performances, conversations, and keynote speakers to engage our community with important topics related to social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

2024 KEYNOTE LECTURE

Montel Williams

Media personality, healthcare advocate, and entrepreneur Montel Williams will open The University of Akron’s Rethinking Race: Black, Brown, and Beyond forum with a keynote address at 7:00 pm on Monday, November 18th, at E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall.

The annual celebration of Rethinking Race will take place November 18-22, 2024, during Diversity Week. The theme of this year’s events will be “Rethinking Race and Health Equity: Promoting Health and Care for All.” UA’s Dr. Sandie L. Crawford and Dr. Dimitria Gatzia are this year’s co-chairs.

All events are free and open to the public.

Williams will deliver an address entitled, “From Disparity to Parity: Combating Racial Inequities in Healthcare.” In his address, Williams will delve into the complex challenge of healthcare disparities, focusing on racial inequities that pervade the medical system. Through a deeply informative presentation attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the systemic issues contributing to unequal treatment and outcomes. Williams will explore innovative solutions and proactive measures aimed at fostering change, such as implementing discrete reporting mechanisms, reevaluating institutional policies, and enriching educational curricula.

Participants will leave Williams’ presentation equipped with the knowledge and motivation to become advocates for equity, empowered to contribute to the creation of a compassionate and just healthcare system. Williams will encourage the audience to collectively work towards a future where equitable care is not just a vision but a reality for all.

Please read Montel Williams' full bio here.