• Gabriel Acevero: MD House of Delegates, District 39
• Eric Ebersole: MD House of Delegates, District 13
  
• Brian Frazee: Vice President of Governmental Affairs, Maryland Hospital Association
• Terri Hill: MD House of Delegates, District 12A
  
• Aletheia McCaskill: MD House of Delegates, District 44B
• Sheila Ruth: MD House of Delegates, District 44B
  
• Charles E. Sydnor, III: MD State Senate, District 44
• Caylin Young: MD House of Delegates, District 45

Wednesday, May 17 - Thursday, May 18, 2023 
University Center Ballroom

***Reposted from the Department of Africana Studies. ***

Since the 1960s, 22 of the 54 African countries have witnessed civil wars that resulted in mass violence, displacement and refugee crises, economic and infrastructural destruction, and political and regional instability. Caused by complex historical drivers and experiences rooted in the colonial legacy of fragile constitutional and institutional structures, ill-prepared political leadership, sectarianism, ethnonationalism, religious intolerance, poverty and inequality, and stiff competition for scarce resources, among other factors, the wars have had devastating impacts on Africans especially women. Leading experts, activists, students, policymakers, and others will discuss these issues, including women, gender, conflict resolutions, and peacebuilding/peacemaking in Africa.

Join keynote speakers Aili Mari Tripp, Ph.D., Vilas Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Cyril Obi, Ph.D., Program Director at the Social Science Research Council, NYC and leader of the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programs along with a special panel of UMBC students for two days of discussion, African food, and music.

RSVPs/Registration is required no later than April 30, 2023 to reserve a seat. UMBC attendees should RSVP via Google form: https://forms.gle/H2VdVVY3dNDiHWSf8, also by April 30, 2023. Questions can be sent to: afst-conference@umbc.edu.

Guests should use the registration link on the website. Paid guests receive meals, a conference tote bag, event program and attend the evening banquet.

UMBC community members are not required to pay any registration fees, but they have to complete a Google Form to reserve a spot to attend the conference indicating the sessions they would attend. https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/degree-in-africana-studies/events/117316  

This event is hosted by UMBC's Department of Africana Studies, and co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the Center for Global Engagement; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; the Center for Social Science Scholarship; The Shriver Center; Language, Literacy and Culture PhD Program; and Departments of Gender, Women's, + Sexuality Studies; Political Science; and Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health.

Jade Gingerich, Director of Employment for the Maryland Department of Disabilities, will be at UMBC next Wednesday May 3rd from 11:30-1pm in the Commons at Main Street!  This is a walk-up opportunity, please stop by if you're interested in chatting with her about disability policy, advocacy, or employment resources as a disabled student.  She's a great connection if you're looking for internships during undergrad too, not just for jobs post-graduation!  This is open to all interested UMBC students, having a disability is not required to stop by and chat with Jade.  We look forward to seeing you there!