The 17th Annual Summer Symposium
Voices for Justice:
Empowering YOUth to Make Change
Voices for Justice:
Empowering YOUth to Make Change
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The 17th Annual Summer Symposium Voices for Justice: Empowering YOUth to Make Change, sponsored by the Academy for Human Rights, is open to all incoming 9th graders through graduating seniors. Held over three days on the Erie 1 BOCES campus in West Seneca, New York, participants will learn from recognized global human rights and social justice experts, see what change looks like in our Western New York region, and most importantly, build the skills needed to make an impact in our community, nation, and world.
Participants will learn about and analyze several major international human rights hotspots - with an emphasis on striving for justice and learning how to take informed action for the benefit of humanity. Grounding the discussion to our local community, participants will also visit local resettlement agencies to see how refugees have revitalized the Western New York region. |
July 9, 10, and 11, 2024
9 am - 4 pm Erie 1 BOCES Center West Seneca, NY
Tuition: $175, financial assistance is available for those in need |
Day 1: Justice in Palestine, Israel, and the Middle East
Questions regarding justice, genocide, and international law in Israel and Palestine have been raised not only since October 7th, 2023 - but also for the past 76 years. Today's session will attempt to complicate the thinking of its participants by placing a 360-degree lens on the conflict - with the goal of promoting human dignity and long term stability of the region. Throughout the day, speakers will dive deeper into its historical context, paving the way for diverse discussion surrounding stories, narratives, and aspirations. Themes connected to memory, sovereignty, occupation, and resistance will be recognized - as well as ways of robustly combating the antisemitism and Islamophobia this conflict has amplified. This session asks what is perhaps the most important question: What is the best way forward that presents the most just, safe, and peaceful situation for all?
Day 2: Looking at the Impact of Refugees in Western New York
Throughout the history of Western New York, immigrants and refugees have played a crucial role in its social, economic, and historical development. For this year's Community Day, participants will visit local immigrant and refugee resettlement agencies to learn about the resettlement process and how these agencies assist refugees in their new lives in Western New York. Participants will also tour human rights sites in downtown Buffalo that emphasize the importance of justice in our community, nation, and world.
Day 3: Justice in the World
The last session will look at the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as how it applies to current injustices and acts of genocide in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Sudan. Through these workshops and discussions, participants will be equipped with the skills to help bring an end to these atrocities, leading the way for a more just and peaceful world.
Please email [email protected] with any questions.
Speakers
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Jillian Hanesworth (she/her)
Jillian is an EMMY-winning spoken word artist, the Poet Laureate Emeritus of Buffalo, NY, and a community organizer and activist. Jillian was born and raised on the east side of Buffalo where she developed a vision to use art and advocacy to help her community reimagine justice and work together to create a system where all people can thrive. Currently, Jillian travels the country performing poetry and speaking on various topics including; art for activism, the impacts of storytelling, and the importance of honest and critical social and political conversations. In addition, Jillian oversees ‘Buffalo Books,’ a nationally recognized program that aims to improve access to culturally relevant books for residents of the East Side with the hopes of increasing literacy rate among Black and brown communities. Website | Instagram |
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Jordan Hattar (he/him)
‘Follow your heart’ is a popular piece of career advice but how does one actually do it? Jordan’s journey has taken him from his home in southern California to South Sudan to the UK and to refugee camps around the world. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at California State University Long Beach, he learned of the ongoing plight of the Syrian people and was immediately inspired to make a difference. After spending the fall of 2012 at the Zaatari Refugee Camp as a freelance journalist and delivering humanitarian aid, Jordan returned in the summer of 2013 to continue his humanitarian work. After receiving his master’s degree from the University of Cambridge in 2016, he was an intern at the White House with First Lady Obama’s Reach Higher Initiative, completed a Fulbright, and founded his organization, Help4Refugees. Jordan’s story is about compassion, service, and perseverance. Website | Instagram |
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Journey’s End Refugee Services
Journey’s End mission is to welcome refugees without regard to ethnic origin or creed and to assist them to become healthy, independent, contributing members of the community. Journey’s End provides resources and support to refugees once resettled in the WNY area. Refugees receive assistance in education, employment opportunities, legal assistance, and more. Website | Instagram |
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Kerith McGarry
Kerith is currently a senior at SUNY New Paltz studying international relations and economics. She has recently worked on research topics involving the weaponization of sex crimes during genocide as well as a system dynamics approach to climate change's impact on population sizes in large ocean states. In addition to the coursework, she has conducted independent research in her field as an undergrad, devoting her collegiate research toward topics of prevention and prediction of mass atrocities. In collaboration with New Paltz Professor İlgü Özler, Kerith has recently finished a two semester research project focusing on understanding the ongoing mass atrocities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Her research examines the history of the ongoing atrocities there, evaluates present warning signs for atrocities, conducts an economic analysis of the situation, and provides feedback for the future. This fall, Kerith will be studying in NYC under the SUNY Global Engagement Program, where students can live in NYC and work at international organizations to kickstart their careers. In the future, she hopes to continue researching and contributing to our understanding of root causes and early signs of atrocity events. |
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Nada Odeh (she/her)
Nada is a Syrian artist, activist, humanitarian, and modern-day poet. She was born and raised in Damascus and lived in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates before coming to the US in 2013 due to the conflict and revolution in her country. Nada primarily works in acrylics on canvas and Arabic miniatures and Middle Eastern colors and details of her heritage influence her art. The key theme in her artwork is the life and experiences of Syrian refugees in camps and the Syrian people. Recently, her work has focused on displaced Syrian women in exile. Nada received her MA in Museum Studies from Syracuse University and her BA in Fine Arts from Damascus University. Website | Instagram |
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Juliette Paauwe (she/her)
Juliette is a Senior Research and Advocacy Officer at the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect. She conducts research on and advocates for populations at risk of mass atrocities, focusing on Cameroon, Sudan, and South Sudan. She leads the Global Centre’s work on Group of Friends on R2P in New York and is involved in the Centre’s work on UN peacekeeping, Protection of Civilians, and international justice. Juliette also coordinates the internship program at the Global Centre. She holds a BA and MA in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology from Leiden University, a BSc in Political Science from VU University Amsterdam, and an MSc in International Security and Law from the University of Southern Denmark. Website |
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WEDI/West Side Baazar
WEDI’s dual focus of education and economic development works in tandem to tackle systemic inequalities that affect Buffalo’s underserved residents, many of whom are people of color. By supporting youth to succeed in school and powering entrepreneurs to launch, sustain, and grow small businesses, WEDI is helping to create a more equitable Buffalo. Website | Instagram |
Content Warning: Participants and parents/guardians should know that discussions of, and imagery of war and conflict, violence (physical, emotional, sexual), and other sensitive topics will be covered throughout the Symposium. Multiple breaks and debriefs are built into the daily schedule and AHR staff encourage participants to take care of their needs as they see fit.