The Unconference on Reparations & Healing 2021 is an informal and flexible space that allows participants to decide the agenda and suggest discussion topics of their own interest. The goal for most unconferences is to prioritize conversation over presentation.

The purpose of this Unconference is to generate discussion about reparations and healing, as well as push the edges of conversations on reparations, making space for nuance and complexity. Our work is a part of the greater reparations process currently taking place around the country. 

Who is it for?

This Unconference is open to people with African-American/Afrodescendant/ Black, Creole, West Indian/Caribbean, African, Native American and Indigenous, Latin/a/o/X, Asian and Asian American, Pacific Islander, Jewish, European and multi-ethnic identities. 

We recognize the ever rippling effects of colonialism and racism on many peoples throughout the world, and that these folks are due reparative acknowledgment and action of some form. We are strongly interested in making connections between different struggles and exploring collective liberation. However at this time, the Unconference will specifically focus on discussing holistic and robust reparations for descendants of enslaved Africans and Native American communities within a Turtle Island/USA context. 

It is important to be clear that although the space is open to people from different walks of life, we are uplifting the voices of Black and Native American folks and other People of Color, listening to their needs, desires and visions for reparations.

We realize creating a convergence space that welcomes a wide swath of people requires a particular kind of care. 

This space is for you if: 

• You are interested in truly participating and taking action

• You are interested in authentic repair and equitable redistribution of power,  resources, leadership and land

• You are interested in supporting liberation and healing narratives already in process and creating new narratives

• You are interested in a convergence space that includes people with  different and multiple identities and varied lived experiences that may be different from your own

• You are interested in small intimate group settings and engagement

• You are open to hearing and discussing the ancestral, ecological, psycho-spiritual, emotional and somatic impacts of colonialism, racism and their intersections

If you have any questions about the Unconference please email Simone at reparations@culturepush.org

In solidarity with FABnyc’s “Beyond Symbol: Culture and Reparations” and all citywide reparations efforts

Note from the Organizer:

Simone Johnson, Reparations Researcher & 2020 Climate Justice Fellow at Culture Push

Simone has been slowly researching how birthwork, reproductive health and justice and family constellation work ties into reparations. Since the very beginning Simone has been interested in the role of dreams and time in her research, and has found a lot of inspiration from Rasheedah Phillips' writing and Black Quantum Futurism.

Since starting as a Reparations Researcher at Culture Push, Simone has also been in regular discussions with the Culture Push staff about reparations, her particular research and how Culture Push as an arts organization can respond to the times. Simone sees reparations as slow and collaborative work that needs multiple and even differing perspectives to imagine all that can be imagined for authentic repair and action, and ultimately collective liberation.

The Unconference came out of Simone and the CP staff developing a living, Emergent Strategy for Healing, with up to seven strategies so far. The language of 'Emergent Strategy' is inspired by "Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Changing Worlds" by Adrienne Maree Brown. Our discussions brought us to organizing an Unconference around healing that invites people from different racial/ethnic backgrounds to join, but intentionally uplifts the voices of African-American/Afrodescendant and Native identifying peoples; it is important for us to merge conversations on reparations for both groups of people.

Simone, among other things, is currently creating a science fiction infused timeline to 'make the case' for reparations.