The Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW) planned its State of the Black World Conference long before the nation’s political world was turned upside down on Election Day, but now the gathering takes on even greater importance. With the election of Donald Trump as the nation’s 45th president, those gathering in Newark New Jersey this week for the State of the Black World Conference will have a lot to discuss.

Today, IBW kicks off five days of discussions covering a wide range of topics but all focused on developing a pan-African agenda while also looking at pragmatic strategies to counter reactionary policy aimed to undermine communities of color in the United States. Dr. Ron Daniels, who is also a contributor to NorthStarNews.com, is the president and CEO of IBW, Rick Adams is the organization’s chairman and entertainer Danny Glover serves as the State of the Black World Conference chairperson. Registration for the conference is $150 if you would like to attend the Legacy Awards celebration, and $120 without the awards event. Visit the conference website for information on the week’s activities.

First Day schedule includes:

8:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Registration: First Floor Lobby Adjacent Main Ballroom

African Market Place: First Floor Lobby Adjacent Main Ballroom

Press Room: Business Center, Lower Level

Pan African Institute: Crystal Ballroom

Danny Glover, Chairman

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

Opening Session

Opening Statement: Danny Glover, Actor, Humanitarian, Activist, Oakland, CA

Greetings:
• H.E. Tete Antonio, Permanent Representative, African Union to the United Nations, New York, NY
• H.E. Mrs. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative, Ghana to the United Nations, New York
• H.E. Paul Altidor, Ambassador to the U.S., Republic of Haiti, Washington, DC
• Honorable Barbara King, Chairperson, Newark African Commission

Remarks: Dr. Leonard Jeffries, President, World African Diaspora Union, Teaneck, NJ

1:00 PM – 3:30 PM

Panel I: Key Issues for Democracy and Development in Africa

Moderator: Dr. Jemadari Kamara, Director, Center for African, Caribbean and Community Development, UMass/Boston

Panelists:
• Mel Foote, President, Constituency for Africa, Washington, DC
• Sidique Wai, President, United African Congress, New York, NY
• Maurice Carney, Friends of the Congo, Washington, DC
• Milton Allimadi, Publisher and Editor of Black Star News, New York, NY
• Cristalina Pereira, Regional Chief Representative, PAICV, Boston, MA
• Emira Woods, Former Co-Director, Foreign Policy in Focus, Institute for Policy Studies, Washington, DC

3:30 PM – 6:00 PM

Panel II: Key Issues on the Caribbean, Central and South America

Moderator: Esmeralda Brown, President, Diaspora Research and Development Center, New York, NY

Panelists:

• Estela Vazquez, Executive Vice-President 1199 SEIU, New York, NY
• Dr. Waldaba Stewart, Chairman, Caribbean Research Center, Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn, NY
• Yvette Mosdestin, Founder/Executive Director Encuentro Diaspora, Boston, MA.
• James Early, Consultant, Cultural Democracy & Statecraft Heritage Policy, African Diaspora, Washington D.C.
• Ambassador Rhonda King, Permanent Representative to the UN, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, New York, NY
• Judge Lionel Jean Baptiste, Chairman, Emeritus, Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, Chicago, IL
• David Commissiong, Former Chairman, Commission for Pan African Affairs, Barbados, WI
• Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager Culture & Community Development, CARICOM, Guyana
• Jesus Chucho Garcia, Consul General, Venezuela, New Orleans, LA

6:00 PM – 7:15 PM

DINNER BREAK

IBW CHAKULA CAFETERIA: Dinners for sale at modest price – Atlantic Room, 2nd Floor

7:30 – 10:00 PM

National/ International Town Hall Meeting: Crystal Ballroom

The Global Movement for Reparatory Justice

Sponsored by: South African Tourism

Musical Prelude: Zawadi African Dancing and Drum – Soloist, Dion Rivers, Newark

Moderator: Don Rojas, Senior Advisor for Communications to the Vice Chancellor, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, JA

Greetings from the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan – Minister Akbar Muhammad, NOI, Atlanta, GA

Presentation of IBW Legacy Awards: Dr. Ron Daniels, President/IBW, New York, NY

Remarks:

• H.E. Jerry M. Matjila, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Republic of South Africa
• Ms. Bangu Masisi, President, North America South African Tourism, New York, NY

Keynote Presenter: Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman, CARICOM Reparations Commission & Vice Chancellor, The University of the West Indies, Kingston, JA

Panelists:

• Mirielle Fanon Mendez-France, President, Frantz Fanon Foundation, Paris, France
• Dr. Ester Ogulari, Researcher, Institute of Commonwealth Studies,School of Advanced Study, University of London, England
• Dr. VP Franklin, Editor/Publisher, Journal of African American History, New Orleans, LA
• Dowoti Desir, Chair., NGO Committee for the. Elimination of Racism, Afrophobia & Colorism, NY
• Kamm Howard, Chicago Chapter N’COBRA, Chicago, IL
• Dr. Iva Carruthers, General Secretary, Samuel DeWitt Proctor Conference, Chicago, IL
• Judge Lionel Jean Baptiste, Chairman, Emeritus, Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, Chicago, IL
• David Commissiong, Former Chairman, Commission for Pan African Affairs, Barbados, WI
• Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager Culture & Community Development, CARICOM, Guyana, WI

Summary/Concluding Statement: Danny Glover, Chairman