Race in America: Restructuring Inequality

June 3–6, 2010

Pittsburgh, PA

Keynote Speakers: Julian Bond and Julianne Malveaux

The University of Pittsburgh's School of Social Work and the Center on Race and Social Problems will host "Race in America"—designed to be the most solution-focused national conference on race ever.

Seven key areas will be explored during "Race in America": economics, education, criminal justice, race relations, health, mental health, and families, youth, and the elderly. There will be two keynote speeches and a panel discussion, all open to the public, as well as 20 sessions for conference participants. 40 of the nation's most prominent experts on race will give presentations in the conference sessions.

Conference participants—a multiracial group of researchers, policy makers, students, and community leaders—will be asked to identify the most pervasive instances of racial inequities, explore the factors that contribute to them, and work on actionable steps that can be taken at the federal, state, and local levels to help build greater equity in our society.

"Times of challenge provide the opportunity to create change," says Larry E. Davis, dean of the School of Social Work, Donald M. Henderson Professor, and director of the Center on Race and Social Problems at Pitt. "As the nation continues its efforts to recover from an economic downturn, there has never been a better time to reexamine and correct racial inequalities in American society. It is our intent to make this the best conference ever on race in America. More importantly, it is our goal to make it the most useful one."