PORTSMOUTH Leadership of Black women is the focus of the 14th annual Black New England Conference, titled "Black Women Rock: Leading the Charge for Social and Political Change." It will take place virtually Sept. 25-26.

The conference, presented each fall by the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, combines the scholarship of an academic conference and joyfulness of celebrating Black life and history.

JerriAnne Boggis, executive director of the BHTNH, explained the origin of the decision to spotlight this issue at this time.

"We select our program a year in advance," she said. "At the time, Stacey Abrams was doing great work on voter suppression. And Black women were starting to be recognized more for their activism and for their foundational role in so many movements. As we looked toward 2020 as an election year, we thought spotlighting Black women would be a perfect topic."

Due to COVID-19, the BHTNH, headquartered in Portsmouth, moved the two-day conference online, with the assistance of its partner Southern New Hampshire University, which will produce the event.

"Theres a silver living with the virtual platform since we will be able to broaden our reach beyond an in-person New England conference to embrace a national and international audience," Boggis said. "And, beyond the vital conference topic itself, we expect that well be able to introduce a larger audience to the important work of the Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire, that of promoting awareness and appreciation of African American history and life in order to build more inclusive communities today."

Boggis said she believes attendees will appreciate hearing about BHTNHs signature events spring symposium, Sankofa walking tours, Juneteenth celebration, Frederick Douglass community readings, the Black New England Conference each fall, and winter tea talks.

The conference will celebrate, examine and make visible Black womens leadership and activism in fights for political and social change. Panelists will discuss Black womens leadership and activism in a variety of social and political arenas the classroom, the courtroom, business and economics, technology, the environment, the arts, religion, government and others.

Six panels anchor the conference on the following topics: Black Women as Purveyors of Change; Body Politics and Movements Toward the Sacred; Black Womens Present-Day Leadership and Activism; Activism Through The Arts; Black Women in Electoral Politics; and The Next Generation.

Attendees will hear three keynote addresses. Lunchtime presentations will be given by Sheryl Lee Ralph, a Tony nominated actress (Dreamgirls) and activist who created the DIVA Foundation devoted to AIDS advocacy; and U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, the first Black woman elected to Boston City Council and to the U.S. Congress from Massachusetts.

Friday evenings conference keynote will be delivered by Susan L. Taylor, founder and CEO of National CARES Mentoring Movement and editor-in-chief emerita, Essence Magazine.

As artists and activists, politicians and pundits, Black women continue to stand on the front line and lead the charge for social and political change. From Sojourner Truth calling for the abolition of slavery and for womens rights, to Tarana Burke coining "Me Too" in 2006, Black women have played a vital role in the political and social (re)formation of the United States, even as their leadership and activism has often been eclipsed and erased.

For registration information and the conference schedule visit http://blackheritagetrailnh.org/2020bnec/.

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Black Women Rock: Black New England Conference to take place virtually - Foster's Daily Democrat