Healing Historical Trauma: The Vital Role of Family Integrity in Restoring Health and Wellness for People of African Descent

The 2nd session of the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent is taking place May 30 – June 2, 2023 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Join Children’s Rights, JMACforFamilies, and the ACLU on Wednesday, May 31 for a virtual event examining the legacy of forcible family separations experienced by people of African descent.

The historic and ongoing disruption of families—often under the guise of “child protection”—disproportionately harms Black children and Black families, causing disparate health outcomes, including trauma causing long-lasting and sometimes irreparable harm that is often perpetuated from one generation to the next.

This virtual side event will discuss the role of family integrity and autonomy and related factors that affect the health and well-being of people of African descent, including factors related to historical trauma, poverty, and systemic racism.

Hear from experts as they:

People of African descent possess universal and collective rights to preserve their cultural identities and to live free from racial discrimination and state-sanctioned violence. This includes the forcible removal of their children.

Speakers

Moderator

Angela Olivia Burton, Esq.

Convenor
RepealCAPTA Workgroup

Corey B. Best

Founder and Community Curator
Mining For Gold, LLC

Dr. Benjamin Danielson

Pediatrician & Clinical Professor of Pediatrics
University of Washington School of Medicine

Dominique Day

Member of the UN Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent
Executive Director of DAYLIGHT

Tamia Govan

Professional Agitator and Advocate
Family Preservation and Autonomy

Miriam Mack, Esq.

Policy Director
Family Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders

DeAnna Y. Smith

Researcher and Advocate
University of Michigan

Alexandria Ware

Advocacy & Policy Fellow
Children’s Rights

Shereen A. White, Esq.

Director of Advocacy & Policy
Children’s Rights

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