03/22/2008
UK Hosts 14th Annual Black Women's Conference
The 14th annual University of Kentucky Black Women’s Conference will take place March 22 and March 26-27. The theme for this year's conference is: "Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired: Addressing Health Disparities Among Black Women."
Scholars from around the country will gather at UK to discuss and create dialogue about the current status and progress of Black women in issues related to health and health care.
The conference will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 22, at Shiloh Baptist Church, 237 East Fifth Street in Lexington, with the Village Experience. The event will include interactive discussions and wellness checks from local health experts covering exercise, nutrition, dental, obstetrics and gynecology, vision and heart disease – critical health areas for Black women. Local restaurants will provide free healthy food samples, recipes and information about the health benefits of fruits and vegetables. This community-based event is free and open to the public with no registration required.
On Wednesday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m. at the UK Student Center a Town Hall meeting will be held. Dr. Yaphet Bryant, post-doctoral fellow from University of Maryland’s School of Medicine will discuss health issues among Black youth and young adults. Students and members of the UK and Lexington communities are encouraged to attend this open discussion forum.
Thursday, March 27, marks the main day of the conference, beginning with the Anna J. Cooper Address to be delivered at 10 a.m. in the Small Ballroom of the UK Student Center. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. for this free lecture by Dr. Bonnie Mitchell, professor and chief pathologist of the Lexington Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
At noon March 27, in the UK Student Center Grand Ballroom, the Mary McLeod Bethune Luncheon will feature Dr. Yvette Cozier of the Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University. The buffet luncheon is $15.00; tickets can be purchased by calling (859) 257-3593.
The grand finale of the 2008 Black Women's Conference will come with the Doris Y. Wilkinson distinguished lecture at 5 p.m. in the Student Center Theatre. The lecture will be delivered by former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders. Elders, who served as surgeon general during the Reagan administration, is perhaps best known for advocating the widespread use of condoms to prevent HIV infection.
UK’s Black Women’s Conference was founded in 1995 by Dr. Doris Y. Wilkinson, UK professor of sociology. Wilkinson also founded the African American Studies and Research Program at UK in 1992. Each year the conference hosts national and local scholars and community activists in an informative public conversation that seeks to add reason, answer, and connection to other dialogues taking place around the world.
All events are free and open to the public unless noted.
For more details on the any program, to purchase luncheon tickets or for further information about the 2007 UK Black Women’s Conferene, contact the UK African American Studies and Research Program at (859) 257-3593.
Allison Elliott - UK Public Relations