So, let’s talk about the experience of being at this year’s Autism in Black Conference…
When I first told my wife that we should do a conference on autism in Black, looking back, the first response that I got was “Why would we do a conference? Who would come to that?”
Believe it or not, about four years ago, that’s what our thoughts were like that we even doubted if people would come.
Then, fast forward to four years later, and we just realized that starting the annual conference had been the best decision of our lives.
Not only have we created a safe space for Black people to learn and empower each other; for us and the members, the conference has also become a source of love, appreciation, and emotional recharge.
It was such an awe-inspiring, moving, and really just an emotionally enriching environment to be at that I can’t help but do this episode to share a quick recap.
So, sit back and relax as we talk about the experience – as an organizer, a speaker, and a community member all in one.
Why you need to check this episode:
- Understand the importance of highlighting the fact that autism in Black really does happen;
- Get a quick recap of the events that transpired on this year’s Autism in Black Conference; and
- Learn about the experience from the organizers’, speakers’, and community members’ standpoint
“We’re making sure that everyone is aware that autism in Black needs to be seen through a different lens, and we are the glasses that’s going to help you see it.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
Topics Covered:
00:00 – Introduction: In this week’s episode, we’ll have a recap of the recently concluded Autism in Black Conference
00:40 – This is THE weekend: The mind-blowing effect of the best decision my wife and I ever did
01:21 – Organizing: Shout out to our amazing sponsors, speakers, and community members!
[Sponsors: Amazon, Arlan Hamilton with HireRunner.co, and Grantmakers for Girls of Color]
04:17 – Mark your calendars: Next week, we’ll have Maria Davis-Pierre here on the show
04:52 – As Organizers: A quick recap on what it’s like, working with Maria and Cori Fonville Foster
05:58 – Escaping the clouds: The experience of hosting and moderating the Black fathers’ panel, and having a parenting session with the Black fathers
08:26 – This is DIFFERENT: The conference being a source of love, appreciation, and emotional recharge for the community members
10:10 – The goal: Autism in Black Conference will be the reading glasses that you need for you to open your eyes up!
12:33 – Go to http://www.autisminblack.org/conference2024 to get the conference’s replays!
Quotes:
“The job that our speakers did this weekend, the love that they were able to pour out into the hearts of the community, whoo! If you’re an organization looking for phenomenal speakers, just check our speaker list from our agenda and start reaching out to them, because, I mean, beautiful.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“You guys may think I’m biased, and I understand that; I’ll take that on the chin, if you think I’m a little biased when I’m talking about the Autism in Black Conference. But if you’ll talk to the community members, they’ll tell you that it was the best conference they’ve ever been in in their life. So, not my words; [it’s] their words. I’m just regurgitating what the community members said.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“When we talk about Autism in Black, we are speaking from the Black perspective in autism journey. We want to make sure that does not get erased and we want to make sure that it’s highlighted that it is definitely different. Despite what they may say on the ads that I run, it’s definitely different to walk this journey as a Black family when you’re thinking about autism; regardless of the whole ‘there is no color in autism’, [because] that’s a lie.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
“I want to make sure that the fathers are continued to be represented in the light that they need to be represented in. I think and I know that it’s so important because the reception that I get every time fathers are highlighted, it just continues to amaze me and let’s me know that we got some work to do.” – Dr. Berry Pierre
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