Description Du Bois Freedom Center Juneteenth Comemmoration and "Reflections on Democracy” speaker series with Congresswoman (G-05) Nikema Williams in Conversation with Michael Blake, June 19, 2024, at St. James Place, Great Barrington, Massachusetts. = = = = = = = = = = = Subject: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DU BOIS FREEDOM CENTER TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH IN CONVERSATION WITH CONGRESSWOMAN NIKEMA WILLIAMS OF GEORGIA Contact: Ny Whitaker, Executive Director office@duboisfreedomcenter.org 413.673.1032 IMMEDIATE RELEASE DU BOIS FREEDOM CENTER TO COMMEMORATE JUNETEENTH WITH EVENT FEATURING CONGRESSWOMAN NIKEMA WILLIAMS OF GEORGIA Center launches its Reflections on Democracy series with a conversation on civic leadership. GREAT BARRINGTON, MA (June 10, 2024) —The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy(known as the “Du Bois Freedom Center”) announced the first event in its 2024 Reflections on Democracysalon series. The Center will commemorate Juneteenth by hosting An Evening with Congresswoman Nikema Williams who will be in conversation with the Du Bois Freedom Center’s Visiting Scholar on Democracy, Michael Blake. The June 19th event will start at 6pm at Saint James Place. This event is free, open to the public, and all are welcome at attend. Registration is required via this link or the organization’s website. The Center’s Reflections on Democracy is a series of educational events and public programs that ask featured scholars, elected officials, students, artists, musicians, philanthropists, and the community, to share their hopes for our democracy and reflections via this site in response to the following Du Bois passage: "...I dream of a world of infinitive and valuable variety; not in the laws of gravity or atomic weights, but in human variety in height and weight, color and skin, hair and nose and lip. But more especially and far above and beyond this, is a realm of true freedom: in thought and dream, fantasy and imagination; in gift, aptitude, and genius—all possible manner of difference, topped with freedom of soul to do and be, and freedom of thought to give to a world and build into it, all wealth of inborn individuality. Each effort to stop this freedom of being is a blow at democracy—that real democracy which is reservoir and opportunity . . . There can be no perfect democracy curtailed by color, race, or poverty. But with all we accomplish all, even Peace.” - Excerpt from The World and Africa: An Inquiry into the Part Which Africa Has Played in World History, 1947. The Du Bois Freedom Center will also host a monthly Saturday in the Sanctuary ­– a community open house and guided tour at the Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church located at 9 Elm Court on Saturday, June 22nd at 10amfor those interested in visiting the site to learn about how this historic church served as the spiritual, cultural, and political hub of African American life in this southern Berkshire community for more than 130 years, and receive updates about the church’s future as the home of The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy – an African American cultural and heritage site dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of civil rights pioneer and NAACP co-founder, Dr. Du Bois, as well as the rich African American history of The Berkshires. Space is limited. Advance registration is required via this link. For more information about the Du Bois Freedom Center, to register for an upcoming public program, or to make a donation, please visit: www.duboisfreedomcenter.org, call: 413-673-1032, or email: office@duboisfreedomcenter.org, # # # The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy (dba, the Du Bois Freedom Center) is dedicated to educating the public about the life and legacy of civil rights pioneer and NAACP co-founder, W. E. B. Du Bois. Our 501c3 organization is restoring the historic Clinton A. M. E. Zion Church in downtown Great Barrington for adaptive reuse as an African American heritage site and cultural center with museum-quality exhibits and contemporary programming. Built in 1887 by the A. M. E. Zion Society, the church was a formative influence in the life of W. E. B. Du Bois, who was born and raised in this rural New England town. The extant church, located at 9 Elm Court, served as the spiritual, cultural, and political hub of African American life in this southern Berkshire community until its closing in 2014. To support the Center’s on-going work in celebration of the rich African American history of the Berkshires, please visit: www.duboisfreedomcenter.org About Congresswoman Nikema Williams Congresswoman Nikema Williams has been a fierce advocate for social justice, women, and families throughout her political and professional career. As a Member of Congress, she continues to uplift the legacy of her mentor and predecessor, Congressman John Lewis, by fighting to prevent voter suppression and expand free and fair access to the ballot. Before her congressional service, Congresswoman Williams served in the Georgia State Senate where Williams got in the “Good Trouble” Congressman Lewis spoke about. In the wake of the disastrous 2018 Georgia elections, marked with rampant voter suppression, she was arrested at the Georgia State Capitol while peacefully protesting with her constituents, demanding that every vote be counted. She always centers the voices of those who are most marginalized. She brings this concern to Congress having seen firsthand how women and people of color continue to fight for racial and social justice in our country. Congresswoman Williams was elected as the Freshman Class President for the 117th Congress. As President, she organized and advanced the interests of her Freshmen Democratic colleagues to fulfill their oath to work for the people. She has membership in several caucuses including the Congressional Black Caucus, Democratic Women’s Caucus, Congressional Progressive Caucus Voting Rights Caucus, LBGTQ+ Equality Caucus, and the HBCU Caucus. Congresswoman Williams has a passion for a number of legislative issues including voting rights, reproductive justice, social justice, economic justice, and healthcare—her work addresses delivering on the promise of America for all. Congresswoman Williams has a history of advancing the issues that matter to Georgians and underserved people across the country, regardless of their bank account or ZIP code. Before her congressional service, Congresswoman Williams served in the Georgia State Senate. As a State Senator, Williams got in the “Good Trouble” Congressman Lewis spoke about. In the wake of the disastrous 2018 elections, marked with rampant voter suppression, she was arrested at the Georgia State Capitol while peacefully protesting with her constituents, demanding that every vote be counted. Congresswoman Williams was born in Columbus, GA and raised by her grandparents in Smiths Station, Alabama. She attended Talladega College – a liberal arts Historically Black College (HBCU) in Talladega, Alabama – where she was initiated into Chi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. Recently, she was awarded the ACLU of Georgia’s Dare to Create—Liberty Award. About Michael Blake Michael Blake is the CEO Atlas Strategy, Inc. and his vision is simple: Bringing Equity and Justice to Scale. Blake has a record of delivering results including but not limited to being elected Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee, his three terms as a New York State Assembly Member, both Presidential campaigns for President Obama including serving as the Iowa Constituency Outreach Director and three Michigan victories. In 2007, Time Magazine stated about Michael Blake’s Iowa efforts: “At just 25 years old, Michael Blake may have more to do with Barack Obama's chances of becoming President than anyone besides the candidate himself. That may sound like a stretch, but Blake has the all-important job of bringing in new Iowa voters to caucus for the Illinois Senator. And while some campaigns may focus most of their efforts on one or two constituencies — the way John Kerry so successfully courted military veterans in 2004 — Obama is spending an unprecedented amount of money and effort to turn out a wide cross section of new caucus-goers.” Michael has a long history of progressive activism, both as an aide to President Barack Obama and as a New York State Assembly Member. In the Obama White House, Michael was part of the team that passed the Affordable Care Act, an economic stimulus package that ended the Great Recession, and a student loan bill that lowered the cost of attending college. Michael also created the White House Urban Entrepreneurship series to create job opportunities in cities across the country. In Albany, Michael’s signature legislation now ensures that Minority, Women and Small Businesses that contract with New York State and are below 300 employees are paid in 15 days instead of 30. Blake played a key role in passing crucial reforms to the state’s criminal justice system including Raise The Age and Bail reform, passing one of the most ambitious climate change bills in American history, bringing President Obama’s My Brothers’ Keeper program to New York to support young men of color, securing millions of dollars to improve public housing, and funding the Diversity In Medicine program to provide ten scholarships to students of color each year. A proud graduate of Northwestern University, The Bronx native is of Jamaican descent and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Fraternity, Inc., 100 Black Men. This five-year term member of the Council of Foreign Relations is a former NYU and Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics Fellow who is now serving as a Visiting Scholar on Democracy at The W. E. B. Du Bois Center for Freedom and Democracy in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.