An online discussion with Yohanna Tesfai, SAMA's Public Program Manager.

"Free

Join SAMA and invited community members for an online conversation where we will explore Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty and ​their nuances with community members as part of our city’s DreamWeek Celebrations.

What inspired you to create this event? I created this event because I constantly think of the future and what I want to see in it, which is true freedom and agency for all oppressed individuals. I want to do the necessary work now so that a better and brighter future exists for myself and others. Thus when I saw DreamWeek’s 2021 theme of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, I knew now was the time to have this conversation.

How did you find the community panelists for this event? I did a lot of research and received recommendations for people. I was looking for a wide breadth of folks because I wanted to hear different viewpoints. I want to hear from others. I am so excited to learn from our panelists as they all individually do such important work within San Antonio. Check our their bios on SAMA’s website to learn more about what they do and how they contribute to the cultural fabric of our city.

So what does Black Liberation and Indigenous Sovereignty mean? There’s no one answer to this question. The possibilities are infinite and I know our panelists will bring special insight into what it means to them individually. This is a conversation that has taken place over a long time in the grand scheme of things, and I'm excited that our panel will be able to have this conversation at SAMA. Intercultural solidarity is the only way forward into the future.

What can people expect from the event? Will there be Q+A? I hope people will firstly listen and process what the panelists say. It might be uncomfortable for some, while it might be liberating for others. I think it will be a conversation of exploration, dreaming, laughing, and spotlighting Black and Indigenous perspectives. There will definitely be time for questions, and I hope people respectfully ask them."