Global Perspectives on Restorative Justice & Race: Conversation with Fania Davis

February 24, 2021 5:30 pm

Livestream

In this extraordinary moment of unrest and uncertainty, join us for a conversation with civil-rights activist Fania Davis as she makes the case for the importance of global engagement in the non-western world. This special discussion, moderated by Dr. Anu Taranath, will examine how restorative justice, equity and indigeneity can offer a path forward in healing and unifying our nation. This livestream is part of Black History Month Global Discussion 2021.

About the speaker

Fania Davis

Co-Founder and Executive Director, Restorative Justice for Oakland Youth

Fania E. Davis J.D., Ph.D. is a leading national voice on restorative justice. She is a long-time social justice activist, civil rights trial attorney, writer, restorative justice practitioner, and educator with a PhD in Indigenous Knowledge. Coming of age in Birmingham, the murder of two close childhood friends in the 1963 Sunday School bombing crystallized within Fania a passionate commitment to social transformation.

For the next decades, she was active in the Civil Rights, Black liberation, women’s, prisoners’, peace, anti-racial violence, economic justice and anti-apartheid movements. Studying with African indigenous healers catalyzed Fania’s search for a healing justice, ultimately leading her to serve as Founding Director of Restorative Justice of Oakland Youth (RJOY) and Co-Founding Board Member of the National Association of Community and Restorative Justice (NACRJ). Her numerous honors include the Ubuntu award for service to humanity, the Dennis Maloney Award for excellence in Youth Restorative Justice, the Black Feminist Shapeshifters and Waymakers’ Award, the Tikkun (Repair the World) award, the Ella Baker Jo Baker Human Rights Award, and the Ebony POWER 100 award. The Los Angeles Times named her a New Civil Rights Leader of the 21st Century.

About the moderator

Dr. Anu Taranath

Professor, Comparative History of Ideas and Department of English, UW

Dr. Anu Taranath brings both passion and expertise to her work as a speaker, facilitator, author and educator. A UW professor for the past 19 years, she teaches about race, gender, equity, and global literatures. As a racial equity consultant, Dr. Anu offers coaching, training, facilitation and other types of partnerships. Her book Beyond Guilt Trips: Mindful Travel in an Unequal World was named a Finalist for four book awards including the Washington State Book Award, and included in Fodor’s Travel’s “13 Books to Inspire Your Travels” and Oprah Magazine’s “Best 26 Travel Books of All Times.” Dr. Anu and her book have been profiled in YES!, AFAR, Bitch, Mindful and National Geographic, as well as the “Travel with Rick Steves” radio program.

Dr. Anu has led more than a dozen study abroad programs with UW students and beyond, and collaborated with change-makers in more than 15 countries.

Media contact: UW Office of Global Affairs