Program
Welcome to the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium
Adaptive Reuse: Reimagining Black Futures in the Midwest
October 18th-19th, 2024
Dayton, Ohio
This past October, The Black Midwest Initiative explored the vibrant intersections of history, academia, art, and community at our Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium. This year's symposium was hosted at the Dayton Metro Library, a pillar in Dayton’s Black community, and unfolded under the illuminating theme of "Adaptive Reuse.” Adaptive Reuse was more than just a theme or concept at the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium—it was a call to action for Black communities and allies across the Midwest.
Dayton, a city with a rich industrial heritage, stands at the forefront of this movement. In collaboration with local thinkers, creators, activists, and community members, the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium harnessed Dayton's pioneering spirit to engage in critical and empowering dialogues. Together, we explored how Black communities across the Midwest are making sense of and navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by adaptive reuse.
Photos, videos, and more items from this year’s symposium will be available on our website soon! Please check for updates.
Speakers and Schedule Heading link
Key Symposium Events Heading link
The Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium will feature a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, insightful panels, and interactive workshops, the symposium promises to be a melting pot of ideas and inspirations. From the psychic and emotional landscapes to the physical and immaterial, we’ll delve into the myriad ways Black Midwesterners are transforming their communities. Take a peak at some of the events we have in store!
Black History Bus Tour of Dayton
COMPLETELY FILLED***
Friday, October 18th, 1:00-3:00pm
Join us before the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium for a private tour that explores Dayton’s Black history. Sean Walton, Sr. and retired Deputy City Manager for the City of Dayton, William Gillispie, will lead us on a journey thorough the city’s historic landmarks, points of interest, and cultural spaces that have had a critical role in shaping Dayton’s West Side community. Tour stops include the Historic Black YMCA, the Historic Hog Bottom neighborhood, Edgemont Solar Gardens, the Dayton Aviation Heritage National Park and Wright-Dunbar Interpretive Center, the HeArt Dayton (House of Healing Arts), as well as the home of renowned Dayton-born poet and writer, Paul Laurance Dunbar.
*** Unfortunately, all of the spots for the Black History Bus Tour of Dayton have been completely filled. However, attendees are encouraged to sign up for the waitlist with your registration. Individuals will be pulled from the waitlist on a first come, first served basis. Make sure you sign up for the waitlist on your registration form!
BMI Fellows Exhibition
Opens Friday, October 18th at 4:30pm. Exhibition will remain open through the duration of the symposium.
This exhibition presents the innovative work of the inaugural Artist Fellows of the Black Midwest Initiative. The collection offers a multifaceted exploration of the Black Midwest, reimagining the region through diverse and expansive lenses. Themes range from the historical evolution of Midwestern cities and their Black communities to the preservation of oral histories and the construction of archives. Some artists explore personal identities and the complexities of intersectionality as Black Midwesterners, while others focus on the enduring resilience of Black communities, addressing contemporary issues and the urgency of the present moment. Collectively, these works envision new futures for the Black Midwest, deeply anchored in a dialogue with the past, local environments, and each other.
Click here to learn about the Fellows before you see them in Dayton!
Premiere Film Screening: Willis Bing Davis (2024)
Friday, October 18th, 8:00-10:00pm
Rodney Veal will premiere his documentary, Willis Bing Davis: Reach High & Reach Back (2024), which explores the life, cultural contributions, and legacy of renowned Dayton-based artist and educator Willis ‘Bing’ Davis. An internationally recognized artist, educator, and community activist, Davis was raised on Dayton’s East Side during the Civil Rights Movement. He lived, studied, and taught art in Indiana and Ohio, retiring from teaching in 1988 and creating the Willis Bing Davis Art Studio & EbonNia Gallery in Dayton, Ohio. Davis’s artwork beautifully portrays his appreciation for African and African American history and culture. His works include found objects and mixed media with influences from the Civil Rights Movement as well as African and African American textiles.
Premiere Film Screening + Q&A: Dry Bones (2024)
Saturday, October 19th, 2:00-3:30pm
Tara L. Conley will premiere her documentary, Dry Bones, which tells the story of Ike Maxwell, a legendary Black football player during the 1970s whose life was immensely impacted when his brother was shot and killed by a white police officer in Elyria, a city in Ohio confronting a long history of racial tension. There will be a Q&A session with Conley following the film’s screening. Watch the trailer before the symposium.
Meet the Fellows Exhibition Walkthrough
Saturday, October, 19th, 5:00-5:30pm
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from and engage with the Fellows about their projects on display.
Community Dinner
Saturday, October, 19th, 5:30-7:00pm
Join us for conversation, laughter, and delicious food during our community meal. Symposium registration will include a meal ticket for the community meal until Friday, October 4th. However, meal tickets cannot be guaranteed for anyone who registers after this date. Register for the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium by October 4th to guarantee your meal ticket.
The Black Midwest Mixtape
Saturday, October 19th, 7:00-8:30pm
Dive into the vibrant tapestry of Black music that defines the Black Midwest in this closing panel. Join us for a captivating exploration led by musicians, artists, scholars, and journalists celebrating the influential sounds of Dayton funk, Chicago house, Motown, and the Minneapolis sound.
The Afterparty: BMI in the HOUSE
Saturday, October 19th, 9:00pm
The Reserve on Third, 452 E. Third Street Dayton, Ohio 45402
Join us at the Reserve on Third to celebrate and close out the Third Biennial Black Midwest Symposium!
Acknowledgements Heading link
Edward A. Dixon Gallery
Catering: Rich Taste Catering
Exhibition Curation and Program Design: Lungs Project
Source Booksellers
Administrative Support
- Grace deVega
- Sha’ Kurra Evans
- Briana Hanny
- Melissa Portis
2024 Symposium Planning Committee
- Kandise Bobo
- Rose Brewer
- Angela Burdon
- Debi Chess
- Sha’ Kurra Evans
- Tama Hamilton-Wray
- Ezekiel Joubert
- Amaha Sellassie
- Rodney Veal
- Terrion L. Williamson
