Dr. Booker will provide the opening welcome to hundreds of convening attendees across the nation. StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network builds on successes from coast to coast, representing nearly 70 communities across 29 states and Washington, D.C.

Dr. Booker will lead a breakout session entitled Equity Matters, taking a deep dive into understanding equity and its impact on our community. Participants will deepen their understanding of why several of our nation’s most forward-thinking communities and organizations have committed themselves to achieving greater equity for their citizens. Most importantly, we will become better equipped to advocate for a more diverse, inclusive, and equitable community in our respective areas.

One Acorn will lead a discussion about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the board of trustees and administration of Gaston Day School.

As a part of their monthly Lunch and Learn, Dr. Booker and Bill Barnet are excited to have joining them two outstanding community leaders – Darrin Goss and John Simpkins. As we continue a month-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. they are looking forward to their annual discussion of his famous writing, Letter from a Birmingham Jail (August 1963).

The Riley Institute and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and , more recently, South Carolina ETV, have partnered to bring to Furman and the broader community the annual StraighTalk series. Dr. Booker will join Angela Glover Blackwell - founder in residence at PolicyLink, John Simpkins - president of MDC, and Gavin Jackson - host of South Carolina ETV’s This Week in South Carolina during the last session of The Riley Institute’s three-part weekly series entitled Straight Talk 2021: Structural Racism.

https://www.furman.edu/riley/speaker-award-events/speaker-events/straighttalk-2021-structural-racism/

Dr. Booker will speak to the participants of Leadership South Carolina on Equity and Inclusion and Business Development.

As a part of One Acorn’s ongoing relationship with Gibbs Cancer Center & Research Institute, an Unconscious Bias training session will be conducted by Ms. Ricaye Harris of Milliken & Company.

Dr. Booker will participate in a community Racial Healing Circle, a tool to “provide opportunities to engage with perceived others in ways that enable self-reflection and nonthreatening acknowledgement of one’s own previously unquestioned assumptions and biases.” This process was developed by Dr. Gail Christopher during her tenure as Vice President for Policy and Senior Adviser for the Kellogg Foundation.

Dr. Booker will share with students insights into creating their personal brand.

This four-part series hosted by the City of Spartanburg will address issues of health, community, racial injustice and education. Leading up to and following the MLK Virtual Celebration on January 18. Dr. Booker will serve as a guest panelist along with SMC President Scott Cochran in a conversation surrounding equity in education and the impact of COVID-19 on our students.

The Community Unity event, normally an in-person breakfast, is held on the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday to celebrate and expand diversity initiatives in Greenville and Pitt County. Dr. Booker will be the featured speaker. The 2021 Community Unity event will be shared via live stream.

As a part of their monthly Lunch and Learn, Dr. Booker and Bill Barnet are excited to have joining them two outstanding community leaders – Darrin Goss and John Simpkins. As we continue a month-long celebration of the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. they are looking forward to their annual discussion of his famous writing, Letter from a Birmingham Jail (August 1963).

In October 2020 Hub City Writers Project: The First 25 Years was released chronicling fifty iconic stories of the twenty-five-year history of the organization. In an effort to enrich their future work on the board and to provide meaningful time to grow as a governing body, Dr. Booker will facilitate a mini-retreat for Monday, January 11, from Noon-3:00pm.

One Acorn will co-facilitate this session in partnership with Ricaye Harris, Director of Diversity & Inclusion, and Ottilia Scanlon, Director of Learning & Development at Milliken & Company. This session will focus on unconscious bias and will help participants recognize and address biases that occur personally and within the healthcare industry.

Dr. Booker will continue his engagement with District 7’s Viking Early College’s Class of 2021. This third session will include the exploration of his one of his favorite stories, The Man Who Planted Trees. Co-facilitator, Bill Barnet, provided a copy of the book to each participant and will share his perspective on our role in building a better society.