Law and Society Week

Monday, February 27, 2023

Commemorating Black History Month
Opening Event with Keynote Speaker Keir Bradford-Grey, Esq.

9:40 to 11:10 a.m., Room C2-28

Presenters: Malika Rahman, instructor, Criminal Justice, Billy Love, J.D., associate professor, Justice; and Judy Cruz-Ransom, instrictor, Criminal Justice

Please join Dr. Generals in welcoming keynote speaker Keir Bradford-Grey, Esq. to the opening session of Law and Society Week. Bradford-Grey is a partner in Montgomery McCracken’s Litigation department and co-chair of the firm's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She concentrates her practice on white-collar and government investigations and criminal defense, while also leading the firm’s Executive Leadership practice group. As a trial attorney, Keir achieved record-breaking wins while defending high-profile clients at the state and federal levels. In her former role as Chief Defender of the Defender Association of Philadelphia, Keir not only led communities to be in partnership with the justice system stakeholders, she ensured collaboration between city and state elected officials to advance reforms in policing and spearheaded constructive alternatives for our system. She was also responsible for building community-government partnerships that sought to empower communities to be a part of the justice reform process. As a result of her work, there are ten community justice hubs in the city of Philadelphia that bring informed and practical options to our justice system practices. 

Tuesday, February 28, 2023

Thinking About Unconscious Bias 

9:40 to 11:10 a.m., Room C2-28

Presenter: Dr. Faye Allard, associate professor, Social Science and head, Department of Social Sciences

At the end of this workshop, participants will be able uncover the unconscious biases they hold, reflect on where they have learned this bias and learn what to do to overcome this bias.  

"Deeply Routed: When the King Comes Home," Film Screening

11:20 a.m. to 12:50 p.m., Room C2-28

More than 20,000 black men in Pennsylvania are detained in Pennsylvania state prisons. When adding the population in jails in Pennsylvania, this number exceeds 35,000 men. At some point, these men return to their home communities. Often called reentry, how we understand and embrace the realities of incarceration and return tells us about who we are as a diverse, inclusive and equitable community. Join the Reawakening Agency for a documentary film on reentry and the opportunity to discuss reducing future incarceration.

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Self as Transgression: Trans Detainees and Human Rights Workshop

9:40 to 11:10 a.m. | Join us on Zoom

Presenter: Dr. Tabitha Morgan, assistant professor, English

Participants will learn about existent laws, human rights codes, detention violations and ways to support trans folx in detention centers. 

Accessing, Preserving, and Protecting BIPOC Homeownership

12:40 to 2:10 p.m. |Join us on Zoom

Presenter: Kenneth Bigos, executive director, Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania (AHCOPA)

Participants will understand the barriers for people of color to achieve home ownership, the work of housing counseling and its role to increase and protect home ownership, as well as how legal entities can partner with housing counseling agencies to address BIPOC home ownership and the growing racial wealth gap.

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Mock Oral Argument in the U.S. Supreme Court case of 303 Creative LLC v. Elenis

11:20 to 12:50 a.m. | Room C2-28

Presenters: Liz Canapary, J.D., assistant professor, Justice; and Billy Love, J.D., associate professor, Justice

A Colorado website designer said that she would not design a website for same-sex-marriage ceremonies. Her position conflicted with a state public accommodation law known as the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act. A federal appeals court ruled against the designer who claims that this law violates her First Amendment free speech rights as an artist.