5th Annual Equity & Justice Symposium: The Arc of Black Permanency®

Over 170 BEC network members, partners, funders, and allies joined us for BEC’s 5th annual Equity & Justice Symposium on May 28, 2026. In the midst of continued challenges and barriers to justice facing the Black community, we united under the theme “The Arc of Black Permanency®” to reflect on all that is needed to build a sustainable Black future in Southern California.

Following tradition, we kicked off this year’s gathering with a powerful arrangement of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” before a truly inspiring plenary conversation between Professor Angela Y. Davis and Dr. Ange-Marie Hancock. Professor Davis and Dr. Hancock reminded us that no victory Black people have ever won has gone uncontested, and that there is beauty and joy in embracing the permanency of the struggle itself. Many of us needed to hear the message that we have been here before and we know how to do this.

In breakout sessions and raw and candid funder panel, we unpacked hard truths, but also uplifted the unflappable commitment and stirring creativity channeled by BLOs in our collective work to shape the infrastructure necessary to achieve Black Permanency®. We also announced and launched the BEC Archive Project, which will ensure a record of this work endures.

We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors for the generous support that made this shared experience possible: Avery Dennison, Black Land Loss Narrative Archive Project, California Community Foundation, PICO California, Kaiser Permanente, SoCalGas, Allison Thomas Racial Justice Fund, The James Irvine Foundation, CA Healthcare Foundation, WHH Foundation, GRoW @ Annenberg Foundation, and Black Vision and Defense Fund.