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Inspiring Black History Month Speaker Series Starts Now
Diversifying the veterinary field through education and resources

Baltimore, MD. (January 30, 2022) – Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity (CARE) is proud to unveil its second annual Black History Month Speaker Series. Each Wednesday in February, attendees are invited to join inspiring sessions that will raise funds for CARE’s black veterinary scholarships, named after Dr. Jodie G. Blackwell. The four discussions will feature all-black speakers and are designed to spark action to change the two percent.

So what’s the two percent?

African Americans represent only two percent of the veterinary field. CARE wants to raise that number. Last year CARE found that not only is there a low number of African American students, but there is also a large number that are at risk of dropping out due to costs and financial hardships.

The Dr. Jodie G. Blackwell scholarships are designed to alleviate that hardship, and thanks to the fundraising efforts of last year’s speaker series, CARE raised more than $87,000 to support scholarships at four schools, including Tuskegee University, the University of Georgia, and the University of Tennessee Knoxville. This year CARE hopes to raise double that amount.

Dr. ShaRonda Cooper, Assistant Dean for Students at the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, believes “access and opportunity are two things that come to mind when you think about the Blackwell scholarships. The awards help ease financial burdens, open doors, and allow students to pursue their dreams.”

Similar to last year, Tito’s Handmade Vodka for Dog People program is donating $25,000 and Maddie’s Fund is donating $50,000 toward the scholarships.

The speaker series promises to be full of engaging and enlightening conversation, and everyone is invited and encouraged to attend:

Black Queers CARE: American Historical Figures and Kinship
Wednesday, February 2, 7:00 p.m.

CARE’s Chief of Research and Development, Johnny Jenkins, will lead a discussion with activists and scholars discussing Black American queer historical figures, Black LGBQ+ communal kinship, and the role companion pets in our traditional and non-traditional families. Special Guests will be announced soon!

Zoom registration link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIvf-qvqzMpHtRjDjGw17RSBJ9OR1kfa30x

The Lingering Effects of Structural Racism on Housing

Wednesday, February 9, 7:00 p.m

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Join a conversation with CARE’s Board Secretary, Kara D. Beverly, Esq., and Baltimore City Councilman, Dr. John T. Bullock, where they will discuss the impact of redlining and gentrification, the exacerbating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and strategies for a path forward.

Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEpdeysrzoqE9AW4KujGfjw64Afm_CLDyLf

Black Proximate Leaders
Wednesday, February 16, 7:00 p..m

CARE’s Senior Director of Research and Development, Mueni Rudd, will facilitate a conversation with our Black-led CARE Centers. Speakers will address how we can improve Black communities’ access to local pet resources and how animal welfare can begin to acknowledge and repair harm to Black communities locally.

Panel:
Sterling Davis – Trapking Humane Cat Solutions,
Dr. Karlyn Emile – Community and Health Empowerment Network,
Tim Freeman – Braveheart Pets,
Beunca Gainor -Furvever I Love Atlanta,
Nina Love – The Black Thornberry,
Zhaire McCormick – The Neighborhood Center

Zoom Registration Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYvfumprTgvE9PYX0HtGb61ZG5kp7ASVNxv

The Power of Sankofa
Wednesday, February 23, 7:00 p.m.

The “Sankofa” is a metaphorical symbol used by the Akan people of Ghana, generally depicted as a bird with its head turned backward taking an egg from its back. It teaches us we must reach back to value past knowledge, in order to move forward. CARE founder James Evans and colleagues will reflect on previous civil rights movements and leaders while addressing the future.

Zoom Registration Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwrduysrD0tE9QSAUcNFyuSEaKTnpfya8iZ

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About CARE: Companions and Animals for Reform and Equity is a 501©3 nonprofit that addresses organizational and personal biases within animal welfare. The mission is to bring diverse voices to the industry while also advocating for a more inclusive path to pet adoption. CARE believes in using evidence-based tools, narratives, and insights to inspire organizations to be more inclusive and less biased. It is all an effort to save more companion animal lives.

Maddie’s Fund® is a family foundation established in 1994 by Dave and Cheryl Duffield and is the fulfillment of a promise to an inspirational dog, Maddie. She provided them much joy from 1987 – 1997 and continues to inspire them today. The Foundation has awarded over $255 million in grants toward increased community lifesaving, pioneering shelter medicine education, and establishing foster care as a standard across the U.S.

Maddie’s Fund proudly offers the industry a national voice, important funding opportunities for bold ideas, learning resources, and access to collaborate and share innovative solutions. The Foundation invests its resources in a commitment to keeping pets and people together, creating a safety net of care for animals in need, and operating within a culture of inclusiveness and humility. #ThanksToMaddie.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka was founded by sixth-generation Texan, Bert “Tito” Beveridge. In the mid-nineties, on a plot of land in rural Austin, he built a 998 square-foot shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts, and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka. Tito’s corn-based vodka is certified gluten-free. Tito’s Handmade Vodka is distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation, Inc. in Austin, Texas, and is available in Liter, 1.75L, 750ml, 375ml, 200ml, and 50ml sizes.