How we shape our public monuments shapes us | Imari Paris Jeffries | TEDxBoston

If the story of America was told only through our collective public monuments, it would currently be a story of violence, war, and subjugation.

How might we instead create monuments of love, of belonging, and more inclusively shape the surroundings that shape us?

One deliberate act: unveiled in 2023, "The Embrace Memorial" is an important cultural symbol of equity and justice for Boston residents and visitors.

The artwork is a permanent monument representing the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King’s love and powerful presence in Boston, a time that helped shape their approach to an equitable society. Imari K. Paris Jeffries, Ph.D., is the President and CEO of Embrace Boston, where he is leading a citywide racial equity transformation through The Embrace monument, the Embrace Center, and ongoing community organizing efforts. Imari brings a wealth of experience from the nonprofit management, racial equity, community activism, education reform, and social justice sectors and has served in executive roles at Parenting Journey, Jumpstart, Boston Rising, and Friends of The Children.

Imari has extensive professional experience in public, national, and nonprofit leadership and has supplemented his work with volunteer service on boards. These have included Jumpstart, the African American Federation of Greater Boston, Save the Harbor, Save the Bay, the Elizabeth Peabody House, the Massachusetts Mentoring Partnership, the Edward Brooke Charter School, The Providers Council, and Third Sector New England.

Imari was recently named one of Boston’s most Influential Bostonians by Boston Magazine and the Boston Business Journals Power 50. He is a four-time graduate of UMass Boston and received his Ph.D. through UMass Boston's Higher Education Program in June 2023. An Army veteran, Imari served from 1991-1996. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

Видео How we shape our public monuments shapes us | Imari Paris Jeffries | TEDxBoston канала TEDx Talks