Introduction

Youth MOVE Change Initiative (YMCI) hosted a virtual summit for youth on November 13th, 2021. Our goal was to hold an intentional space inviting young leaders with lived experience from across the U.S. to weigh in on the current state of peer support within their communities. 

Blair Imani joined us for a keynote conversation to offer knowledge, resources, and a heartfelt conversation.

Blair Imani is a critically acclaimed historian, author, educator, and influencer. Her scholarship spans the subjects of intersectionality, gender studies, race and racism, sociology, and United States history. The New York Times praises Blair Imani’s unique ability to create “progressive lessons with vibrant visuals and a perky, quirky delivery.” She is the author of Read This to Get Smarter: about Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and More (2021), Making Our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream (2020), and Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History (2018). She has lectured and presented at universities including Oxford, Stanford, Brown, Harvard, Duke, and many more. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Tegan and Sara Foundation, and on the Board of Trustees for Muslims for Progressive Values. Her work centers on women and girls, global Black communities, and the LGBTQ community. As an educator and influencer, semi-retired organizer, and public speaker, Blair Imani is dedicated to making the world a better place and amplifying the voices and work of those fighting the good fight.