CSU JUNETEENTH SYMPOSIUM

Systemwide Juneteenth Video

Black National Anthem
Performed by First African Methodist Episcopal Church Pasadena Choir

Welcome by Master of Ceremonies
Dominique DiPrima
Radio personality, producer, and activist

First African Methodist Episcopal Church Pasadena Choir is a vibrant ministry dedicated to preserving and uplifting the rich tradition of gospel music through worship, performance, and community engagement. Rooted in faith and cultural heritage, the choir inspires audiences through powerful musical expression that celebrates hope, unity, and spiritual renewal. Through performances at worship services, community events, and special programs, the choir continues to share a message of faith, resilience, and love while fostering fellowship and cultural connection throughout the Pasadena and greater Los Angeles communities. 
 

Dominique DiPrima is the host and producer of First Things First on KBLA Talk 1580, making history as the first African American woman to host a commercial drive-time talk radio show in Los Angeles. Born in New York and raised in California, she is the daughter of Beat poet Diane DiPrima and Black Arts Movement pioneer Amiri Baraka. A longtime community advocate, DiPrima has led violence prevention initiatives, served on the Los Angeles Commission on the Status of Women, and was named Los Angeles Pioneer Woman of the Year in 2019. 

Remarks from the CSU Chancellor
Mildred García, Ed.D.

Remarks from the Cal State LA President
Berenecea Johnson Eanes, Ph.D.

Dr. Mildred García is a nationally respected higher education leader and the current chancellor of the California State University system. Known for her deep commitment to student success, equity, and opportunity, she has spent her career expanding access to higher education and supporting diverse communities across the country. Before becoming CSU’s first Latina chancellor, she served as president of Cal State Fullerton, CSU Dominguez Hills, and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. A first-generation college graduate herself, García is widely admired for her thoughtful leadership, dedication to public education, and passion for helping students achieve their goals.
 

Dr. Berenecea Johnson Eanes is an accomplished educator and higher education leader who currently serves as president of Cal State LA. As the first woman to lead the university, she is recognized for her strong commitment to student success, community engagement, and educational equity. Before joining Cal State LA, she served as president of York College in New York and held leadership roles within the California State University system, including at Cal State Fullerton. With a background in social work and a lifelong passion for expanding opportunity through education, Eanes is widely respected for her compassionate leadership, collaborative spirit, and dedication to empowering students and communities.

Marc H. Morial
President & CEO, National Urban League

Marc H. Morial is President and CEO of the National Urban League and the former Mayor of New Orleans. One of the nation’s leading civil rights leaders, Morial has dedicated his career to economic empowerment, voting rights advocacy, education reform, and expanding opportunities for underserved communities. Under his leadership, the National Urban League has advanced initiatives focused on workforce development, entrepreneurship, and social justice nationwide. 

10-Minute Break

Moderator:

• Asia Shabazz
  Los Angeles-Based Podcaster, DJ, Host, Producer, and Cultural Curator

Panelists:

• Zoanne Clack, MD, MPH
  Television Writer & Executive Producer, Grey’s Anatomy
   
• Tamala Barksdale
  Chief Intelligence Officer, madeXus Agency
   
• Shonda Goward, Ed.D.
  Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success, California State University, Office of the Chancellor
   
• Arinze Jiroh
  CSU Student, Psychology & Pan-African Studies Major 

Asia Shabazz is is a host, DJ, producer, and experience curator whose work centers on culture, community, and meaningful connection. Drawing from her Filipino and African American heritage, she creates spaces where diverse voices and stories can be celebrated. With a background spanning entertainment, live events, and community engagement, Asia is known for fostering authentic dialogue and creating memorable experiences that bring people together. Through music, storytelling, and conversation, she is committed to building connection across cultures, generations, and communities.
 

Zoanne Clack, MD, MPH is an award-winning television writer, producer, showrunner, and physician best known for her work on ABC's Grey's Anatomy and Station 19. She earned a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and Neurobiology from Northwestern University, a medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and a Master of Public Health in Behavioral Sciences from Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health. She completed her residency in Emergency Medicine at Emory and also worked with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in international emergency medicine.

After practicing medicine, Dr. Clack transitioned to television, beginning as a staff writer for Presidio Med and serving as a medical advisor on ER. She has been part of Grey's Anatomy since its inception, rising from writer and medical advisor to executive producer and showrunner. She also served as executive producer and co-showrunner of Station 19.

Her television credits include Grey's Anatomy, Station 19, ER, Presidio Med, The District, and Philly. A recipient of a Writers Guild of America Award as part of the Grey's Anatomy writing staff, Dr. Clack is widely recognized for bringing medical authenticity, compelling storytelling, and a commitment to equity and representation to television.
 

Tamala Barksdale is the Chief Intelligence Officer and Partner at the award-winning agency madeXus, where she has led multicultural strategy and award-winning campaigns for brands including AT&T, HBO, Disney, Coca-Cola, UCLA Health, the NBA, and the CDC. She also served on the Austin ISD Board of Trustees, representing more than 1.4 million residents and earning a 90% approval rating during her tenure. Known for blending culture, strategy, and public service, Barksdale is also recognized for her memorable viral appearance at the Grammys.
 

Dr. Shonda Goward is currently serving as the Interim Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success at the California State University, Office of the Chancellor, where she leads systemwide efforts to improve student outcomes and close equity gaps across all 22 CSU campuses. She advances the CSU's student success goals through policy development, data-informed decision-making, and scalable support services, with particular focus on improving outcomes for systematically excluded student populations across the CSU system. Dr. Goward's professional focus and research center on strategies for retaining historically excluded students and fostering their academic achievement and well-being. She holds a B.A. with dual majors in journalism and mass communication, and political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, an M.A. in English with a concentration in African American Literature from Southern Connecticut State University, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from The George Washington University. A California native, Dr. Goward's family migrated to the Bay Area during the Great Migration of the 1940s. She is a first-generation college graduate from a working-class background, and is proud to represent that perspective in her roles in the CSU.
 

Arinze Jiroh is a psychology and Pan-African studies major at California State University, Los Angeles whose work focuses on mental health advocacy and culturally informed care. He has experience in residential and outpatient mental health treatment, currently serving as a Case Manager supporting teens and adults in PHP and IOP programs. In 2020, he received the National Outstanding Performance Award from the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, and he was selected as President Johnson Eanes’s 2026 nominee for the Panetta Institute for Public Policy Congressional Internship Program. 

Collective Acknowledgment of Speakers & Participants

Final MC Closing & Call to Action

Cultural Performance by African Soul International 

African Soul International is a Los Angeles-based cultural arts organization founded in 1998 by Dr. Adama “Jewel” Jackson to preserve and celebrate authentic African dance, drumming, music, and storytelling traditions. Through performances, workshops, and educational programs, the organization has impacted more than 100,000 youth and community members nationwide, promoting cultural awareness, youth empowerment, and community healing through the arts. Recognized with Congressional honors and trusted by schools, universities, and major organizations, African Soul International continues to use traditional African drumming and cultural education to inspire, educate, and strengthen communities.