Discussing Equity and Social Justice with Brant Lee: Race and the Law

When a free, online, 12-week course introducing the impact of the law on equality in America was offered by the University of Akron a year ago, Yoleetah Ilodi, M.D., assistant dean of diversity at Northeast Ohio Medical University, was one of more than 5,000 registrants from across the U.S. 

NEOMED is now making it possible to interact directly with Brant T. Lee, J.D., M.P.P., the creator of the class, which is being offered again this year due to its popularity.

Brant Lee, professor of law and assistant dean for Diversity and Social Justice Initiatives at The University of Akron School of Law, will be the guest speaker for “Discussing Equity and Social Justice with Brant Lee: Race and the Law,” a NEOMED event scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 1, from noon to 1:30 p.m. It is a virtual event, open to all. 

Lee was a natural choice as a guest speaker, given NEOMED’s focus on improving diversity and inclusion “especially amongst historically minoritized individuals,” says Dr. Ilodi. She notes, “NEOMED’s quest begins with understanding the need for further advocacy, education and conversation.”

Professor Lee will discuss why race is so hard to talk about. He’ll lay out a historical perspective on how law in the United States created inequality, focusing in particular on disparities in health and wealth. And he’ll add a personal note, from the perspective of his own Chinese ancestry, on how Asian Americans figure into this discussion of race and the law. 

Dr. Ilodi notes that Lee typically uses a variety of interactive tools, including polls, to engage the virtual audience.

NEXT UP

NEOMED presents events around diversity, equity and inclusion throughout the year. Dr. Ilodi notes that in conjunction with Hispanic Heritage Month in September, NEOMED’s Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) and the College of Medicine will host a virtual panel discussion titled “Diagnosing the USA’s Demography: El vigor de los Hispanos en Estados Unidos,”​ to be held Thursday, Sept. 9, from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Like the Brant Lee event, the Hispanic Heritage Month event will be open to all. 

ABOUT THE PRESENTER

Brant Lee earned a B.A. from The University of California at Berkeley and both J.D. and Master of Public Policy degrees from Harvard University. Prior to joining the University Akron Law faculty, Professor Lee worked as an attorney in private practice in San Francisco, served as Counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, and briefly served as acting Deputy Staff Secretary and Special Assistant to the President in the White House. He currently serves as Chair of the Akron Civil Rights Commission and Co-Director of the Akron Law PLUS (Prelaw Undergraduate Scholars) Program, a diversity pipeline program funded by the Law School Admission Council. 

Attend “Discussing Equity and Social Justice with Brant Lee: Race and the Law” Wednesday, Sept. 1, from noon to 1:30 p.m.