A Restorative Equity Initiative Conference for UMass Boston Student Parents
What is Parenting Justice?
Parenting Justice is a restorative justice initiative focused on expanding meaningful support, recognition, and equity for student parents at UMass Boston with the goal of strengthening policies, resources, and community connections that help all student parents succeed and thrive. Parenting Justice welcomes everyone interested in expanding support for student parents and fostering a more inclusive campus community, whether they seek resources, connection, advocacy, or institutional change.
Student Parent Conference
Friday, March 27
10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
UMass Boston Campus Center, Ballroom AB
Join us at the Student Parent Conference!
- Restorative Circles for mothers and fathers/partners
- Children-Focused Session for parents of children with disabilities
- Faculty/Staff Training Panel on trauma-informed, equitable practices
- Campus Resource Fair for legal, health, parenting, and academic support
- Student Parent Conference Event Flyer
Conference Program
10:00–10:30 a.m. - Registration
10:30–11:00 a.m. - Opening & Introduction
- Charlotte Nnambi, Grant Recipient & Organizer
- Yumiko Inukai, PhD, Chair, Dept. of Philosophy
- Allison Little, Assistant Commissioner, MA Dept. of Higher Education
11:00–11:45 a.m. - Presention
- William Byansi, MSW, PhD, Assistant Professor, Boston College School of Social Work and a Global Mental Health Researcher. Supporting Student Parents: Mental Health, Resilience and Pathways to Academic Success.
11:45–11:55 a.m. - Break
12:00–12:45 p.m. - Keynote Presention
- Roudnie Célestin, the Board President and Communications Chair for Dorchester Co-op.
1:00–2:00 p.m. - Lunch and Student Panel
- Abiodun Baiyewu, VET: Godfrey Sebalabye, Ellen Assuah, Salome N. Gitau
2:15–3:15 p.m. - Presention
- Rita Kiki Edozie, PhD, Professor, Senior Associate Dean and Chief Academic Officer, CUNY-School of Labor and Urban Studies. Parenting Student Success Policy Initiatives: From Working Mother Doctoral Student to Higher Education Executive
3:23–4:24 p.m. - Faculty Panel
- Andrea Haas
- Kara Knott
- Chiquita Baylor
- Laurie Nsiah-Jefferson
- Christopher Zurn
4:30 p.m. - Closing Remarks
Student Parent Conference Speakers
Keynote Speaker
She was born and raised in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. A proud quadrilingual leader, singer, writer, and theater enthusiast, Roudnie has built a career at the intersection of education, arts & culture, equity, and public service. She earned a degree in Ethics, Social, and Political Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts Boston (“Just Mercy” Book Award Winner in the Philosophy & Law Program) and one in Communications at MassBay Community College.
Roudnie is a former Harvard University Haitian Creole instructor. The year after graduation, she was appointed by then-Mayor Martin J. Walsh as Mayoral Liaison to Dorchester, Mattapan, and Haitians Citywide. Some of her achievements for the City of Boston include: executing the pantry renaming project for the Boston Public Health pantry building to “Shirley’ s Pantry”; running two rounds of the Mayor’s Fireworks Task Force – a public health initiative to raise awareness on the effects of excessive noise in our neighborhoods. She was the Inaurugal Equity Officer for the Boston Public Library, serving all of its 25+ branches and locations and 400+ employees. There, she led the Library’s first Equity Intern Program as well as the systemwide initiative, “Video Remote Interpretation” to offer 130+ languages for patrons, including Sign Language, at the touch of a button.
Her curiosity and dedication made possible the creation of the first-ever Haitian cultural center in New England: the Toussaint Louverture Center, located in the North End waterfront, next to TD Garden.
She recently co-led the formation of the Urban College of Boston Foundation as Special Assistant to the President. The College “meet students whenever and wherever they are”, having a campus community comprised largely of women and individuals of immigrant backgrounds.
Today, she is the Board President and Communications Chair for the Dorchester Food Co-op. The Co-op is “community- & worker-owned grocery store that makes healthy food accessible and advances economic opportunity through neighborhood engagement.”
Speakers
Senior Associate Dean and Chief Academic Officer
Professor, CUNY-School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU), City University of New York (CUNY)
Title of Presentation: Parenting Student Success Policy Initiatives: From Working Mother Doctoral Student to Higher Education Executive
Assistant Professor
Boston College School of Social Work and a global mental health researcher
Title of Presentation: Supporting Student Parents: Mental Health, Resilience and Pathways to Academic Success.
Our Goals
- Advocate for Equity and Inclusion: Champion equitable policies and practices at UMass Boston that recognize and support the diverse needs of student parents and caregivers.
- Build Community and Connection: Foster a strong, inclusive network of student parents, caregivers, faculty, and staff that offers mutual support, mentorship, and belonging.
- Advance Institutional Change: Collaborate with campus partners to create family-friendly spaces, flexible academic policies, and lasting structures that ensure student parents can thrive.
- Promote Healing and Restorative Practices: Provide opportunities for reflection, dialogue, and collective healing through restorative circles, storytelling, and community gatherings.
- Increase Visibility and Leadership: Elevate the voices and experiences of student parents through advocacy, education, and leadership development, highlighting parenting as a vital part of the academic community.