Visibilizing a Freedom Fighter Silvia Hector Webber: A Legacy of Resistance

Our symposium “Visibilizing a Freedom Fighter, Silvia Hector Webber: A Legacy of Resistance & Black Freedom in North America” will be held at the Emma S. Barrientos Mexican American Cultural Center in Austin Texas on Saturday July 25, 2026. This symposium will not only highlight the Webber Family history in Texas but other descendants who have taken the lead in the preservation and restoration of their history, culture, and sites. Join us for a day of learning, empowering, and sharing.

SCHEDULE

10:00-10:13 am

Welcome & Introduction of Keynote Speaker Dr. María Esther Hammack

10:15-11:00

Inaugural Keynote by Dr. Cheryl LaRoche

11:00-11:10

Brief Break

11:10-12:00 noon

Panel 1: The Legacy of Silvia Hector Webber & the Role of Her Descendants in Reclaiming Her Story. Chair: Dr. Theresa Gatling. Speakers: OJ Treviño, Sofia Bravo, ZaDarius Webber, Victorianna Mejia.

12:00-1:00 pm

Panel 2: Beyond Harriet Tubman: Visibilizing Black Women’s Resistance in North America

Chair: Dr. Angela Valenzuela. Speakers: Dr. Jazma Sutton, Dr. Rolonda Teal.

1:00pm-1:55pm

Catered Lunch

2:00pm-3:15 pm

Panel 3: Bridging Underground Railroads: A Continental Overview of Freedom Pursuits

Chair: TBD. Speakers: Kimberly Simmons, Corina Torralba, Russell Contreras.

3:15pm-3:30pm

Break

3:30pm-4:30 pm

Panel 4: The Consequence of Reclaiming Your Ancestors’ Stories. Chair: Dr. DL Grant. Speakers: Tamara Lanier, Windy GoodLoe, Roger Sashington.

4:30pm-4:40pm

Brief Break

4:40pm-5:40pm

Panel 5: The Webber Geographies of Resistance: A Digital Mapping Project

Chair: Leslie Treviño. Speakers: Dr. Javier Wallace, Colby Coppinger.

5:40pm-6:40pm

Panel 6: Silvia’s Story in the Context of Mexican History & Black Liberation in North America. Chair: Victorianna Mejia. Speakers: Jumko Ogata Aguilar, Dr. María Esther Hammack.

6:45pm-7:00pm

Concluding Remarks, Dr. Angela Valenzuela