Dr. Yancy Freeman, chancellor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, will be the keynote speaker for the 25th African American Leadership Conference on Tuesday, April 16, in Jackson. The conference will run from 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center and is offered through the university’s WestStar Leadership Program and other sponsors.
In addition to Freeman, this milestone year for the conference will feature speakers and panelists from private business, education, law enforcement and health care who will address opportunities and challenges facing African Americans in West Tennessee.
The idea for the conference originated with the 1997 WestStar Class when Dr. Bob Smith, WestStar co-founder and UT Martin chancellor emeritus, suggested the conference as a class project. The first conference was first held in 1999 and organized by original conference committee members Evelyn Robertson Jr., Whiteville; Minnie Bommer, Covington; Jean Carney, Brownsville; Barbara Gray, Paris; Anne Banks, Brownsville; Myrtle Russell, Jackson; and Gill Petty, Jackson. Committee members Thomas Taylor and Maurice Smith are deceased.
The conference is the first and only of its kind in the state that explores challenges and opportunities for the African American leader. Since its inception, conference organizers have presented 15 awards each for under-40 and over-40 African American leaders.
Following the 8 a.m. registration and a continental breakfast, the program will include the following:
8:20: Welcome from Dr. Bob Smith, co-founder and honorary member, WestStar Leadership Program; senior associate for executive leadership and talent development; the University of Tennessee System; UT Martin chancellor emeritus.
8:30 – Keynote Address – Dr. Yancy Freeman, chancellor, UT Martin
9:00 – Panel on Preparing Today’s Students Based Upon the Changing Landscape of Education
9:45 – “Keeping Our Homes and Communities Safe” presented by Officer Curtis Cozart, Jackson Police Department
10:15 – Break
10:30 – “Secure the Bag/Show me the Money” presented by Lynne Henning, financial advisor, Senior VP Investments, Smith Campbell Group of Raymond James
11:00 – Panel on Networking to Identify Challenges and Discuss Solutions impacting African American Communities
11:45 – Lunch – Reflecting Back 25 Years, African American Leadership Conference
12:30 – “Interactive Leadership Fun” presented by Suzanne Harper and Courtney Echols, owners, Extra Credit Team Solutions
1:00 – “Public Health Issues Affecting the African American Community” presented by Dr. Michelle Taylor, division director for health services, Shelby County Health Department
Register for the conference at www.utm.edu/weststar. Registration is $40 per person and should be completed by April 10. For more information, contact Virginia Grimes, assistant director, the WestStar Leadership Program, at 731-881-7787 or vgrimes@utm.edu.
The conference is made possible by WestStar in partnership with the City of Brownsville, Conner Real Estate, Crockett County, Mark Heaston in memory of Ruby Heaston, Mary Jones in memory of Ina Yarbrough (WestStar Class of 1990), Jonah Housing Authority, Community Foundation of West Tennessee, the city of Covington, TRANE of West Tennessee and the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.
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