JSCC Hosts Birmingham Youth Peace Summit

November 16, 2018 mpartain Blog

Birmingham Youth Peace Summit

Peace Summit Icon1

Jefferson State’s Phi Theta Kappa and Student Government Association held the Birmingham Youth Peace Summit on November 14. Students learned about using creative non-violence to change the world! Activities included:

  • A dialog between an attorney and a police officer on rights and responsibilities when engaging in protests/civil disobedience.
  • Break-out sessions using art, writing, social media and debating skills.
  • A mock protest.
  • Discussions on how to take the next steps in the quest for peace.

Speakers

Niles, Ann
Ann Niles was born and raised in the Smithfield Area of Birmingham, AL. She attended the Historical A.H. Parker High School in Birmingham, AL. After completing several courses at a Local Business College she attended U.A.B. and went on to work for Alabama Power for 35 1/2 years. Ann Niles is a dedicated volunteer at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where she enjoys greeting guests and sharing her courageous experience of being a vital part of the Children’s March Movement during the Civil Rights Movement in Birmingham, AL. She and her husband Al Niles Sr. have been married for 45 years and have 4 adult sons.

John Archibald
John Archibald is a columnist for The Birmingham News and Al.com. He writes fearlessly about issues facing our city, state, nation, and world, often giving voice to the voiceless. In 2018, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary.

Spillers, Elliot
Elliot Spillers, Equal Justice Initiative Fellow, obtained a B.S. in Commerce and Business Management in 2016 from the University of Alabama. As the second person of color in school history to be elected Student Government Association President, he advocated for survivors of sexual assault and established the inaugural position of Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion. A YWCA Central Alabama Social Justice AmeriCorps Member in Birmingham, he coordinated social justice programs for high school students, investigating the role of heritage, culture, and racial identity in adolescent development.

Daniels, Gabrielle
Gabrielle Daniels, Racial Justice Fellow at the Equal Justice Initiative, has a B.S. in Biology from Iowa State University (2010) and a Master of Public Health from the Yale School of Public Health (2016), where she focused on social determinants of health and research-based program interventions. In 2017, she completed a Masters-Fellowship from Duke Divinity School, concentrating in Theology, Medicine, and Culture. Her research background has sought to address the needs of vulnerable people, from homeless shelter populations in Connecticut to rural communities in Cambodia.

Arnold, Erin
Dr. Erin K Arnold is the current chair of Biology at Jefferson State Community College. She received a Ph.D. in Pathology from UAB and found her true calling in teaching. She is also a proud alumni of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where she learned early on that her voice mattered and has carried that lesson with her to this day. She also is active in various community organizations including Moms Demand Action and Planned Parenthood.

Georgia, Erin
Erin Jane Georgia, As a decorated veteran and former sergeant in the United States Marine Corps from 2001-2005, Erin served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. Erin recently earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership and graduated summa cum laude from both Jefferson State Community College and Samford University. In 2016, Erin earned the title of New Century Scholar, which is the number one ranking community college student in the Alabama, and she also earned a spot on the 2016 All-USA Academic Team, which honors the top 20 community college students in the entire nation. Erin works as leadership staff for Saint Junia United Methodist Church where she shares administrative and pastoral duties with Senior Pastor Dr. Dave Barnhart. She has been married to Matt, also a former Marine, for nearly 13 years. Together, they parent their two living children, Julia who is 11 and Annie who is 9.

Webster Maggie
Maggie Webster attended Jefferson State Community College from 2007-2009. While at JSCC, she was an active member in the Beta Lambda Delta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. In 2008, she became an international vice president of Phi Theta Kappa, making her one of five international officers out of over 130,000 members. After graduating from JSCC, she attended Millsaps College on a full scholarship. She then graduated from LSU law school in 2014. She now works in Baton Rouge, Louisiana as a mitigation specialist representing death penalty appeals clients.

Lewis Brooks
Dr. Lewis Brooks – Superintendent Elect of Shelby County Schools. Dr. Brooks has served in many positions over my 27-year career including teacher, principal, elementary district coordinator, middle school district coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent of Administration. Dr. Brooks has not only been an educator, but has served our community. He has served on numerous boards including the YMCA, Kings Home, the D.A.Y. Program and as the current Vice President of Awards and Recognition for the University of Montevallo National Alumni Board. He has also volunteered to coach numerous youth sports teams throughout our community.

Mark Bailey
Mark Bailey – Chief of Police, Jefferson State Community College

Traci Jones
Traci Jones – Gallery Experience Manager at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, was born and raised in Alabama. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in African American Studies from University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2016. She is now married to Byron Jones and the couple has four children. Additionally, Traci holds memberships with the following organizations: National Association of Interpretation (NAI), National Museum of African American History Culture (NMAAHC), American Association for State and Local History (AASLH).

Patrick Mayton
Patrick Mayton received a BFA in Printmaking with minors in Art History, Drawing, and Sculpture from the University of Montevallo in 1998. He was accepted to the graduate program in Printmaking at Arizona State University in 2000 and completed his MFA in 2004. Currently, he is a full-time art instructor at Jefferson State Community College. He also shows his art in local galleries and helps his students to show their art in the greater-Birmingham community.

Speech Team
The Jefferson State Speech Team competes in individual speaking and interpretation events as well as IPDA debate at tournaments across the country. IPDA (International Public Debate Association) is an impromptu style of debate where the affirmative and negative speakers draw a different topic each round and have 30 minutes to prepare their arguments. The Speech Team will be traveling to several tournaments this year, including ones hosted by Middle Tennessee State University, Mississippi College, The University of West Florida, Louisiana State University and Bossier Parish Community College. The team will travel to the International Forensics Association Tournament in March, which will be held in Berlin, Germany. The team provides full-tuition scholarships to eligible students. Interested parties may contact Dr. Janice Ralya ([email protected]) for more information.

Date & Time

November 14th, 2018

  • 8:30 – 9:00 – Registration
  • 11:00 – 11:30 – Lunch
  • 2:00 – Break for the day

For more information contact – Liesl Harris [email protected]

Registration Deadline November 7, 2018