OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE 2020 NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT AT JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY IN MONTGOMERY, AL HAS BEEN CONVERTED TO A FREE VIRTUAL EXPERIENCE. PLEASE JOIN US TWICE-WEEKLY FOR THE VIRTUALLY NATIONAL YOUTH SUMMIT. REGISTER FOR FREE AT THEVIRTUALNYS.EVENTBRITE.COM AND FEEL FREE TO EXPLORE THE 2019 NYS AGENDA AND PAST WORKSHOPS BELOW.

THE 2019 AGENDA

PAST CIVIL RIGHTS PANELS HAVE INCLUDED:

• Past Summits have included intimate conversations with several of our national civil rights legends including: Former US Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. Dr. C.T. Vivian, two-time successor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Lynne M. Jackson, Founder and President of the Dred Scott Heritage Foundation, Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Chairman of the Board of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Freedom Rider, Director of the Poor People’s Campaign, and SNCC Director of Selma voting initiative, Dr.  Terrence Roberts, one of The Little Rock Nine, Edith Lee Payne, The 12-year-old face of the March on Washington and lifelong civil and human rights advocate, Hezekiah Watkins, the youngest Freedom Rider during the Civil Rights Movement, and Ken Morris, Jr. both the great-great-great-grandson of Frederick Douglass and the great-great-grandson of Booker T. Washington.

PAST WORKSHOPS HAVE INCLUDED:

The Dilemma of underrepresented males in Medicine: A crisis of Diminishing Black Male Physicians”. This presentation will review the demographics of African American physicians in the US, with particular emphasis on the crisis of reducing numbers of available matriculating black male physician candidates. We will explore the historical context and potential ramifications of this phenomenon. We will also identify barriers and potential interventions to arrest this serious issue as America becomes more multicultural and ethnic minorities shift both in numbers and in economic power.

“Hidden Figures, a panel of women engineers including a civil engineer responsible for road design and construction, a president of an engineering firm, an engineering professor, and a bio-engineer/physician.

• A panel of legislators

• A panel of police chiefs

• “Building a Company with Heart, The story of creating Build-A-Bear Workshop” presented by Maxine Clark, Founder and former CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop.

• “Rethinking Race: Developing a counter-narrative for success” Presented by Tony Neal, President and CEO of Educational Equity Consultants and colleagues Dr. Billie Mayo and Dr. Phil Hunsberger In this session, individuals will engage in a wide range of strategies aimed at comprehending, interpreting, evaluating, and appreciating history. Participants will explore how Rap, Hip-Hop, poetry, and role plays can be used to create a new narrative.

• “The Game-Changing Assist: Six Simple Ways to Choose Success” presented by Angela Lewis, basketball coach of the woman’s basketball team, SURGE, use sports as a metaphor for life, students will be empowered to enhance their individual skills, collaborate with a team and contribute to our global community by sharing their gifts with others. Moreover, in this session, students will be inspired to take complete responsibility for their future. Rm 200 LH

• “Hands on Banking” presented by Laraine L. Davis, Vice President, Community Relations, Wells Fargo Advisors and staff.

• “From Civil Rights Leader to Mayor, to the Olympics – It’s all about economics” Presented by Ambassador Andrew Young. Participants will journey with Ambassador Young as he creates an understanding of the driving force behind issues confronting us in America. From advising Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during the 1960s civil rights movement, to being Mayor of Atlanta, US Congressman and US Ambassador to the UN to being Co-Chair of the Centennial Olympic Committee, Ambassador Young will challenge participants to understand the interwoven significance of economic power.

• “Mandatory Minimums” presented by former Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court and current dean of Saint Louis University School of Law, Roger Goldman, Professor Emeritus of Constitutional Law at Saint Louis University School of Law and Adjoa Aiyetoro JD, Associate Professor of Law, University of Arkansas Little Rock, this breakout session will explore the expansion of mandatory minimum sentencing, the role of police and its impact on education, the economy and global community.

• “Economic and Technology Opportunities.” STEM presentation presented by Dr. Lance McCarthy and Bill Kent. This session will examine technology and economic history of African Americans while encouraging youth in the opportunities through careers and entrepreneurship. Technology trends will be discussed such as “Hip Tech”, where entertainers and athletes are investing in technology as an urban development strategy.

• “Learning to Navigate the Racial Terrain” presented by Dr. Terrence Roberts, professor, speaker and one of the Little Rock Nine. In this workshop participants will explore ways to create viable pathways to their chosen goals and objectives over a terrain filled with pitfalls. They will learn how to identify the dragons in their neighborhoods and how best to avoid potentially fatal encounters.

• “Economic and Technology Opportunities” presented by Dr. Lance McCarthy presentation presented by Dr. Lance McCarthy and Bill Kent. This session will examine technology and economic history of African Americans while encouraging youth in the opportunities through careers and entrepreneurship. Technology trends will be discussed such as “Hip Tech”, where entertainers and athletes are investing in technology as an urban development strategy.

• “Ferguson and the Police Use of Force” presented by Richard Rosenfeld, PhD, Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Missouri St. Louis. This workshop describes the socioeconomic characteristics and crime rates of Ferguson, MO, and considers the Michael Brown killing in light of recent research on the police use of force.

• “Unlocking The Key to Prosperity” presented by Aaron Johnson, Assistant Professor of Economics at Darton State College. Students will learn to navigate through the maze of the higher education process to maximize their value in business and the workplace, learn how to overcome the financial obstacles of college, realize the importance of self-advising and choosing a college major based on internal strengths and weaknesses and understand the importance of developing a network of influence among peers, alumni, and community.

• “School to Prison Pipeline Youth Creative Reaction Lab” presented by Antionette Carroll, Executive Director & Founder, Creative Reaction Lab and Cheeraz Gormon, Founder/Strategist/Storyteller, Alchemy 7. Through creative problem solving and social entrepreneurship, design thinking has the potential to improve global difficulties and challenge human rights and social justice issues. Participants will be empowered to create life-changing solutions for sustainable problem impact.

•  “Entrepreneurship: Taking Control of Your Economic Future“ presented by Karon Bolden, Maxine Clark and Jaylen Bledsoe. These three dynamic entrepreneurs will inspire you to excel in life and get paid in the process. From the founder and CEO of Build a Bear Workshop Corporation to the founder of Street Dreamz Recording Studio to the founder and CEO of an international tech company, you’ll leave with a clear path to finding the tools to start your own business – even while navigating your way to college or trade school.

• “Youth Speak” led by Captain Ron Johnson, Tony Neal and Marlowe Tulloch, this group of seven African American parents will share the challenges raising Black youth in America. After their brief comments from the other side, you’ll have an opportunity to pose your questions and comments and have the speakers respond.

• “Youth Speak – Man to Man and Woman to Woman” Students will break out into sections and continue to have personal conversations with either the women or the men. Students can talk frankly about their personal conflicts navigating a world that often seems to undermine their success.

• STEM presentation – presented by Jeron Dior, pilot plant manager at Mallinckrodt

• “From Mandatory Minimums to Maximizing Potential” presented by Adjoa Aiyetoro JD. This session will discuss the historical treatment of blacks and other groups of color as it pertains to the development of strategies to end the school to prison pipeline. It will further explore the integration of the history of implicit racial bias and its importance to students and parents taking responsibility to (1) monitor their own behavior as they interact within schools settings and (2) address any treatment they view as unfairly targeting them by including this perspective.

• “Start Your Future Today as a Young Entrepreneur” presented by Jaylen Bledsoe, nationally recognized teen entrepreneur & executive. During this interactive workshop ,you will learn how to setup your future for success through youth entrepreneurship. Using the same tools Jaylen has used at institutions such as Stanford & Disney, students will leave the workshop understanding everything from Developing a Successful Business Idea, Pitching Your Idea to Investors, and making your money work for you.

• “Winning: The Youth’s Guide to Winning Over Life’s Challenges ” presented by B. Marcell Williams founder of Jewels Inc. and B. Marcell Youth Ministries. This workshop will provide participants with key tools on how to constantly play the winning card in every aspect of life. b.Marcell will walk you through overcoming challenges and discovering your purpose and other elements in living a successful life.

• “Youth Engaged – Am I My Brother’s Keeper: Learning the Power of Collective Action” presented by Marquita V. Sanders, Associate Director, Consumer Groups, Labor Unions, and Youth Engagement U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inter-governmental and External Affairs (IEA). This session will highlight the need for positive involvement to avoid entanglement with a system of incarcerations.

• “Building a Career” presented by Jeron Dior, pilot plant manager at Mallinckrodt

• “Reforming Police Practices in Light of Ferguson” presented by Roger Goldman, JD, Professor Emeritus, Saint Louis University School of Law. This session will analyze the issues raised by Ferguson, including the community’s distrust for those hired to serve and protect them and come up with possible solutions at the local, state and federal level to foster a partnership between the police and the community.

• “Champions for Justice: Leaders Working to End Youth Violence and Promote Positive Opportunities for All Young People” presented by Theron Pride, Sr. Advisor, Office of Justice Programs, US Dept. of Justice. Participants will learn about national efforts to reduce and prevent youth violence and promote positive opportunities for all young people. They will also discuss how to take leadership roles to help end youth violence and be champions for justice.

• “Knowing the Law” presented by Judge Jimmie Edwards, Circuit Judge, 22nd Judicial Circuit. In light of the issues Ferguson unveiled, this session will teach students their rights under the law by a judge who has spent decades as presiding judge of a juvenile court system.

• “Strategizing for Justice” presented by Terrence Roberts and Andrew Young. During this sessions students will begin to use tools learned during the summit as well as those used during the civil right movement of the 1960s to devise methods of sustaining a success plan to change policies and law that feed the school to prison pipeline.

• “Pulling it All Together” presented by Karon Bolden and B. Marcell Williams. Students will take the information learned during the course of the Summit and begin crafting solutions. Led by two entrepreneurs and motivational speakers who have experienced both challenges and success, students will learn how to take the negative aspects of an unjust system and turn it into a positive.

*Due to the demanding schedules of our outstanding speakers, speakers and topics are subject to change.

Please be patient while we make periodic updates to our agenda. It keeps getting better and better and better.