The University of Tennessee at Martin 21st annual Civil Rights Conference continues the week of Feb. 15 with two keynote speakers: Jarrod Benjamin and UT Martin alumnus Van Jones.
On Feb. 16, Jarrod Benjamin, adjunct professor and program director of the Florida International University Cybersecurity Apprenticeship, will address the topic “Change Agent Leaders: From Oppressed to Success” at 7 p.m. Benjamin also serves as the Chief Executive Officer of The LEAD Firm where he is responsible for curriculum development, leadership training, as well as an organization consultant for more than 120 colleges and universities across the country. He is the founder and host of the Black and Multicultural Greek EMPOWERMENT Summit – Atlanta Edition and is a recipient of the United States President’s Lifetime Award.
Van Jones, a 1990 UT Martin graduate, will discuss “Rebuilding the Dream: The Next American Economy” at 7 p.m., Feb. 18. Jones is the CEO of REFORM Alliance, a social entrepreneur, CNN political commentator and host of Redemption Project and The Van Jones Show. Jones has founded and led many social enterprises focused in social and environmental justice, including the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, Color of Change, Rebuild The Dream, The Dream Corps and Magic Labs Media. After graduating from UT Martin, Jones earned his law degree from Yale University and has advocated for political reform.
The events will be livestreamed on the UT Martin Facebook (facebook.com/utmartin) and YouTube (youtube.com/utmartin) accounts.
The UT Martin Civil Rights Conference will feature more events throughout the month of February, including presentations by Dr. Robin DiAngelo and Michael Eric Dyson on Feb. 23.
For more information about the Civil Rights Conference, contact Anthony Prewitt, co-interim director of student life and multicultural affairs, at aprewitt@utm.edu or visit the conference website at utm.edu/civilrights.
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