The Legacy Project: Passing of the Torch – with a Commentary by Dr. Ronald Jones

During the 45th Anniversary Welcome Home NBASLH Convention 2023, the tradition of “Passing the Torch” was, as always, a highlight of the Opening Ceremony. This year, this Legacy Project of passing the torch holds a significant changing of the guard in respect to the Board of Directors: The most important torch that will be passed after the Convention will be the one that Torch Bearer, Chair of the Board, Kia Johnson will pass to the new Chair of the Board, Brittani Hightower, whose term will begin in September. (They are featured on our RESOUND))) cover.) The RESOUND))) staff thanks Kia for her service, and wishes her well on her journey. The staff further welcomes Brittani to her new position of leadership, and looks forward to working closely with her to continue being an important entity that enlightens the entire NBASLH family about member business and member news.

By way of a remote, pre-taped presentation, Dr. Ronald Jones, a “seasoned, life member of NBASLH”, shared a brief history of this Convention ritual of the last 16 years: The following is

the transcription of his oration: Transcript: The Legacy Project

I’ve been asked to give a brief description of the “Legacy Project”.

In 2008, at its 30th Anniversary of the Convention, NBASLH convened a panel of the Association’s Founders, and asked them to describe the origins of the Association, and to discuss their concerns about the future of NBASLH.

Many of the Founders were troubled by the fact that, after 30 years, NBASLH was still unknown to far too many African American students enrolled in speech and hearing training programs across the country, particularly those programs at predominantly white universities.

Dr. Ron Jones PhD, CCC-AUD

Those students didn’t know, and wouldn’t know, that NBASLH was founded at a time when the communication needs of Black Americans were being widely ignored by the American Speech-Language and Hearing Association (ASHA). Those students didn’t know, and wouldn’t know, that, historically, the academic research and clinical interests of Black speech-language pathologists (SLPs) and audiologists have been systematically dismissed in deference to the interests of white clinicians and white researchers.

African-American students enrolled in predominantly white training programs were not being informed that they could get mentoring and the academic support they might need by participating in an Association that was founded for them, and run by individuals who had their best interests at heart.

Each of the founders at the 30th Anniversary Convention agreed that, in order for the Association to grow, more was needed to be done to ensure that new members would be imbued with the founding Spirit of the Association, that they learn its history, and that they be supported, professionally, throughout their training and careers.

The panel session ended with each faculty member writing a short message to be given to a new member attending the Convention for the first time. The messages were to encourage each new member to do [his/her] best and to find a mentor within the Association. They would then record the progress they made and return the following year to relay their message to yet another new member. It was with that intent that the “Legacy Project” was started.

Since 2008, 28 student members have been selected to relay the Founders’ messages. They have added their own insights and experiences, and passed the messages on to new members at the next year’s NBASLH Convention. When selected, Legacy recipients are expected to learn the history of the Association and to comply with and promote the highest standards of the Association. It is, indeed, an honor to be selected as a Legacy recipient.

Above was a pictorial representation of the segment of the 45th Convention’s Opening Session called “Passing the Torch”.

DO YOUR THING in 2024, Convention organizers Lauren Hastings and Chrystal Ingram Williams (not pictured here)!

About the Convention’s Life Member Attendees