2022 African American Heritage Month Celebration

33rd Annual Dr. Ethel H. Hall African-American Heritage Month Celebration February 16, 2022 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Virtual Event

Sponsored by: The University of Alabama School of Social Work

Dr. Ethel H. Hall

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The University of Alabama School of Social Work has established a tradition to conserve, preserve and perpetuate African American history and culture. In 2011 when discussing with Dean Lucinda Roff who Dr. Ethel Hall was and her critical role in developing the School’s first African American Heritage Program, Dr. Cassandra Simon, with the support of the Dean presented a resolution to the School of Social Work faculty, requesting the African American Heritage Program be named after Dr. Hall.

The resolution states the School will be committed to an annual celebration of African Americans and African American heritage. The celebration should demonstrate, in a public way, the School’s recognition of the importance of such a celebration in contributing to the common good and a socially just society.

Dr. Ethel Hall was the first woman and African-American to graduate from The University of Alabama School of Social Work’s doctoral program. She was also instrumental in instituting the School’s first African American Heritage Day Program. The School of Social Work hold this special celebration in honor of Dr. Ethel Hall’s outstanding contributions and pioneering efforts.

Program 11:00 - 11:15 A.M. MUSICAL PERFORMANCE UA Afro-American Gospel Choir – Cynthia Moore, Advisor ARTISTIC HIGHLIGHTS Kyes Stevens, Director, Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project 11:15 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. STUDENT WELCOME Elizabeth Prophet, BSW Student, School of Social Work INTRODUCTION Shayla Smith, Chief Diversity Officer, School of Social Work OPENING REMARKS Dr. Schnavia Smith Hatcher, Dean, School of Social Work DR. ETHEL HALL REFLECTION VIDEO Charles Banks, DSW Student, School of Social Work HISTORY OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH Edson Chipalo, PhD Student, School of Social Work Ashia Winston, MSW Student, School of Social Work Kersten Taylor, MSW Student, School of Social Work IN MEMORIAM OF NOTABLE AFRICAN AMERICANS IN 2021 Lasharia Turner & Amie Brunson, DSW Students, School of Social Work INTRODUCTION OF GUEST SPEAKER Angela Smith, PhD Student, School of Social Work 12:00 – 12:45 P.M. GUEST SPEAKER Ms. Kemba Smith Pradia, BSW Founder, The Kemba Smith Foundation Author of ‘Poster Child’ Colloquium: Reimagining Criminal Justice: Changing the Narrative 12:45 - 1:15 P.M. QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION 1:15 - 1:30 P.M. CLOSING REMARKS Nichcolas Miller, Grandson of Ethel H. Hall Drs. Avani Shah & Leah Cheatham, co-chairs Diversity Committee, School of Social Work

Guest Speaker Kemba Smith Pradia, BSW Kemba Smith Pradia went from college student to drug dealer’s girlfriend to domestic violence victim to federal prisoner; and in 1994 she was sentenced to 24. 5 years in federal prison.

Kemba’s case drew support from across the nation.

Often labeled the “poster child” for reversing a disturbing trend in the rise of lengthy sentences for first-time, non-violent drug offenders, Kemba’s story was featured on a variety of television shows and in several publications. The support prompted then President Clinton to commute her sentence in December 2000, after having served 6. 5 years in prison.

Today, Kemba is a wife, mother, public speaker, advocate, consultant, and author of Poster Child. She has worked with senior officials at The White House, the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Members of Congress, and has led trainings for Federal and State Probation organizations across the country. Corporations such as Verizon, Traveler’s Foundation, Proctor and Gamble, Bank of America and Gulfstream have sponsored her speaking at events across the country. She has received numerous awards and recognitions for her courage and determination as a motivational speaker and advocate. In 2019, Kemba was appointed to the Virginia Parole Board by Governor Ralph Northam and on January 14, 2022, she involuntarily separated from the State due to the transition of a new gubernatorial administration. Prior to her appointment, she served on the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission and held the position of State Advocacy Campaigns Director with the ACLU of Virginia. Currently, she continues to serve on the Board of Directors for Virginia CARES, Drug Policy Alliance. She is also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and the NAACP. Along with being an advocate for criminal justice reform, Kemba is the founder of her 501 (c) 3, The Kemba Smith Foundation. Ultimately, Kemba knows that there is a lesson in each experience in life, and she has embraced her experience, learned from it, and is now using that experience to teach others.

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SPEAKERS, 1989-2005 1989

Reflections on the Civil Rights Era Attorney Arthur Shores, City of Birmingham

1990

The Odyssey of African Americans: Implications for Social Work Dean Hubert E. Jones, Boston University

1991

Moving Beyond Pathology in the 21st Century: Diversity in African American Families Dr. Lawrence E. Gary, Howard University/ Virginia Commonwealth University

1992

Historical Perspectives on Social Work and the African American Experience Dr. Barbara Solomon, University of Southern California

1993

The African American Social Worker: Celebrating Our Past in the Quest for a New Beginning Dr. Barbara W. White, University of Texas at Austin

1994

Social Work at Crossroads: An African American Perspective Shattering Myths and Sharing Realities Dr. Sarah Virgo Kirk, North Carolina A & T University

1995

The Haynes Family in Social Work and Social Welfare Dr. Iris B. Carlton-LaNey, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

1996

The Past We Inherit, The Future We Create Dr. Morris F. X. Jeff, New Orleans, Louisiana

1997

Reflections on the African American Helping Tradition Dr. William L. Pollard, Syracuse University

1998

Finding Early African American Social Workers Dr. N. Yolanda Burwell, East Carolina University

1999

Development of a Sense of Self for the Black Child and Bi-Racial Children of Black/White Parentage Dr. Dorcas Bowles, Dean, Clark Atlanta University

2000

Building on Our Heritage: Forging a Brighter Future Ms. Kathy Sawyer, Commissioner, Alabama Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Race Awareness at the Millennium Dr. Leon Chestang, Distinguished Professor, Wayne State University

2001

2002

The Civil Rights Movement Freedom Riders Mr. Hezekiah Watkins and Mr. Fred Douglas, Freedom Riders

2003

Beyond Hatred and Racism: Embracing Our Humanity and Our Diversity Dr. Shirley Wesley King, President and Co-Founder of Southwest Behavioral Systems, Inc. (SWBS), Dallas, Texas

2004

Visions from the Past, Visions to the Future…The Struggle Continues Ms. Lynn Tobola, Coord. of Instructional Resources, UA School of Social Work; Dr. Cassandra Simon, Assist.

Professor, UA School of Social Work; Dr. Amilcar Shabazz, Assist. Professor, Director, UA African American Studies; Mr. Atokie Boman, President, African American Graduate Student Assoc.; Ms. Audrey Ellis, MSW, LCSW, Social Work Coord., Tuscaloosa City School System; Dr. Jerry Rosiek, Assist. Professor, UA Edu. Studies in Psychology; Dr. Carol Drolen, Assoc. Professor, UA School of Social Work; Ms. Brandy Nicole Brooks, President, Social Work Assoc. for Cultural Awareness

2005

Celebrating 100 Years of the Niagara Movement Mr. Cleophus Thomas, Attorney at Law, A.G. Gaston Corporation, Trustee Emeritus, The University of Alabama Board of Trustees

SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE SPEAKERS, 2006-2021 2006

Poverty, Criminal Justice, and the Need for Reform in Alabama Bryan Stephenson, Director, Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama

2007

From Slavery to Freedom: Africans in the Americas Judge U.W. Clemon, Northern District of Alabama

2008

Honoring our Own: Social Workers Involved in the Civil Rights Movement Phyllis Alston, MSW, On-Site Coord., MSW Program Montgomery; H. James Chapman, former assist. student president, Selma Movement

2009

Community Organization and the Social Work Professor Harriett I. Means, PhD, Department of Human Services, Troy University; Elbert L. Means, Community Activist

2010

Living the Dream: One Woman’s African American Heritage City Councilwoman Angela Benjamin, Selma, Alabama

2011

Desegregation: A Personal Perspective Timothy A. Davis, Deputy Director for Programs, Alabama Department of Youth Services (DYS)

2012

A History of Racial Inequality: A Social Work Response Larry E. Davis, Dean, PhD, School of Social Work, University of Pittsburgh

2013

Fighting Hate, Teaching Tolerance, Seeking Justice: The Southern Poverty Law Center Lecia J. Brooks, Outreach Director, Southern Poverty Law Center

2014

Sisters in the Movement: The Role of Women in Civil Rights Then and Now Constance Iona Slaughter-Harvey and Theresa Burroughs

2015

Tuscaloosa’s Civil Rights Heritage Reverend Thomas Linton and Mr. Maxie Thomas

2016

An Observation of the Developmental Histories of the National Urban League Movement and Social Work Practice Dr. Clinton E. Dye Jr., President and CEO Human Service Systems

2017

Innovating Gang Violence Prevention with Qualitative Analysis and National Language Processing Dr. Desmond Patton, Assistant Professor, School of Social Work, Columbia University

2018

Surviving Criminal Justice in America Anthony Ray Hinton, Community Educator at the Equal Justice Initiative

2019

Seeking Justice in Education through Community Collaboration, Ben Sciacca, Director of Leadership Development for Desire Street Ministries

2020

Own Your Vote: Social Change through Active Collaboration, T. Marie King, Community Consultant

2021

Ubuntu: How Our Actions are Interconnected, Dr. Mildred “Mit” C. Joyner, President of NASW

33rd Annual Dr. Ethel H. Hall African-American Heritage Month Planning Committee: Charles Banks Leah Cheatham, Co-Chair Edson Chipalo Kimberly Gibson John Gilmer Darcel Green Lindsey Johnson Mallory Porch Avani Shah, Co-Chair Angie Smith Shayla Smith Karen Starks Peggy Trosper Carrie Turner Sherron Wilkes Special thanks to Keslie Fendley (College of Continuing Studies), Alabama Prison Arts + Education Project, Afro-American Gospel Choir, SWACA, USWO, GSWO, our Doctoral Students (DSW & PhD), and the Women & Gender Resource Center 1 CEU Credit Available