Civic and Community Engagement Commons^™

Respectability Politics: A Mirror Into The Black Community, Max Ray A. Davenport Jr, Elisha M. Brewer

Black Issues Conference

Program Abstract

This presentation seeks to provoke deep and meaningful discussion related to issues of respectability within the African American community. More specifically, this presentation seeks to prompt audience members to critically evaluate the social practices of African American people that are deeply-seated in elitism and promote a culture of exclusion. By gaining a deeper knowledge of how racialized policing behaviors negatively affect our community, we aim to provide audience members with strategies for enduring and overcoming this issue.

Program Summary

The primary purpose of this presentation is aimed at facilitating a thought-provoking discussion centered around respectability politics. In achieving …

Greencap In The House: Resilience Tools To Unify The Black Community, Rick Held, Treasure Hightower, Stan Johnson, Ida Miles, John Floersh, Kaleeisha Huffine

Black Issues Conference

GreenCAP in the House: Resilience Tools to Unify the Black Community

This presentation describes how a small, scruffy youth development organization is leveraging its community outreach and engagement efforts around environmental literacy in the 'hood to build a coalition of inner city organizations aligned to identify and address a broad swath of community resilience issues.

The Liberal As An Enemy Of Queer Justice, Craig Schamel

Catalyst: A Social Justice Forum

Abstract

Liberalism as a historical mode of the political is the context in which the movement and ensuing struggle for queer justice emerged in most Western countries. The terminology, practices, tendencies, beliefs, ethics, laws, and patterns of political and social life which have been determined by this mode of the political, it is argued, are inimical to queer justice and render its achievement impossible. Liberalism as a mode of the political is approached from below, from knowledge gained in practical experience in queer groups which considered themselves revolutionary at least to some degree, and from the effects on such groups …

Getting In Our Own Way: The Degradation Of Student Organizations, Johnny Brownlee

Black Issues Conference

Getting in our own Way: The Degradation of Student Organizations:

Across the nation our student organizations are struggling and student governments are struggling. Many seem to be on their last leg, past their prime, etc. Organizations don’t have the activism and sacrifice of students form the 60’s and 70’s, drive of the 80’s, survival skills of the 90’s or money and participation of orgs form the early 2000’s. We seek to see if it’s a generational problem or are other factor the problem

Leadershape: Creating A Vision, Living In Possibility, Courtney Michelle Holder, Amber Moore, Ryan Wade, Torrey Armstrong

Black Issues Conference

Leadership involves living in possibility, committing to a vision, forming relationships that will help visions take action, and upholding a high level of integrity. Leadership takes place in a community and allows positive changes to occur. The LeaderShape Institute is a six day experience which explores and develops such leadership skills. In the program, students address questions such as, “Who am I?” and “What kind of leader am I?” LeaderShape is a program with the mission of transforming the world with individuals who lead with integrity and have a healthy disregard for the impossible. Participants in this session will learn …

Vote Or Die: The Power Of The Black Vote, Stephen J. Smith, Harlin Miller

Black Issues Conference

The progress of Blacks in America can, in many ways, be attributed to the advancements made by gaining the right to participate in the political process. From establishing equal opportunities in housing to leveling the playing field in the workplace, the quality of life we as African-Americans enjoy today would not be possible if those before us did not fight for the right to vote. However, today’s Black America exhibits great apathy when it comes to voting on all levels. Most, when asked about their political views and/or affiliation, cannot clearly articulate the differences between Conservative and Liberal, Democrat or …

“Holla If You Hear Me”: A Conversation With Black, Inner-City Youth On Career Preparedness Programs, Theressa N. Cooper

Doctoral Dissertations

This research study specifically addressed; how vocational preparedness programs effect the career aspirations of Black youth, within the context of the Middle Tennessee Council Boy Scouts of America’s Exploring program. The goal of this research is to represent Black youth participating in a vocational preparedness program. Interviews, journals, and rich, thick descriptions are utilized in this work.

Using the lens of narrative inquiry and cultural studies, I hoped to further the field of career development through the experiences of some of its key players, African American youth. Within the context of their stories five major themes surfaced around the ideas: …