Yearlings Club Forum Series Past Events

 

Illustration of lady justice peeking from her blindfold

".... And Justice for All in the Courts?"

November 2020

The history of racial disparities in the criminal justice system in the U.S. have been longstanding. From bias in juries to sentencing recommendations the time has come to bring this important issue to the forefront.

Our distinguished panel discussed this important issue, shared information on research, and offered recommendations to address this problem.

PANEL:
Honorable Denise Clayton, Chief Judge, Kentucky State Court of Appeals; Joe Gutmann, Attorney-at-Law, Central High School Law & Government Magnet; Aubrey Williams, Attorney-at-Law, Aubrey Williams & Associates; Tara Blair, Executive Officer, AOC, Department of Pretrial Services;
Shameka Parrish-Wright, Operations Manager at The Bail Project.

MODERATOR:
Dr. Cherie Dawson-Edwards, Associate Dean, A&S Diversity, Equity & Inclusion/Associate Professor – Criminal Justice, Social Change Director.

Watch the recorded event

Crime Scene

Race & Policing: An Unfinished Conversation

October, 2020

Breonna Taylor's tragic death by Louisville Metro policemen and the delayed investigation brought to light the role collective bargaining has in protecting police departments around the country. Police union contracts protect the rights of officers and shields them from accountability while the rights of citizens are not protected.

This has sparked the need for a close examination of collective bargaining contracts between cities and their police unions. What can communities and their police departments do to address this important issue of accountability?

Our distinguished panel discussed this important issue and offer recommendations for building trust between the community and its citizens.

PANEL:
Mike Bassi, Associate Director, Southern Police Institute; Cedric Merlin Powell, Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs Professor of Law; Herlon Robinson, WGZB Radio Personality; Associate Professor Che Rhodes, UofL Dept. of Fine Arts & West Louisville Resident; Honorable David James, President, Louisville Metro Council

MODERATOR:
Dr. Cherie Dawson-Edwards, Associate Dean, A&S Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Associate Professor – Criminal Justice, Social Change Director.

Watch the recorded event

caduceus symbol

Targeting Health Disparities in the Minority Community

September, 2020

The pandemic has revealed the striking socioeconomic and healthcare inequities in the U.S. that disproportionately impact African Americans and underserved minority communities. Underlying chronic medical conditions like diabetes and lung disease may exacerbate the symptoms of COVID-19 and generally lead to worse patient outcomes. Because minorities have historically high rates of chronic conditions, these populations are at a particular risk of being severely impacted by the pandemic.

PANEL:
Dr. Wayne Tuckson, M.D.,UofL Health; T Benicio Gonzalez, Director, Center for Health Equity; Dr. Christopher Jones M.D., UofL Health; Dr. Marlyce R. Hill-Ali, M.D.;

MODERATOR:
Dr. Latrice Best, Associate Professor, Dept. of Sociology

Martin Luther King

2020: A Dream and a Vision

February, 2020

The African American Theatre Program and the Yearlings Club co-sponsored this year's MLK Day Celebration. The guest speaker was Kellie Watson, Esq. Chief Equity Officer, Louisville Metro Government.

Black Student Unions

Representatives from university and JCPS high school Black Student Unions will discussed their organization's history and shared their views on the progress their institutions have made in addressing the needs of black students. Two UofL 1960s-70s Black Student Union Representitives were present: Honorable Gerald Neal, Kentucky State Senator and Laura M. Douglas, Esquire, Retired Executive.

PANEL:
MaKayla Burrell, President - Atherton Black Student Union; Christopher Johnson, President – Central High School, Black Student Union; Hannah Reese, President - Manual High School Black Student Union; Quintez Brown, UofL Black Student Union; Dion Copeland, UofL Black Student Union; Alvin Bykes, Business Owner and Former Male High School Protestor; Savannah Winston, President UofL Black Student Union; Dr. Geneva Stark, Administrator, JCPS Diversity, Equity and Poverty Department

MODERATOR:
Dr. Shirletta Kinchen
Professor, Pan African Studies Department

 

KARAN CHAVIS

Annual Community Holiday Reception

December, 2019

Entertainment by the KARAN CHAVIS BAND

Sun over the city

Climate Change Effect: Urban Heat Islands & West Louisville

November, 2019

Climate change is affecting the American people in far-reaching ways. Impacts related to climate change are evident across regions and in many sectors important to society—such as human health, agriculture and food security, water supply, transportation, energy, ecosystems, and other.

As urban areas develop, changes occur in their landscape. buildings, roads, and other infrastructure replace open land and vegetation. These changes cause urban regions to become warmer than their rural surroundings, forming an "island" of higher temperatures in the landscape. Urban heat islands increase demand for energy consumption during the summer when temperatures rise. As a result of increased energy consumption, there is an increase in air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
Join us as our distinguished panel discusses the impact of the urban heat island on West Louisville residents.

PANEL:
Dr. Tamara Sluss, Director, MA/MS Interdisciplinary Studies, Sustainability; Eboni Neal Cochran, West Louisville Environmental Activist; Dr. Allison Smith, Office of Advanced Planning and Sustainability; Dr. Avery Kolers, Professor of Philosophy, Director - Social Change Program

MODERATOR:
Dr. Monica Unseld, Research Associate - Greater Louisville Project

Your vote counts

Your Vote Counts

October, 2019

Voting means you care about your community, your state and your country. It's important to vote in elections at all levels, because all of the people you elect will hold positions of power over you and represent you in the place you live. The discussion will focus on the importance of voting leading up to the 2020 elections, and the efforts organizations are taking to stem voter intimidation and suppression. Panel members will describe the work their organizations have done in the past and current efforts to increase voter participation.

PANEL: Professor Jasmine Farrier, Chair, UofL Political Science Department; Michael Aldridge, Executive Director, ACLU – Kentucky; Pat Murrell, President, League of Women Voters of Louisville; Ann Mayfield, A. Phillips Randolph; Clark Williams, Executive Director, The Peoples Campaign;

MODERATOR: John Johnson, Executive Director, KY Commission on Human Rights.

yearbook with notable people

Civil Rights Martyrs – The Search for Justice

February, 2019

The panel included Bennie Ivory, Writer and retired Courier Journal Editor, Honorable Tom Wine, Jefferson County Commonwealth Attorney, and Lt. Emily McKinley, LMPD Homicide Unit. The panrl was moderated by Dr. Siobhan Smith-Jones, Professor Uof L Communications Department.

The presenters discussed the murder of one of the civil rights movement's most notable leaders, Medgar Evers, and the techniques used by law enforcement today to solve those crimes.

John Chenault, Assoc. Professor, Pan African Studies, Reference Department, Kornhauser Health Sciences LibraryDr. Michael Brandon McCormack, Assistant Professor, Department of Pan African Studies;  Dr. Baron Kelly, Associate Professor, Head of Acting, UofL Theatre Arts Dept. Kiki Petrosino, Associate Professor & Director of Creative Writing, English Dept.Johnny L. Jones, Assistant Professor, Director of AATP, UofL Theatre Arts Dept.

The Art of Protest Through Cultural Expression

Photo, left to right: John Chenault (moderator), Assoc. Professor, Pan African Studies, Reference Department, Kornhauser Health Sciences Library, Dr. Michael Brandon McCormack, Assistant Professor, Department of Pan African Studies;, Dr. Baron Kelly, Associate Professor, Head of Acting, UofL Theatre Arts Dept., Kiki Petrosino, Associate Professor & Director of Creative Writing, English Dept., Johnny L. Jones, Assistant Professor, Director of AATP, UofL Theatre Arts Dept.

Seated left to right: Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS Interim Superintendent, Mrs. Diane Porter, JCPS Board of Education; Dr. John Marshall, Chief Equity Officer, Robert Gunn, Principal, W. E. B. DuBois Academy; Camara Douglas, Doctoral Student – Dept. of Pan African Studies.

A Superintendent's Vision & Black Male Academies

Photo, left to right: Dr. Marty Pollio, JCPS Interim Superintendent, Mrs. Diane Porter, JCPS Board of Education; Dr. John Marshall, Chief Equity Officer, Robert Gunn, Principal, W. E. B. DuBois Academy; Camara Douglas, Doctoral Student – Dept. of Pan African Studies.

Featured in photo from left to right is Vonwilt J. Macklin, First African American female basketball athlete to receive a scholarship from the University of Louisville; Mr. Wilbur Hackett, early black athlete recruited by the University of Kentucky; Dr. Ricky Jones, Chair, Pan African Studies department; Mr. Wilbur Hackett Sr.; Mr. Nate Northington, first African American recruited by the University of Kentucky; Honorable Greg Fischer, Mayor; Mr. Wade Houston, first African American basketball player to receive a University of Louisville scholarship; Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, International, Diversity and Engagement Programs.

Important issues affecting the urban community in Louisville and communities across the region

Photo, left to right: Vonwilt J. Macklin, First African American female basketball athlete to receive a scholarship from the University of Louisville; Mr. Wilbur Hackett, early black athlete recruited by the University of Kentucky; Dr. Ricky Jones, Chair, Pan African Studies department; Mr. Wilbur Hackett Sr.; Mr. Nate Northington, first African American recruited by the University of Kentucky; Honorable Greg Fischer, Mayor; Mr. Wade Houston, first African American basketball player to receive a University of Louisville scholarship; Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, International, Diversity and Engagement Programs.

Left to right: Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, A&S Associate DeanDr. Margaret D’Silva, Professor of Communications & Panel ModeratorDr. Kimberly Kemp-Leonard, Dean, College of Arts and SciencesDr. Priscilla McCutcheon, Assist. Professor of Pan African Studies and Geography;  Cassia Herron, Research Manager – UofL, Social Justice Consortium - Ann Braden Institute;   Theresa Zawacki, Senior Policy Advisor to Louisville ForwardJeff White, President, The Yearlings Club

Food Deserts: Causes, Consequences, Solutions

Pictured are audience members and representatives from local government participated in the two-hour event held at the Yearlings Club. Panel members addressed the issue and offered solutions to address the issue.

Photo, left to right: Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, A&S Associate Dean, Dr. Margaret D’Silva, Professor of Communications & Panel Moderator, Dr. Kimberly Kemp-Leonard, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Priscilla McCutcheon, Assist. Professor of Pan African Studies and Geography, Cassia Herron, Research Manager – UofL, Social Justice Consortium - Ann Braden Institute, Theresa Zawacki, Senior Policy Advisor to Louisville Forward, Jeff White, President, The Yearlings Club

“A&S Community Spirit Awards Program Salutes Community Leaders for their service”. Guests gathered for the A&S Community Spirit Awards Program, to salute honorees for their “spirit, dedication and service” to their community.  Dean Kimberly Kempf-Leonard presented the organization spirit award to The Yearlings Club, a civic organization, for their commitment and service to West Louisville.  Also honored were:Metro Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Karina Barillas, Director of LaCasita, Minister Jerald Muhammad, and former Metro Councilman, David Tandy.  The event was held   April 27th at the Muhammad Ali Center.

2017 Community Spirit Award

The A&S Community Spirit Awards Program Saluted Community Leaders for their service. Guests gathered for the A&S Community Spirit Awards Program, to salute honorees for their "spirit, dedication and service" to their community. Dean Kimberly Kempf-Leonard presented the organization spirit award to The Yearlings Club, a civic organization, for their commitment and service to West Louisville. Also honored were:Metro Councilwoman Cheri Bryant Hamilton, Karina Barillas, Director of LaCasita, Minister Jerald Muhammad, and former Metro Councilman, David Tandy. The event was held April 27th, 2017 at the Muhammad Ali Center.

From left to right, Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, A&S, Office for International, Diversity and Engagement Programs; Kaila Adia Story is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Women's & Gender Studies and Pan-African Studies and the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Dr. Angelique Johnson, Co-Founder/CEO of MEMStim, LLC, Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Louisville Speed School; Yoolanda Williams, Program Manager – Regulatory and Compliance, GE Appliances; Dr. Aleeta Powe, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry; Stacey Purifoy-Jones, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Louisville District, Reserve Support Team, Brenda Hart, Director of Student Affairs (retired), Speed Engineering School

2017 Annual Women's History Month Program

The event included a reception and panel discussion by "Hidden Figures", African American women engineers representing a business and government. Dr. Kaila Story moderated the event where guests learned about the sacrifices and inspiration that motivated each panel member to pursue a career in engineering.

Photo, left to right: Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, A&S, Office for International, Diversity and Engagement Programs; Kaila Adia Story is an Associate Professor in the Departments of Women's & Gender Studies and Pan-African Studies and the Audre Lorde Chair in Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality Studies; Dr. Angelique Johnson, Co-Founder/CEO of MEMStim, LLC, Adjunct Faculty Member, University of Louisville Speed School; Yoolanda Williams, Program Manager – Regulatory and Compliance, GE Appliances; Dr. Aleeta Powe, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry; Stacey Purifoy-Jones, Project Manager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Louisville District, Reserve Support Team, Brenda Hart, Director of Student Affairs (retired), Speed Engineering School

Featured in photo from left to right is Vonwilt J. Macklin, First African American female basketball athlete to receive a scholarship from the University of Louisville; Mr. Wilbur Hackett, early black athlete recruited by the University of Kentucky; Dr. Ricky Jones, Chair, Pan African Studies department; Mr. Wilbur Hackett Sr.; Mr. Nate Northington, first African American recruited by the University of Kentucky; Honorable Greg Fischer, Mayor; Mr. Wade Houston, first African American basketball player to receive a University of Louisville scholarship; Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, International, Diversity and Engagement Programs.

2017 Black History Month: A Salute to African American Athletes

Photo, left to right: Vonwilt J. Macklin, First African American female basketball athlete to receive a scholarship from the University of Louisville; Mr. Wilbur Hackett, early black athlete recruited by the University of Kentucky; Dr. Ricky Jones, Chair, Pan African Studies department; Mr. Wilbur Hackett Sr.; Mr. Nate Northington, first African American recruited by the University of Kentucky; Honorable Greg Fischer, Mayor; Mr. Wade Houston, first African American basketball player to receive a University of Louisville scholarship; Dr. Theresa Rajack-Talley, Associate Dean, College of Arts and Sciences, International, Diversity and Engagement Programs.

Mayor Greg Fischer shared his vision for the community and discussed his plans to address issues affecting West Louisville. Mayor Fischer was joined by Guest Interviewer, Dr. Nat Irvin, II, DMA, Professor of Management, University of Louisville School of Business. The Forum Series brought university faculty, community leaders and the African American community together to discuss important issues.

2016 Fireside Chat with Mayor Greg Fischer

Mayor Greg Fischer shared his vision for the community and discussed his plans to address issues affecting West Louisville. Mayor Fischer was joined by Guest Interviewer, Dr. Nat Irvin, II, DMA, Professor of Management, University of Louisville School of Business. The Forum Series brought university faculty, community leaders and the African American community together to discuss important issues.

See photos from the event on Flickr