Robert L Polk Lecture on Race and Social Justice

Dr. Thema Bryant is a tenured professor of psychology at Pepperdine University and director of the Culture and Trauma Research Laboratory—a center dedicated to clinical research and empowerment—as well as the host of The Homecoming Podcast and author of Matters of the Heart. She is the former 2023 president of the American Psychological Association and a clinical psychologist who completed her training at Duke University and Harvard Medical Center. Dr. Bryant is an ordained elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church and leads the mental health ministry at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles.

Dr. Dwinita Mosby Tyler is the Founder of The Equity Project — a consulting firm supporting organizations and communities in building diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies —as well as The HR Shop, a human resources firm designed to support non-profits and small businesses. She is also the former Senior VP and Chief Inclusion Officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado — the first African-American woman to hold that position in the organization's 100+ year history.

Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson serves as president and CEO of the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF). He was appointed co-chair of the Ferguson Commission, which released the ‘Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity’ Report in 2015. Wilson’s lecture highlighted the changing demographics in the country and how realizing the dream of a true multi-racial democracy will require bold generational commitments to racial justice and child well-being.

Gilbert Fletcher has exhibited widely in museums, galleries, and universities galleries around the country including The Brooklyn Museum, The Museum of Science and Technology in Chicago, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Museum of African American Art in Ohio, the Museum of African American Art in Boston, Cinque Gallery in New York, Delgado Community College, Dillard University, Gallery 500 in Washington, DC, and the Chi-Wara Gallery, Atlanta.

Dr. Mitchell has an accomplished career as an Administrator and Educator at the secondary education level. He has an extensive background in developing and implementing programs for at-risk and special population students and racially and ethnically diverse populations. At Doane, Glenn played tight end, defensive end, and kickoff kicker on Doane Tigers teams that went 33-0-2. Dr. Mitchell was joined by Dr. Jamar Dorsey, T.J. McDowell, and Peter Ferguson.

Rachel D. Fox is a passionate entrepreneur, business consultant, advocate for positive change, and mother of 10 beautiful children with an unwavering entrepreneurial spirit. She is the proud owner of Catapult Consulting Solutions and the founder of female empowerment organization You Go Girl. Her vision is to provide empowering tools that arm people with the confidence they need to make their every dream into an attainable reality.

Dr. Tommie Lindsey drew national acclaim leading the forensics teams at the James Logan High School in Union City, California. His highly successful, national award-winning program drew many students from less-advantaged backgrounds and diverse ethnicities and focused on empowerment. Dr. Lindsey was featured on the Oprah Winfrey Angel Network, was recognized with a California Teacher of the Year honor, and received a 2004 Fellowship with The MacArthur Foundation.

As a Harvard graduate and former chair of Husch Blackwell Law firm, Maurice Watson is one of the most influential black attorneys in the nation, and a prominent civic leader in Kansas City. His Polk Lecture focused on the life work of many leaders – past and present – who have advanced equity and justice in the world. The lecture provided a lens for the audience to see their potential roles in this work.

Dave Dennis was in college at Dillard University in New Orleans when the civil rights movement in the South heated up. Sensing a call, he put his studies on hold and became an extremely active participant in the racial unrest gripping the area at the time. As a lawyer, Dave has been involved in the fight for racial justice and equality all his life.