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How can we re-imagine public safety in underserved, minority communities in ways that are life-giving and life-sustaining? How can public safety be ensured without reliance on armed police officers and deadly force? What steps would need to be taken and what sources of public and private funding or investment could be used? 

Issues to be explored could include reforming policing, hiring decisions to achieve diversity and equity and include social workers and experts on trauma care, education and training, changing local and state regulations and statutes, and public safety (schools, places of worship, and neighborhoods). 

Thursday, August 12: 6 – 7:30 PM Keynote Address 

Welcome: Rev. Dr. Teresa Smallwood, Associate Director, Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville 

Moderator: Dr. Lewis Brogdon, Research Professor of Preaching and Black Church Studies, Baptist Seminary of Kentucky 

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dwayne Mack

Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Carter G. Woodson Chair in African American History; Professor of History, Berea College

Dwayne Mack was born and raised in the Borough of Brooklyn. He graduated from John Dewey High School in 1986. He then went on to earn his BA in American History from Methodist University in 1993 and his MA in the same field in 1996.  In 2002, he completed his Ph.D. in American and Public history at Washington State University.  

Since 2003, Dwayne has taught American and African American history at Berea College. He is a Professor of History and the Carter G. Woodson Chair in African American History while also serving as Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.  

Dwayne’s scholarship focuses on the Black experience in the West, and the Black Freedom Struggle in Kentucky and the Deep South. His monograph on Black Spokane explores the intersections of the Cold War and civil rights movement. He has also written about the racial past of Berea College through the institution’s participation in the movement.   

Dwayne Mack has also served as the lead editor of two books on faculty development. These volumes mentor emerging faculty of color from diverse backgrounds and those concerned with diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. His coedited volume on policing and on Violence Against Black and Brown Bodies is evidence of Dr. Mack’s broad research agenda related to contemporary social justice issues.  

Dwayne and his supportive, loving, strong, patient, and beautiful wife have raised four outstanding children in Madison County, Kentucky. 

Performing artist: Hannah L Drake

Hannah L Drake is a blogger, activist, public speaker, poet, and author of 11 books. She writes commentary on politics, feminism, and race and her work has been featured online at Cosmopolitan, The Bitter Southerner, The Lily, Harper’s Bazaar and Revolt TV. In 2019 during Super Bowl Sunday,Hannah’s poem, "All You Had To Do Was Play The Game, Boy," which addresses the protest by Colin Kaepernick, was shared by film writer, producer and director Ava DuVernay, and then shared by Kaepernick. The poem has been viewed more than two million times.

Friday, August 13 

Morning Panel: 10 a.m. – noon 

Welcome 

Rev. Dr. Teresa Smallwood, Associate Director, Public Theology and Racial Justice Collaborative, Vanderbilt Divinity School, Nashville 

Moderator: TBA 

Panelists

Karina Barillas, Executive Director, La Casita Center, Louisville 

Rev. Troy Thomas, Quinn Chapel AME Church, Louisville 2 

The Reverend Troy I. Thomas serves as the Pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church in Louisville, KY since November 2014. His wife, Reverend Maxine serves along with him as Assistant Pastor of Quinn Chapel AME Church. In September 2020, Rev. Thomas was additionally appointed as Presiding Elder of the Louisville District and concurrently serves as both Presiding Elder and Pastor.

Reverend Thomas has served in various positions with the AME Church.  Currently, the Treasurer for both the 13th Episcopal District and the Kentucky Annual Conference.  Rev. Thomas is a member of the AME Church General Board, representing the 13th Episcopal District since July 2016. 

Rev. Thomas participates in the community by serving on several community boards and holds memberships in civic organizations as well. An active Life Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Rev. Thomas currently serves as the Great Lakes Regional Secretary and is the immediate Past Kentucky State Director.  In 2013 he was awarded one of the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s highest honors as a Kentucky Colonel.

In ministry, Reverend Thomas, along with his wife, Reverend Dr. Maxine shares a Team Ministry to meet the needs of the congregation and the community at large. Together they have shared in Marriage retreats and conferences. Reverend Thomas conducts workshops and seminars on Finance and Tithing, Leadership, Men’s Ministry, and AME Church Administration.

Reverend Thomas exchanged vows in Sept 1988 with his lovely wife, Reverend Dr. Maxine and together they are proud of and blessed with three beautiful daughters, Tricia, Traci, Trina, and two granddaughters, Bella and Jayelle.

Rev. Valerie Mayo, Priest-in-Charge, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Louisville and Urban Partnership Missioner, Episcopal Diocese of Kentucky 

Rev. Stachelle Bussey, Founder and Executive Director, The Hope Buss; Pastor, MVMT Community Fellowship; Member of Louisville Civilian Review Board 

Noon to 1 p.m. Lunch break. 

Friday Afternoon Panel: 1 – 3 PM 

Moderator: TBA 

Panelists

Shameka L. Parrish-Wright, Project Manager, The Bail Project (Louisville); Chair Kentucky Alliance; Mayoral Candidate (Louisville) 

Keisha Dorsey, District 3, Council Member, Louisville Metro Council 

Rev. Dr. Nathl Moore, First African Baptist Church, Lexington 

Keturah Herron

Policy Strategist, Juvenile Justice, ACLU of Kentucky 

Keturah J. Herron (she/they) is a policy strategist at the ACLU of Kentucky, an activist and social justice advocate with over 15 years of experience working with youth and families involved in social service and the criminal justice systems. Herron was instrumental in leading the charge in Louisville, Kentucky working alongside Metro Council members to institute Breonna’s Law—effectively banning no-knock warrants within the city after the tragic death of Breonna Taylor. As an emerging and courageous thought leader, Herron is dedicated to the liberation of Black people and reimaging what our communities look like for all Black Kentuckians. Herron graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Masters in Corrections and Juvenile Justice Studies.

Social Media: Twitter – KeturahHerron  | Instagram – kluvinit

Email: keturah@aclu-ky.org