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Keith Beauchamp
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(JACKSON, Miss.) - Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, in conjunction with Jackson State University, will host a three-day conference designed to inspire and empower today's youth through social activism education.
The fourth annual conference, themed "The Movement that Produced Change Now Empowers Our Youth in the 21st Century," will be held March 19-21 at the Mississippi e-Center @ JSU, 1230 Raymond Road in Jackson.
Now one of the largest annual gatherings of civil rights veterans in the country, this event brings together civil rights activists with today's youth to discuss ways to continue positive change in society.
Among the special guests this year are U.S. Congressman John Lewis of Georgia and filmmaker Keith Beauchamp, who produced and directed the documentary, The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till. Lewis will be the keynote speaker for the JSU Presidential Banquet at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 20, at the Masonic Temple, 1072 John R. Lynch St. in Jackson. Beauchamp will present a special screening of The Rev. George Lee Story, which tells the story of a Baptist minister in Belzoni, Miss., who was killed in 1955. Lee was known for encouraging members of his congregation to register to vote.
Having begun in 2004 with small gatherings, the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement became an official arm of Jackson State in 2008. In addition to collecting and archiving stories of some 200 participants in the movement across the country, the group supports people in actively using those stories to continue the pursuit of freedom, justice and equality.
"We are trying to be true to a reason for being," said Owen Brooks, executive director. "This conference, like others, will allow an exchange of ideas and to engage participants in discussions regarding issues that are important to them."
Topics include: dismantling what organizers see as a cradle-to-prison pipeline for many American children, reshaping the U.S. Justice Department, and President Obama's Mississippi ancestors.
Admission to all events is $75 for adults, $25 for college students and $10 for high school students. The cost includes a one-year membership to the Veterans of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement.
Individual event ticket prices include:
-JSU Presidential Banquet: $30 adults; $25 college/high school students
-Saturday luncheon featuring Dr. L.C. Dorsey, attorney Dave Dennis and Jackson State President Ronald Mason Jr.: $10 (limited seating available)
For more information about the conference, call 601-979-1515 or 601-918-7809 or visit http://www.jsums.edu/announcements/2009VetsBrochure.pdf.
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About Jackson State University: Challenging Minds, Changing Lives
Jackson State University, founded in 1877, is a historically black, high research activity university located in Jackson, the capital city of the state of Mississippi. Jackson State's nurturing academic environment challenges individuals to change lives through teaching, research and service. Officially designated as Mississippi's Urban University, Jackson State continues to enhance the state, nation and world through comprehensive economic development, health-care, technological and educational initiatives. The only university in the Jackson metropolitan area, Jackson State is located near downtown, with three satellite campuses throughout the city. For more information, visit www.jsums.edu.
