38 Interactive Breakout Sessions
Session Formats: Individual Speakers, Round Table Discussion, Panel Discussions, and Workshops.
There will be a special workshop track for classroom teachers.
Steve Haynes
Stephen R. Haynes holds a Ph.D. in Religion and Literature from Emory University, the M. Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary, an M. A. from Florida State University, and a B. A. from Vanderbilt University. Professor Haynes has been at Rhodes since 1989 and offers courses on the Holocaust, the Bible and its reception, religion and reconciliation, and religion and addiction. In addition to these subjects, he has research interests in Jewish-Christian relations, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and the biblical justifications for slavery and segregation. Dr. Haynes was ODK Untenured Teacher of the Year at Rhodes in 1993 and SGA Outstanding Faculty Member in 1995. In 1997 he received the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Research and in 2001 was awarded the Clarence Day Award for Outstanding Teaching. He is also a graduate of Leadership Memphis. Since 2016 he has directed the Rhodes Liberal Arts in Prison Program at West Tennessee State Penitentiary.
T. Marie King
T. Marie King is an Emmy Nominated Film Producer and Director of Youth Pathways and Experiences with Jones Valley Teaching Farm, in Birmingham Alabama. T. Marie is also a consultant and advisor on the creation of equitable spaces, an expert in facilitating difficult conversations and challenging audiences through her lectures to do the necessary self-work to become an active player in communal change. A trained Empathetic and Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation facilitator. T. Marie holds a bachelor’s degree, in Urban and Global Economic Development, and a Masters, in Leadership and a Master of Divinity. T. Marie co-produced her first full length documentary on the unsung hero and civil rights icon the Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth in 2022. The documentary can be viewed on PBS.org.
Kevin Lindsey
Kevin Lindsey serves as the CEO of the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC), an organization whose vision is to create a just society that is curious, connected, and compassionate. Lindsey, a widely respected public policy advocate and lawyer, has previously served in the Cabinet of the Minnesota Governor as the Commissioner of the Department of Human Rights. Kevin has been honored by the University of Iowa College of Law with its Law Review Distinguished Alumni Award, the University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts with its Civitas Award for promoting Liberal Arts education, and twice by Minnesota Lawyer with its Diversity Award. Lindsey’s career has focused on leveraging personal stories, finding solutions to complex problems, and building an inclusive democracy for all.
Rose McGee
Rose McGee is Founder of the internationally recognized Sweet Potato Comfort Pie® a catalyst
for caring and building community. Her work with the Minnesota Humanities Center as a story
circle practitioner expands over 10 years. She has been a judge for the Annual Braham Pie Festival for over 12 years, is a member of Women Who Really Cook, and a two-time community hero nominee for the Charlie’s Food and Beverage Award. She is author of the book, Story Circle Stories and the play, Kumbayah The Juneteenth Story.
Rose McGee is a recipient of the newly formed Black Collective Foundation Fellowship, the Bush Fellowship, Minnesota’s 50 Over 50, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. After the murder of Mr. George Floyd, Rose’s response with community sweet potato pie-baking and caring delivery prompted NBC Nightly News, The Washington Post’s Lily Edition, Reader’s Digest, and Guidepost all to cite her as one of their top positive stories in 2020. In 2021 she was recognized by the Japanese Press as one of 50 Top inspirational Stories in “the world” during
COVID 19.
Rose McGee is featured in the national PBS documentary, A Few Good Pie Places and she has a TEDx Talk, The Power of Pie. Organizations and industries who recognize the power of food as a healing and cultural relationship builder include King Arthur Baking Company of Vermont, being a regular keynote speaker for the National Co-Op Grocers, a national speaker for SNAP Ed, featured on the Rachael Ray Show, and Al Roker’s Family Style. Rose’s children’s book, Can’t Nobody Make A Sweet Potato Comfort Pie Like Our Mama is being released this summer by the Minnesota Historical Society Press. She resides in Golden Valley, Minnesota where she was named “Citizen of The Year” and a two-time recipient of the Bill Hobbs Human Rights Award.