Our Facilitators
As a rising junior majoring in Mathematics at Morehouse College I must admit that math is second nature to me. I’m a native of Stockton, California. When I complete my degeree I hope to pursue a graduate degree in either Mathematics or Mathematics education. My love of community service and organizing started in high school where I became critically aware of the importance of education and its role in empowering disenfranchised communities. When not volunteering with the Lowery Institute or any of the other community service organizations I am a member of, you can find me playing Dungeons and Dragons with friends or reading non-fiction and fantasy books.
Nicholas Aerosemena
Change Agent Student Leader: Summer Math Tutoring
Jordan Barry
Clark Atlanta University Graduate/Change Agent Alumni:Real Talk Youth Edition
I’m Jordan Juanita Whitney Barry a motivational speaker, founder of Barry Speaks and student of the law from St. Louis, MO I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Speech Communication from Clark Atlanta University in 2019. During my undergraduate years I served with the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights teaching conflict resolution in Atlanta Public Schools as well as serving as a legal intern at the Georgia State Capitol during the 2018 Legislative Session. From diapers to degrees I have many stories to tell. I hope to ignite the fire you and leave you with a challenging charge that will encourages social change.
My name is Isaiah Bayas, and I earned my bachelors of science in computer science this year. I’m originally from Queens, New York and I have spent the last four years in Atlanta and am now an alumnus of Morehouse College. During my time at Morehouse, I volunteered as a servant leader in the Joseph E. Lowery Institute for three years, specifically in-school mentoring and the food pantry. This upcoming fall, I will start my career at Microsoft as a software engineer and in the fall of next year, I will be attending NYU for my master’s degree.
Isaiah Bayas
Change Agent Student Leader.Coding with Sphero
Tyra Beamon
Sunday Supper Series and Just Fit
Hello. I am excited to challenge your mind and your body this session.
More about Tyra: Tyra Beaman is a native of Richmond, Virginia and is a proud Spelman College Alumna. After her graduation from Spelman, Tyra completed a 10 month Fulbright in the Dominican Republic and her Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) from Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Service specializing in Refugee and Humanitarian Emergencies. As a Charles Rangel Fellow, Tyra served as a Political Fellow in U.S. Embassy Accra and in June 2019, Tyra entered the Department as a Political Officer. During her leisure time, Tyra is an indoor cycling instructor and finds joy in running, hiking and working with her community to expand voter education and gun violence prevention effort
Hey, my name is Jahi Flowers, a junior Psychology major at Morehouse College from Indianapolis, Indiana. I joined the Joseph E. Lowery Institute my freshman year and have been serving in Mimi’s Pantry for 2 years. In my free time, I enjoy running and painting murals. I look forward to sharing some time with you this summer!
Jahi Flowers
Change Agent Student Leader- Loving vs. Virginia
KENNETH GREEN
Social Justice And The Arts Conversation Series
Kenneth Green has produced events for Toyota, Wendy’s, Adidas and Head Sportswear. He has served as a choreographer for Walt Disney Entertainment as well as Casting Director for Walt Disney World. Kenneth has produced several events for the the Lowery Institute including Dr. Lowery’s 80th Birthday Celebration “A Mile In His Shoes”, with Savion Glover and Aretha Franklin.
I look forward to sharing with you. Tre’von Hill is a co-founder of QuarantineCon. Hill attended Morehouse College, where he majored in Psychology. He has taken technical and synthesizing skills learned in the lab into the world of venture. With a focus on bridging the technology and economic equity gap within communities of color, Hill works with founders, business professionals, local government eaders, and investors on projects, products and campaigns focused on the triple bottom line He has a passion for connecting people with purpose by providing the resources and opportunities they need to execute their ideas.
Tre’von Hill
Sunday Supper Series
Nigel Jacobs
Change Agent Student Leader- Animation 101: History & …
Hello! My name is Nigel Jacobs, I use they/them/theirs pronouns, and I would like to be referred to as either “Nigel” or “Mx.(pronounced “micks”) Nigel.” I am a senior English major at Morehouse College and my hobbies include watching anime, playing videogames, reading books and comics, and exploring the world. My main career goal is to create multimedia content that will help improve representation of black and brown people. I have been teaching myself animation and last summer I received the opportunity to be an Animation Technician Intern at Pixar Animation Studio. In my course, I will be teaching students about the history and current state of animation while giving them the tools and knowledge to create their own animations.
I’m Kraig Jennings and I love water. I’ve been involved in the Aquatic industry for over 40 years. I’ve coached swim teams, trained state level swim athletes, pushed aquatic athletes beyond the pool to become triathletes. I hold a certified pool operator’s license and I’m a certified water safety, CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. My passion for water led me to study the development of aquaponics systems for growing food. I look forward to sharing my passion for everything water with you.
Kraig Jennings
CPR -Water Safety -Aquaponics 101
Michael McGirt
Change Agent Student Leader: Real Talk
I’m Michael McGirt, a Junior political science major economics minor at Morehouse College and a Martin Luther King, Jr. King Legacy Scholar. During the fall of 2018, I participated in the Student Government Association and served as freshmen Class President. During my sophomore year I continued my collegiate service as a student advocate on Morehouse’s Board of Trustees as a Student Trustee. When Mr. I’ve combined my passion for the African American community by establishing the “Coalition for the Advancement of the Black Body” (CABB) an organization provides a positive space for African Americans to foster the development of their Black experience. Let’s talk!
Hi everyone, I am Kijua Sanders-McMurtry. I currently serve as Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Chief Diversity Officer at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts. I have been a faculty member at Georgia State University in the departments of African American Studies and Educational Policy Studies. I hold an A.A. from Pasadena City College, B.A., M.A and Ph.D. degrees from Georgia State University.
KIJUA McMURTRY
P.H.D.– Facilitator- The Water Dancer
Sierra Morrison
Criminal Justice Summer Intern : Civic Engagement for Youth /Just Mercy
My name is Sierra Morrison, I am a rising senior at Clark Atlanta University. Hailing all the way from Minneapolis, Minnesota majoring in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology. I love serving as a voice for youth and advocating for positive change within inner city communities. This is my first year working with the Lowery Institute and I couldn’t be more excited!
Blake Osborne is a proud graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where he majored in political science, and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2018. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Blake worked as the Operations Manager for the Joseph and Evelyn Lowery Institute for Justice and Human Rights, a non-profit organization that seeks to train and empower future leaders to improve their communities, locally, domestically and internationally for the common good. After completing his undergraduate degree, Blake matriculated to Columbia University where he graduated with a Master of International Affairs, with a concentration in International Security Policy and a dual specialization in International Conflict Resolution and a regional specialization of the Middle East/North Africa. Blake is committed to working on ways to reduce conflict in communities of color and to advance strategies for creating peace, both domestically and internationally.
Blake L. Osborne
Sunday Supper Series
Blanche Payne
Lowery Institute Leadership Staff: Brown Girl Dreaming Book Club
I’m Blanche Payne. I currently serve as the Director of Operations for the Lowery Institute. I’ve spent most of my career working for various non-profits, many of which required that I develop programs for youth in middle and high school. While studying at Springfield College I created a curriculum for servant leadership for middle school students called Leading from the Middle. I hold a B.S. from Boston College, M.A. from University of Georgia and a M.S. from Springfield College.
I am a current seminarian and owner of Selah & Flo’ Yoga. I started my service with the Lowery Institute while matriculating in the Atlanta University Center. I’ve continued to serve after graduation. As a certified Kemetic Yoga intructor and RYT 200 I — Rev. Yogi Pink — offer a meditative yoga class that focuses on self-healing, stress management and intentional flow of the life force (breath). During my class I hope to share the skills I use to relieve stress and equip you with the tools to reset and rejuvenate the mind, body & soul wherever you may be at any time. Selah & Flo’
Andrew Pink
Clark Atlanta University Graduate-Change Agent Alumni-Yoga & Meditation
Jennifer Rogers-Givens
BARS CAN’T BLOCK SUCCESS
Jennifer is a wife, mother of four and mompreneur, wears many hats every day. From managing her household to managing her team, she ensures that she creates and encourages balance wherever she can. A native of Washington DC, Jennifer has lived coast to coast, residing in LA before settling in Atlanta.
For over a decade Jennifer has worked with brands such as BMW North America, Coca-Cola, Nationwide Insurance, L’Oréal USA, and Koch Industries, providing strategic guidance and execution to speak to their customer base in an effective, targeted and nuanced way. Through that work Jennifer has become an advocate for Social Change, spreading information and knowledge alongside ex-offenders to create change in our society.
My name is Kenyon Spotts and I am a rising junior at Morehouse College from Cleveland, Ohio! My major is CTEMS (Cinema, Television, and Emerging Media Studies). I love to watch movies and TV shows, listen to music, and I recently started exploring photography. I have been serving with the Lowery Institute for the last 2 years and can’t wait to take these next 4 weeks to read with and learn more about you!
Kenyon Spotts
Change Agent Student Leader: The Crossover Book Club
Beverly Daniel Tatum
Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?
Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, is the author of the best-selling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race, now in its 20th anniversary edition.
A thought-leader in higher education, she was the 2013 recipient of the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award and the 2014 recipient of the American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. Dr. Tatum holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, a M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Michigan, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary.
Join us on Sundays. Scooter is a co-founder of QuarantineCon. Taylor attended Morehouse College, where his studies focused on Marketing. Since his undergraduate days, his work has been at the intersection of technology and culture. Taylor launched venture backed technology companies with investors that included Comcast Ventures, Morgan Stanley and Y Combinator. He is currently the head of marketing at All Def, a media platform that reaches over 30 million people monthly. Taylor is guided by his passion for building online communities and giving others a platform.
Scooter Taylor
Sunday Supper Series
Bentina Chisolm Terry
Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together In The Cafeteria?
Bentina C. Terry is Senior Vice President for Metro Atlanta & Corporate Relations for Georgia Power. In this role, Bentina is responsible for the company’s operations, sales, customer service, economic and community development, and external affairs activities for 1.4 million customers across metro Atlanta as well as statewide responsibility for Georgia Power’s work in underserved communities – people of color, the elderly, women and LGBTQ+.
Bentina is actively involved in the community and feels fortunate to work for a company that has a passion for the communities it serves. She serves on the board of directors for the Atlanta Police Foundation, the Atlanta History Center, Leadership Atlanta, the Grove Park Foundation, the Atlanta Women’s Foundation, and the Atlanta Beltline Partnership (2021-2022 Chair). She is also on the campaign committee for the Woodruff Arts Center and the advisory council for the Truist Atlanta Open. In 2020, she was named on the Greater Atlanta YWCA’s Women of Achievement and has been named one of Atlanta Business League’s 100 Most Influential Women for several consecutive years.
Bentina has had a diverse career with Southern Company, beginning her career in 2001 at Georgia Power, next serving as a senior executive at Southern Nuclear Operating Company and Gulf Power before returning to Georgia Power in 2017.
During her Southern Company career, she has been responsible for many different areas including External Affairs, Legislative and Regulatory Affairs, Community and Economic Development, Corporate Communications, Sales and Marketing, Customer Service, Compliance and Ethics, Corporate Services and aspects of Power Delivery. She also served as General Counsel of Southern Nuclear. Prior to Southern Company, Bentina began her career practicing law with Troutman Sanders law firm in Atlanta and also served as the Associate General Counsel at Progress Energy in Raleigh, NC.
A native of Fayetteville, N.C., Bentina holds a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in English from North Carolina State University. She is a member of the North Carolina State Bar and the Georgia State Bar, Leadership Atlanta, Leadership North Carolina, Leadership Florida, the International Women’s Forum, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and The Links, Incorporated. She has received various awards and recognitions for her contribution to the state of Florida including being named one of Influence Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in Florida Politics (2015), and one of the Florida Diversity Council’s Most Powerful and Influential Women (2012). She was also an International Women’s Forum (IWF) Fellow in 2012 and a 2017 graduate of the Atlanta Regional Commission’s Leadership Institute.
She is married to Antonio Terry and loves to play golf and run in half marathons.
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