Oak Park Conference – Saturday Morning Session, 19 October

Session Theme – “Appreciating Diversity”

Diversity provides great benefits in building healthy societies. Enlarging the forum for discourse and interaction uncovers new viewpoints, new concerns, new ideas, and new energies. The intermingling of attitudes provides richness and strength.

These sessions will discuss the advantages of embracing diversity and ways to find acceptance, appreciations, and balance. We will seek means for building bridges between diverse parts of our community. We will consider factors that take advantage of diversity to build a stronger community.


Registration and Breakfast

7:30 – 8:00 a.m.
Student Center Multipurpose Room

Breakfast provided courtesy of
St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley


Keynote Speaker

Redditt Hudson

National Coalition of Law Enforcement Officers for
Justice, Reform, and Accountability

8:00 – 8:45
Student Center Multipurpose Room


Panelist Presentations
followed by facilitated discussions

9:00 – 11:15
Social Studies Building Classrooms

The schedule for the Saturday morning session is tentative.
Speakers and panels may change.


Social Connectedness

D’Andre Braddix, Ed.D., Executive Director of DEI, STLCC

Claire Martin, PhD
Asst. Professor, Webster Univ., Therapist, Spring to Life Counseling

Tenille-Rose Martin, PhD
Founder and CEO of Rose & Ginger Agency

Neighborhoods
& Housing

Robin Harvey
Legal Services of Eastern Missouri


Dan Monti, Ph.D
Prof. of Sociology &
Anthropology, Saint Louis University


Todd Swanstrom, Ph.D.
Prof. of Community Collaboration, UMSL

Economic Development

Christina Dancy
Asst. V.P. and Community Impact Manager, U.S. Bank

Madye Henson-McCannon. DM
Principal, CentricIMPACT


LaTonya R, Jackson, MBA
Assist. Vice President of Business Services, St. Louis Community Credit Union, Certified Community Health Worker

Stefani Weeden-Smith
St. Louis Anchor Action Network


Education & Youth Empowerment

Community Safety

Giving Voice Through the Arts

Mildred Clines
Community Activist




Terrence Freeman, Ph.D.
Prof. Emeritus at STLCC and Adjunct Prof. at UMSL

Dwayne T. James, P.E., Ed.D.
Community Development & Dir. of DEI, MU Extension

LaRhonda Wilson
Assoc. Prof. of Sociology, STLCC at Florissant Valley

Michael Gearhart, Ph.D.
Asst. Prof. of Social Work, UMSL


Christi Griffin, J.D.
President, The Ethics Project



Redditt Hudson
Nat’l Coalition of Law Enforcement Officers for Justice, Reform, and Accountability

Delrish Moss
Miramar Florida Police Chief, former Ferguson Police Chief

Alice Bloch, Ed.D
Dancer, choreographer, teacher, and arts integration specialist

Adelia Parker-Castro
Artist / Educator




Rebecca Clendenen
Dir. of Development, FAME Center, Leader, Confluence Scholars Network

Philip Deitch Professional photographer


Jason Vasser-Elong, M.F.A., Ed.D.
Prof. of English & African American Studies: UMSL and Founder, j.Nicholas & Co.


Session Roundup

11:30 – 12:00
Student Center Multipurpose Room


SC = Student Center (location of Multipurpose Room)
SS = Social Studies Building (location of Break-out Classrooms)
H = Humanities Building (location of Break-out Classrooms)

Parking available for free in all campus lots, except where spaces are noted as reserved.