Our Voting, Our Responsibility: The Power of Our Vote
The right that was fought for and federally protected back in 1965 is now under attack more than ever! This webinar will highlight the real impact of the gutting of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. From of state legislature's chambers to the halls of our country's best and brightest HBCUs, we will dive into the theories and praxis of our fundamental right in the face of tyranny.
Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025 for the 2nd installment in the Our Vote, Our Responsibility Fall webinar series.
Join us on Thursday, September 18, 2025 for the 2nd installment in the Our Vote, Our Responsibility Fall webinar series.
SPEAKERS
Gloria Johnson is a special education teacher of 27 years who got fed up with Tennessee elected officials attacking the rights of public school students and teachers. After the legislature took away a teacher’s seat at the table, she decided to run for the Tennessee House in Knoxville — and she’s been fighting for kids and teachers ever since. And after a school shooter stole the lives of six Tennesseans in March, Gloria was a leading voice for new gun safety laws. Joining the “Tennessee Three,” Gloria called for immediate action to stop gun violence, survived a politically charged expulsion vote, and is now helping to build a statewide movement for change. Though she’s retired from the classroom now, she still stands tall for public education. Whether she’s advocating for equitable investments in students or pushing back against high-stakes testing and cynical efforts to end public education as we know it, Gloria is working for reform that improves learning while supporting teachers and student families. That’s why Gloria works so hard to make health care and child care affordable, boost wages for working families, and expand policies like paid leave. When we invest in kids and families, we invest in our future — and shift power back to people who work for a living
Byron D'Andra Orey's currently teaches at Jackson State University where he is Professor and former Chairman of the Political Science Department. He is also a former W.K. Kellogg fellow with the Kellogg foundation. In 2024 he was elected as the President of the Southern Political Science Association. Professor Orey’s research is in the areas of race, politics, and social justice, focusing heavily on the psychology of Black trauma, implicit bias, voting rights, police reform, and systemic racism. He has conducted lectures at Oxford University, Brown University, New York University, Yale University, the University of Michigan, Princeton University and Spelman College to name a few. He has published over thirty peer-reviewed scholarly articles and book chapters, presented manuscripts at over 100 conferences, and received approximately $2.5 million in research grants and fellowships to conduct research and mentor students. Commentary by Professor Orey has also appeared in several media outlets, including Al Jazeera, MSNBC, CNN, the Daily Beast, and the News Hour (PBS).
MODERATOR
Rev. Jamar Boyd II serves as the 17th pastor of Kenwood United Church of Christ in Chicago, IL, and concurrently as the Associate, Office of the President at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.
His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Business from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Divinity from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Rev. Boyd was also a graduate fellow of The GIFT Collaborative of Black Theological Education & Black Faith Traditions and a Fellow of the Religion & Society Collective of the Aspen Institute.
Rev. Boyd is a featured contributor in "Preaching During a Pandemic: The Rhetoric of the Black Preaching Tradition, Volume I." His writings are also available on platforms such as Abernathy Magazine, Baptist News Global, Faithfully Magazine, Faith and Leadership, Medium, and Sojourners Magazine. He is a respected member of the Board of Directors for The Oikos Institute for Social Impact and the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council. Committed to Black theological education, he also consults for The Collaborative.
His academic foundation includes a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management and Business from Georgia Southern University and a Master of Divinity from The Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University. Rev. Boyd was also a graduate fellow of The GIFT Collaborative of Black Theological Education & Black Faith Traditions and a Fellow of the Religion & Society Collective of the Aspen Institute.
Rev. Boyd is a featured contributor in "Preaching During a Pandemic: The Rhetoric of the Black Preaching Tradition, Volume I." His writings are also available on platforms such as Abernathy Magazine, Baptist News Global, Faithfully Magazine, Faith and Leadership, Medium, and Sojourners Magazine. He is a respected member of the Board of Directors for The Oikos Institute for Social Impact and the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council. Committed to Black theological education, he also consults for The Collaborative.
Register now!
All programs will be held on Zoom at 4:30 pm PT, 5:30 MT, 6:30 CT, and 7:30 ET. These webinars are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Donations are appreciated to support our ongoing educational efforts.
All programs will be held on Zoom at 4:30 pm PT, 5:30 MT, 6:30 CT, and 7:30 ET. These webinars are free and open to the public, but registration is required. Donations are appreciated to support our ongoing educational efforts.
Please note that program dates are subject to change. Registered participants will be notified of any changes. Recordings of the webinars will be available for on-demand viewing for those unable to attend live.
