On Sunday, July 15, 2007, author Tahiera Monique Brown, will take part in the SANKOFA Gathering of Justice Regional Gathering of Youth. This event will be headquartered at the Alta Vista Hotel & Conference Center in Birmingham, Alabama. Tahiera will share a special presentation entitled, "Hearts Abandoned", which will describe the heartbreak that comes from gang violence. The conference will focus on youth leaders, and will encourage them in their desire to address matters such as voter registration, civil rights, and violence prevention.
In an article written by Claude Paradise Gray, in the Perspectives section of FinalCall.com News about the Pittsburgh SANKOFA Gathering, Mr. Gray writes, "...the purpose of [the conference] is not to tell young people what to do or how to do it, but to officially pass the torch from the elders of the Civil Rights movement to the next generation of prepared young leaders". Actor/
Tahiera Monique Brown, whose debut novel "Annihilator of Innocence" chronicles her survival and escape from violence and abuse, and Sylvia Bennett-Stone, Executive Director of Innovation Approach Foundation, and conference coordinator, who lost her daughter to gang violence, have also participated in other programs to help youth and families, along with author Jan Reed-Givhan, who lost her son to gang violence. Each of these women has experienced violence in their lives, which has resulted in devastating consequences to their families. Yet, they are supporting each other with courage to move beyond the pain. Stone asked Tahiera to speak at the SANKOFA Gathering, and Givhan, author of "Now You See Me, Now You Don't", will be accompanying her.
The event begins at 1:00 pm on Friday, and will culminate on Sunday with sessions geared towards the next steps that need to be taken in a variety of critical areas that impact young leaders. In addition to the Alta Vista Hotel & Conference Center, the event will include a tour of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, and Kelly Ingram Park.
The Alta Vista Hotel & Conference Center is located at 260 Goodwin Crest Dr., Birmingham, AL 35209.
