By Kara Furlong In the final days of Barack Obama’s historic presidency, Vanderbilt Chancellor Nicholas S. Zeppos will host a panel discussion reflecting on the 44th president’s legacy. “Beyond Obama: Race, Politics and America’s Future” is scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 17, and will feature former Obama White House faith adviser Joshua DuBois, Republican strategist and CNN political analyst Ana Navarro, former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele and Vanderbilt Distinguished Visiting Professor and Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian Jon Meacham. The talk is part of the Vanderbilt Chancellor’s Lecture Series as well as the university’s 2017 Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration. The discussion will be held from…
Author: Tribune Staff
By Robert Alan Glover Part I of a II Part Series JACKSON, TN — The Rev. Dr. Jesse L. Douglas turns 87 this coming August. He walked side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 52 years ago during the Selma to Montgomery march. On January 16th in observance of the King Holiday, Rev. Douglas – a 1959 alumnus of Lane College in Jackson, TN will speak at its annual MLK Memorial Program. Douglas, an albino Black man, easily passed as white while working for the NAACP and Dr. King during the civil rights era. “I am going to talk about…
It seems that ‘Rogue’ is causing excitement not only at movie theaters (new Star Wars film of the same name), but also in the auto world too. The new 2017 Nissan Rogue SL Compact sport utility vehicle is also creating Its own buzz. With an aggressive, redesigned exterior, the Nissan Rogue is a stunner. Sharp edges cut from the hood and headlights into sweeping, sinuous lines that flow backwards over aerodynamic wraparound LED taillights. These fresh new features give the Rogue a look that’s ‘STYLE WRAPPED IN STEEL.’ Rogue serves up a stylish first impression with signature LED Daytime Running Lights…
NASHVILLE, TN — Blind Akrawi has been named a member at Neal & Harwell, PLC. Akrawi joined Neal & Harwell in 2011. He focuses on representing clients in a wide range of civil and criminal litigation matters, including healthcare fraud, environmental law, corporate investigations, utility regulations, and contract matters. “We are pleased to welcome Blind into membership at Neal & Harwell, said Philip Irwin, chief manager of the firm. “In addition to his impressive technical legal expertise, Blind has always demonstrated a “team-first” attitude in all that he does.” Prior to joining Neal & Harwell, Akrawi was the Tennessee Assistant…
NASHVILLE, TN — Bill Harbison, partner at Sherrard Roe Voigt & Harbison, and Abby Rubenfeld, owner at Rubenfeld Law Office, PC, have been honored with the Nashville Bar Association’s John C. Tune Public Service Award. The award is the highest honor presented at the NBA’s annual banquet, recognizing members who make outstanding contributions to the Nashville community while distinguishing themselves as practicing attorneys. The two attorneys were lead co-counsel on the landmark Tanco v. Haslam case for marriage equality. Harbison works primarily in the areas of corporate law and trusts and estates. He also handles litigation in those same practice…
NASHVILLE, TN — After 30 years as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Meharry Medical College, Frank S. Royal, Sr., M.D. ’68 has announced his decision to retire. During his time as Chairman, Dr. Royal’s leadership helped Meharry experience an unprecedented amount of growth in terms of increased student enrollment, large scale infrastructure projects, the completion of the historic $125 million Campaign for Meharry and significant growth in the endowment. “Dr. Royal is an alumnus who has dedicated his entire life to advancing Meharry and the betterment of others, often at great personal sacrifice” said Dr. James E. K.…
NASHVILLE, TN — Mrs. Violet May Nicholas, 66-year resident of Nashville, celebrated her 105th birthday with family and friends at home on Wednesday, January 6, 2017. Family and friends of Mrs. Nicholas from all over the United States joined in the joyous celebration. When she was 13 years old, she contracted typhoid fever and was given only 3 weeks to live. After several months however, she recovered, but was left almost completely deaf by the illness. She did eventually regain most of her hearing. (Over the past 2 – 3 decades, however, her hearing has deteriorated to the point that…
NASHVILLE, TN — The Interdenominational Ministers Fellowship, sponsors of Nashville’s annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day March and Convocation, has engaged Britanny Packnett, 31, as its keynote speaker at the convocation in the Tennessee State University Gentry Center following the annual MLK, Jr. Day March. In the fall of 2016, Brittany Packnett was featured prominently in The New York Times’ reporting about Hillary Clinton’s continued inability to solidify black millennial voters. Packnett, 31, first came to national attention during the protests in Ferguson, MO, following the police shooting death of Michael Brown. She is one of the founding members of…
NASHVILLE, TN — Dr. Phyllis Qualls is the consummate professional. She is actively involved in the community and forever sharing her gifts and abilities for a cause greater than she that benefits all of humankind. Since she arrived in Nashville in 1991, as public relations director at Tennessee State University, she has made a significant positive impact from that time until now. She is highly regarded for her communications skills, scholarly expertise in perceptions and knowledge on women and minority issues and education. She strives for successful positive results in all that she does on her life’s journey. Whether promoting…
MEMPHIS, TN — Social justice advocacy has been such a natural part of Native Memphian Jocelyn Dan Wurzburg as she was honored by the Tennessee Human Rights Commission (THRC) at its 50th anniversary celebration in Nashville for her longtime advocacy in civil rights and women’s rights in 2013. The Commission created a special award, called the “Jocelyn Dan Wurzburg Civil Rights Legacy Award.” Wurzburg an attorney, was originally appointed to the THRC in 1971 by Gov. Winfield Dunn and was re-appointed in 2007 by Gov. Phil Bredesen. She authored the1978 legislation that became the Tennessee Human Rights Act. The act…