As a Civil Rights Movement activist, Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr. co-founded the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in 1960, among many other accomplishments. Today, he continues his work as an advocate, minister and educator for the Selma Center for Nonviolence, Truth, and Reconciliation, where he serves as chairman of the board.

Motivational speaker, author and criminal justice reform advocate Cyntoia Brown-Long, who was granted clemency by former Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam in 2019 after serving 15 years of a life sentence, will discuss her search for redemption as the event’s featured speaker. The event, set for Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 8 a.m. in AUM Arena. This event is free and open to the public.

A dedicated civil rights leader and activist, Xernona Clayton worked closely with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. during her tenure at the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and traveled extensively with Mrs. Coretta Scott King on her nationwide concert tour.

As an executive with Turner Broadcasting for nearly 30 years, Clayton served as a liaison between TBS and civic groups in Atlanta and across the country. In 1993, she created the Trumpet Awards, which highlight the achievements and contributions of African-Americans and have been televised and distributed annually to more than 185 countries.

Clayton’s autobiography, “I’ve Been Marching All the Time,” was published in 1991. She and her late husband, Ed Clayton, co-authored “The Peaceful Warrior,” a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Brig. Gen. Terrence Adams is the Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As Director, he is responsible for integrating cyberspace warfare capabilities into the joint fight through strategic vision, policy, guidance, and resource advocacy.

Brig. Gen. Adams was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and enlisted in the Army as a private (E-1) after high school. After serving in the Army for six years, he entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Alabama State University – Detachment 019 after graduating from Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.

He commanded six times at the squadron, group, and wing levels, three of these commands while deployed. Most recently, he served as Commander 628th Air Base Wing Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Brig. Gen. Adams deployed to Seeb Air Base, Oman; Kirkuk AB, Iraq; Ali AB, Iraq; and Al Udeid AB, Qatar, in support of operations Southern Watch, Iraq Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He has held a variety of positions at squadron, group, wing, major command, air staff and joint levels.

Prior to his current position, the general was the Special Assistant, Cyber Effects Operations, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.

Brig. Gen. Terrence Adams is the Director, Cyberspace Operations and Warfighter Communications, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and Cyber Effects Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. As Director, he is responsible for integrating cyberspace warfare capabilities into the joint fight through strategic vision, policy, guidance, and resource advocacy.

Brig. Gen. Adams was born in Tuskegee, Alabama, and enlisted in the Army as a private (E-1) after high school. After serving in the Army for six years, he entered the Air Force through the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Alabama State University – Detachment 019 after graduating from Auburn University in Montgomery, Alabama.

He commanded six times at the squadron, group, and wing levels, three of these commands while deployed. Most recently, he served as Commander 628th Air Base Wing Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina. Brig. Gen. Adams deployed to Seeb Air Base, Oman; Kirkuk AB, Iraq; Ali AB, Iraq; and Al Udeid AB, Qatar, in support of operations Southern Watch, Iraq Freedom, Enduring Freedom, New Dawn, and Combined Joint Task Force Horn of Africa. He has held a variety of positions at squadron, group, wing, major command, air staff and joint levels.

Prior to his current position, the general was the Special Assistant, Cyber Effects Operations, HAF, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia.