Community Book Discussion: “A Conversation on the Migration and Prosperity of African Americans in Sacramento”
John Taylor
Join us for the Community Book Discussion on Tuesday, October 30th “A Conversation on the migration and prosperity of African Americans in Sacramento” FREE Admission, Open to the Public and Enjoy Refreshments 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Our MC/Moderator and Panelists leading the discussion include: (scroll down to see their bios)
MC/Moderator John Taylor
Dr. Jann Murray-Garcia
Elliott Stevenson
Amina Merritt
Sam Walton
Carol Borden
You’re invited to join us for a Community Book Discussion taking place on Tues-10/30 at Underground Books, 2814 35th Street in Oak Park – Sacramento from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm. Mark your calendars and come early for seating as it is first come, first serve. FREE admission, open to the public and enjoy refreshments. We encourage visitors and residents to join us for “A Conversation on the migration and prosperity of African Americans in Sacramento”. Share your viewpoints on questions that will include: “Why did Blacks leave the South in such great numbers (nearly 6 million) from 1915 to 1970?” and “Is it now better for Blacks in the North (e.g. – Oakland) vs. the South (e.g. – Atlanta)?”
Our MC/Moderator and Panelists
MC/Moderator-John W. Taylor is currently the Director of the Alpha Academy, youth mentoring-tutoring program, and past President of the Sacramento Alumni Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. which provides a variety of community engagement programs that encourage the creation, expansion and growth of scholastic services, for young males and females throughout Sacramento County. He is also the President of the Concerned African American Parent (CAAP) advocacy group, on the board of the several education foundations, is a member of Harmony Lodge (F&AM), a member of the Sacramento 100 Black Men, the Mayor’s Indivisible initiative, and Antioch Progressive Baptist Church.
Jann Murray-Garcia was born to two educators who left South Carolina as part of the Great Migration. She provides a unique mix of scholarship, teaching, and community engagement in her current role as an Assistant Adjunct Profesor at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing. Her medical degree was obtained at UCSF, her pediatric training at Oakland Children’s Hospital, and her Masters degree in Public Health at UC Berkeley. Jann has presented to hundreds of educators, parents, and students on issues of race, education, and healthy child development.
Elliott Richmond Stevensonis employed with the State of California in the Department of Transportation as a Project Funding Coordinator. Elliott is responsible for activities involving federal-aid project funding, including thousands of construction and state projects. He is one of nine members of his family to graduate from California State University, Sacramento. Currently he is pursuing a Juris Doctorate from Lincoln Law School of Sacramento. He is a 3rd Generation Legacy member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Incorporated and a member of Philomathean Lodge #2 Free & Accepted Masons. In his spare time, Elliott enjoys spending time with his family.
Amina R. Merritt, a native of Hartford, CT, is Founding Attorney of the Merritt Law Clinic, Sacramento, California. She received her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, magna cum laude, from Amherst College, Amherst, MA in 1980. After a one-year fellowship in the Masters’ Program for Public Administration at Fordham University, NY, Ms. Merritt attended the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctorate (J.D.) degree in 1984.
Sam Walton has served as a political strategist in the Assembly Speaker’s Office of Majority Services, under Assembly Speaker Willie Brown. His experience managing political campaigns includes the campaigns for Assemblymembers Willard Murray, Peter Chacon and John Vasconcellos. Additionally, he has served in consulting capacities for several national and statewide campaigns, as well as statewide initiatives. His experiences also include a variety of local public relations, marketing and political campaigns. Most recently, he served as the Principle Consultant for the California NAACP in redistricting the State of California by drawing the statewide maps for the Congress, Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization.
Part of the westward thrust, Carol Borden and her husband Bill migrated to northern California in 1969 from Houston and Philadelphia, respectively. Carol received her bachelor’s degree from Howard University and master’s degree from Texas Southern University. She worked in student counseling, admissions and recruitment at UC Davis and various community colleges. Her company Borden Communications markets LegalShield products. An arts enthusiast, Carol has been a member and chair of the Sacramento Metropolitan Arts Commission and a Crocker Art Museum docent. Her commentary and activities calendar, “Carol’s Corner”, appeared in The Sacramento Observer. Carol is a member of The Black Group, American Leadership Forum, Sacramento Chapter of The Links Incorporated and her fun and feisty book club, OBBC. She lives in Elk Grove and is the proud mother of sons William Borden III (Tre’) and Linton Borden.
