2011 Human Rights Day Presenters

EL-FADEL ARBAB

JOY CASTRO

Joy Castro’s first book, The Truth Book: A Memoir (New York:  Arcade, 2005), was named a Book Sense Notable Book by the American Booksellers Association and focuses on religion, violence, adoption, ethnic identity, and her father’s suicide—with special emphasis on the warmth, beauty, humor, and passion for reading that sustained her.  Castro was born in Miami in 1967 and adopted four days later by a Cuban-American family of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  She ran away from home at 14 when that family became abusive and struck out on her own, raising  her son while finishing college and earning M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in literature at Texas A&M.  She worked for 10 years at Wabash College, teaching writing and literature courses.  In 2007, she joined the faculty at the U of Nebraska-Lincoln, where she is an associate professor of English and Ethnic Studies.  Her short fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction have appeared in several anthologies and journals.  An award-winning teacher, Castro has published articles on innovative strategies for the college classroom.  Her literary scholarship focuses on experimental women writers of the 20th and 21st centuries.  She has offered free courses to at-risk teens, victims of domestic violence, and survivors of sexual assault.  She ran the Creative Writing/Teaching conference for Indiana high school and middle school teachers for several years.  She lives with her husband in Lincoln, Nebraska.

FRED EDWORDS, National Director, United Coalition of Reason

 Fred Edwords has long been active in the creation vs. evolution controversy. In the 1980s and 90s, while executive director of the American Humanist Association, he was founder and editor of Creation/Evolution, the only journal to focus on answering creationist arguments, and  debated and lectured on creationism and "Intelligent Design" in the United States and Canada. He also served on the founding boards of the National Center for Science Education and the New York Council for Evolution Education. Today he serves on the faculty of the Humanist Institute, is a member of the Broader Social Impacts Committee of the Human Origins Initiative at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, and is national director of the International Darwin Day Foundation. 

Program Title: How Creationist Political Activism Compromises Quality Science Education." 

Debra Erenberg is Midwest Regional Director for Amnesty International-USA (AIUSA), where she supports members and staff in the region working to protect and advance human rights. Prior to joining AIUSA, Debra served as Minnesota Field Director for America Votes, working with community-based groups to register, engage and turn out under-represented populations for the 2010 election.

Program Title: Human Rights Education in Action: Educational Ways to engage students in Human Rights activism

Kristin Fleschner has enjoyed an array of professional roles that led her to her current position as an analyst for the federal government specializing in gender, peace, and security issues.  Kristin frequently briefs her work to the most senior US policymakers and in recent months has briefed members of the President's Cabinet and testified before the US House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. A dedicated advocate for human rights, Kristin has worked internationally to improve the lives of women. As the 2004-2005 Michael B. Keegan Vanderbilt Traveling Fellow, she spent a year traveling to over 15 countries in Africa examining the efficacy of assistance offered to survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

Sister Jenny will moderate this session; she taught at Providence-St. Mel High School is in the poverty-stricken Garfield Park area on Chicago’s west side from 1986-1991, serving as a science and guidance teacher, guidance counselor and athletic director. She will discuss segments of the documentary based on her first-hand experience. Sister Jenny is a native of Indianapolis. She has a bachelor’s degree in biology from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, a master’s degree in biology from Ball State University and a master’s degree in counseling from Northeastern Illinois University. She currently serves as the Congregation’s vocation director. Information about The Providence Effect; excerpts from the DVD will be used.

DENISE L. JUSTICE

Denise L. Justice is the Ohio Central School System (OCSS) Superintendent for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (DRC).  The education office is based at the DRC Training and Education Center (TEC) located in London, Ohio.  The DRC Ohio Central School System was chartered through the Ohio State Board of Education on April 9, 1973, and since that time OCSS educational programs continue to be recognized as national benchmarks.

Justice works hard to institute effective statewide education priorities and has authority to establish standards for educational services to ensure program compliance with state and federal regulations for the benefit of the stakeholders.

Denise is strongly committed to correctional education.   In 2008, she was named President of the Correctional Education Association (CEA), an international professional association serving educators and administrators who provide services to students in correctional settings.  

TJ LEYDEN

After 15 years as a neo-Nazi soldier and recruiter, “TJ” experienced a profound change of heart, turned away from hate and began teaching tolerance. 

How can a man who covered his body in Nazi symbols become one of the nation’s most compelling speakers on the importance of social justice, human rights, and appreciation of other cultures?  Leyden brings the message of hope and transformation in a memorable lecture emphasizing taking charge of one’s life, making better decisions, and passing on a better world to the next generation.  In Skinhead Confessions, Leyden describes his own transformational moment of truth—family and fatherhood taking him from intolerant monster to role model and peacemaker.

JOHN HARRIS LOFLIN

Loflin is a life-long resident of Indianapolis. He’s presented during conferences on 5 continents. In 2009, he was selected to present his concept: “Empowerment and leadership development through student participation in school-related decision-making” at the Men & Women of Color Leadership Conference at Indiana University. John just presented at the Democratic Education Symposium at Medgar Evers College, Brooklyn. Through the Democratic Education Consortium he plays a part of the pro-democracy movement in Indiana’s public schools. John's presentation: Self-Actualization, Democratic Education, and Hip Hop Culture: Their Relationship to Reducing the Aggressive Impulse

KELSEY TIMMERMAN

Author of Where Am I Wearing?, Timmerman grew up in rural Ohio.  He earned a degree in Anthropology from Miami University of Ohio and currently lives in Muncie, Indiana, with his wife and daughter.  While on a trip to Honduras with his brother, Kelsey became curious about his shirt—which featured a picture of Tattoo of Fantasy Island fame. Timmerman followed the manufacturing of this shirt and was inspired to inform others of his findings by “reducing global issues to the stories of individuals,” thereby helping us to understand the connections between the people who produce our clothes and those who consume them.  He checked the labels of his entire wardrobe and a world trek resulted by simply going ‘where he was wearing!’  His writings have been featured in The Christian Science Monitor and Conde Nast Portfolio.  Timmerman’s work is a perfect example of the “Sociological Imagination.”

Tonya Williams has been serving as the Director of the United Child Care Center in Terre Haute, Indiana for 19 years. UCCC is an NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited child care center.  From 1983 to 1992 she taught early childhood education.

Tonya presently is the chapter president of Wabash Valley Association for the Education of Young Children.  She also serves on the Wabash Valley Success by Six Committee, and has served on the board of directors for Headstart and Indiana Vocational Technical College Early Childhood Advisory Board.  

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