Speaker Bios

Dr. David Childs is a Professor of Social Studies, History, Education and Director of the Black Studies Program at Northern Kentucky University (NKU). He earned two Masters' degrees and a Ph.D. from Miami University of Ohio. He received a Doctorate of Divinity from Temple Bible College and Seminary in Cincinnati. Dr. Childs is also president of Cultural Diversity Consultants, LLC, an educational consultant organization that focuses on diversity, Black studies, educational leadership and social studies curriculum. Dr. Childs is an international scholar, having worked in Mexico, Canada, France, England and Liberia, Africa. He has expertise in history, Black studies, social studies education, theology and diversity. He has published over 200 academic articles and book chapters. He is also a novelist and has published a historical fiction novel on slavery and freedom for young adults. Dr. Childs is currently working on a documentary film for Kentucky Educational Television (KET) and PBS featuring his research on the underground railroad in Kentucky and Ohio. The film is set to come out in spring of 2025. The work is a collaboration with George Clooney and his father Nick Clooney. Dr. Childs has also done work with PBS, NPR, the Smithsonian Institute and National Geographic. The things he loves most is spending time with his wife (Alundra) and children, traveling and being involved with his local church.

Karyn Parsons is best known as the character “Hilary Banks” on the long-running television show “The Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” Today, she is the founder of Sweet Blackberry, an award-winning series of children’s animated films and books sharing stories of unsung black heroes in history. The films feature narration from such notable talents as Alfre Woodard, Queen Latifah, Chris Rock, and Laurence Fishburne. They have been screened on HBO and Netflix and are enjoyed by schools and libraries across the country. Karyn has also authored the Sweet Blackberry picture books Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight and Saving The Day, which tells the story of how Garrett Morgan invented the traffic signal. Karyn’s debut novel, How High The Moon, was released in March 2019. Her latest novel, Clouds Over California, hit bookshelves in July 2023.

Dr. Kimberly Mack Dr. Kimberly Mack is renowned as a dedicated advocate for women and children. By day, she serves as Principal of John P. Parker School in Cincinnati, Ohio, where her leadership has garnered national attention. The school's innovative approach to education has been featured prominently in the media, including a spotlight on NBC Today Show's Education Nation segment. This coverage highlighted Parker's pioneering programs in community engagement, aimed at nurturing children from early development through to their careers.  In 2024, John P. Parker School achieved an impressive 4 out of 5 stars on the Ohio School Report Card, distinguishing it as one of only six elementary schools in Cincinnati Public Schools to reach this level of excellence. Outside of her professional endeavors, Dr. Mack is an accomplished author and serves as President of the Purpose-Driven Women’s Empowerment Network. She also curates the highly regarded Laugh, Learn, and Launch Conference for Women and Girls. Driven by a profound commitment to uplifting her community, Dr. Mack is recognized as the Purpose-driven Educator, consistently seeking opportunities to inspire and empower those around her.

Kristi Williams, a.k.a. Orisabiyi, is the great-great-granddaughter of Creek Freedmen and 1874 Supreme Court Justice Jesse Franklin of the Muscogee Creek Nation. She is also a descendant of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, with her Great Aunt Janie Edwards having been present in the Dreamland Theater during the tragic event. Kristi is the founder of Black History Saturdays and a National Geographic Explorer. She currently serves as the Program Manager for Fitting Back In Tulsa with World Won Development and as a Consultant for Standpipe Hill Strategies. In 2022, she founded the Standpipe Hill Homebuyers Program, which graduated 17 participants, four of whom are now homeowners. Kristi is a dedicated community activist, Greenwood advocate, organizer, political consultant, strategist, and campaign manager for Tulsa District 1 City Councilor Vanessa Hall Harper since 2016. Kristi serves on the National Geographic Endowment Oklahoma Advisory Council. She is the former Chairperson of the Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission and serves on the 1921 Tulsa Mass Graves Oversight Committee for the City of Tulsa. Additionally, she is involved with the Historic Greenwood Main Street and is a founding board member of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership in Tulsa’s Coalition for Social Justice led to the successful renaming of the Brady District and changing the narrative from the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot to the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Kristi's numerous accolades include the 2024 Wayfinder Award from National Geographic and several community impact awards. She has been featured in documentaries such as PBS's "The Fire and The Forgotten" and Lebron James’s "Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street," and she frequently speaks on race relations, activism, and advocacy. In her spare time, Kristi enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and acrylic painting, always striving to become a better ancestor and leave lasting impressions on those she meets. Her favorite quote is from Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the AME Church: “I didn’t accept it, I received it.

Alundra Childs is a Spanish teacher at Northwest High School. She has been an educator for over twenty years. She received a Bachelors in Spanish Literature from Northern Kentucky University. She also holds a Masters degree in Spanish literature and a second Masters in teaching foreign language from Miami University of Ohio. Alundra is currently pursuing a doctorate degree in educational leadership also from Miami University. Her areas of research include Afro-Latino history and culture, multicultural education and Spanish second language acquisition. She has also studied abroad on several occasions throughout Mexico. She is also a classically trained pianist and is director of music at First Antioch Baptist Church. She studied piano at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and with a Russian music educator at Mehas music. She is a board member of First Antioch MInistries, an inner city 501c3 non-profit that focuses on the areas of food and housing insecurity, addiction, unemployment and education.   

Craig Rush teaches Social Studies at Shroder High School.   This is his 29th year teaching with Cincinnati Public Schools.  He teaches American Government and has taught African American history and World History.  His specialty is connecting students with the community including political campaigns, food pantries, nursing homes and tutoring.  For the last 8 years, he served as Curriculum Council Chair. He co-developed a racial justice unit shared with all K-12 teachers, advocated for 4,500 Stamped books to be provided for students.  He previously served as Black Student Union Advisor and currently Student Government Advisor. Twice helped lead curriculum adoption for Social Studies.

Dr. Eric R. Jackson
As a Professor of History, and Associate Dean, in the College of Arts and Sciences, at Northern Kentucky University, with thirty-three years of academic experience at the university level, Dr. Eric R. Jackson has taught numerous classes in the fields of American and African American History, Race Relations and Peace Studies. Dr. Jackson has also published a wide array of books, books reviews, articles, etc. in many local, regional, national, and international journals, such as the Journal of African American History, the Journal of Negro Education, Ohio History, the International Journal of World Peace, and the Journal of Pan African Studies.)  With over fifty publications, Dr. Jackson recently completed an online book/website on African Americans in Cincinnati (Oxford University Press, 2015 http://www.oxfordaasc.com/public/features/archive/0216/index.jsp), co-authored a book titled Cincinnati’s Underground Railroad (Arcadia Publishing, Inc. 2014) and co-authored another book titled Unique Challenges in Urban Schools: The Involvement of African American Parents (Rowman and Littlefield, May 2015), Let Freedom Ring for Everyone:  (Cognella, 2020), and Introduction to Black Studies (University of Kentucky Press, 2023; 2023 Thomas D. Clark Medallion Award). Dr. Jackson also is a member of the Boone County Public Library Board of Trustees, the Kentucky Humanities, Cincinnati Preservation Association, Friends of Music Hall Board (Cincinnati, Ohio).

Jennifer Williams is a northern Kentucky native with a focus in Ohio River Valley history, especially as it relates to the fight for freedom. She is a graduate student at Northern Kentucky University in the Public History and Public Administration programs. She has had the privilege of conducting research on the Black communities in New Richmond, Ohio, and Augusta, Kentucky. She volunteers with the Dinsmore Homestead in Burlington, Kentucky, and the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her capstone project on the Fossett family, "Cincinnati's Lost Founders," has been selected to receive an award from the Ohio Local History Alliance. She serves as the Historic Preservation Officer for the City of Newport.