Blackburn Institute

Student Fellow Dana Lewis Testifies at Congressional Hearing

September 9, 2008

I was called the first week in March by the American Diabetes Association Federal Affairs team, who I have previously worked with on other projects including when I spoke at a briefing about the developments in diabetes care technology from the patient perspective (discussing glucose monitors, insulin pumps, continuous glucose monitors, etc) last fall. In February, the ADA received a call from Senator Kennedy’s office asking for a witness for a hearing focused on the need for increased funding for the NIH. I agreed to talk to them and then had a phone interview with the Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) Committee staffers, who selected me to testify over three other interviewees involved with other patient organizations.

I prepared my testimony myself, only knowing that the hearing would coincide with the release of a new study by Harvard detailing the negative impact of flat lined budgets for the NIH in the future. I tried to bring the patient perspective into the room with my testimony, which described being diagnosed with diabetes and what I have to do to take care of diabetes on a daily basis. I also explained the improvements in technology that I have seen in the five years I have lived with diabetes. I then pleaded, for lack of better words, for Congress to consider increasing the budget for NIH because research brings me, and millions of other Americans affected by diabetes and other chronic illnesses, hope for a cure and improves treatment while we wait for cures. The testimony was sent to members of the Committee ahead of time, and they all read it before the hearing.

In the hearing, I sat beside the Dean of Medical Faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine and two seats down from the President of Harvard. We each gave an abbreviated version of our testimonies and then answered questions with our expertise (and in my case, experience). Although the older members of the panel sometimes fought over the microphone, Senator Kennedy gave me the opportunity to make another statement during the hearing about how NIH research translates into increased education and awareness of disease in the communities, which in turn have a greater impact on improving healthy lifestyles and prevention.

The experience was amazing to say the least. I never thought I would be testifying in front of a committee of US Senators at age 20. My hope is that the diabetes education can be increased due to my participation in events such as this and my involvement with the American Diabetes Association.

Fellow Sarah Reppucci Thomas and Husband Welcome their New Baby

March 31, 2008

Fellow Sarah Reppucci Thomas (2002-2003) and her husband Michael welcomed the birth of their daughter, Phoebe Kate Thomas, on March 14, 2007 at 1:06 p.m. She weighed 6 pounds, 2 ounces and was 19.5 inches long.

Blackburn Institute Announces 2008 Frank A. Nix Lecturer on Ethical Leadership

March 4, 2008

The Blackburn Institute is pleased to announce that former South African President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner F.W de Klerk will serve as the 2008 Frank A. Nix Lecturer on Ethical Leadership. The lecture will occur on Friday, October 17, 2008 at 10:00 am in Sellers Auditorium located in the Bryant Conference Center on The University of Alabama’s campus in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. President de Klerk’s speech is entitled “Bridging the Gap: Globalization without Isolation.”

Biography of F.W. de Klerk
Biography of Frank A. Nix
Biography of Dr. John L. Blackburn
Directions to the Bryant Conference Center

The Frank A. Nix Lecture
The Frank A. Nix Lecture is a biennial lecture series hosted by The University’s of Alabama’s Blackburn Institute. Focused on exploring ethical leadership in the national arena, the Frank A. Nix Lecture complements the Blackburn Institute’s mission of forming a network of ethical leaders who both understand contemporary issues and work toward progressive change in Alabama as well as the world. Although the Frank A. Nix Lecture has existed within the Blackburn Institute’s yearly curriculum for student fellows since 1999, a fundraising campaign culminating in 2004 permitted the lecture series to expand and bring nationally renowned speakers to The University of Alabama’s campus. In 2005, the Frank A. Nix lecturers were U.S. Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice and British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw. In 2006, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, Europe, and presidential candidate General Wesley Clark (Ret.) served as the Frank A. Nix Lecturer. The Nix Lecture has not only benefited the Tuscaloosa-area community (both the 2005 and 2006 lectures were held before audiences nearing 1,000 people), but it is also making a national impact as well. The 2006 lecture was downloaded over 1,000 times by people in 43 states and 13 foreign countries.

Reception for Fellow Classes of 1995-1998

February 1, 2008

It is hard to believe that what started as a gathering of UA student leaders at Twin Pines camp in 1995 has transformed into one of the most well respected leadership development organizations in the nation. As the Blackburn Institute’s programming has expanded so has the loyalty of our alumni fellows – even so, there are many from the Institute’s early years who have yet to experience what Blackburn has become and find out what it can offer their personal lives.

We are holding a special reception for our earliest (and perhaps wisest) Blackburn alumni fellows following this year’s Jim Wilson III Winter Symposium. Fellows from 1995 through 1998 are encouraged to attend so that they may meet up with old friends and learn more about the Institute’s remarkable growth. The reception will be held on the evening of Saturday, February 23, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. in room Riverchase B of Birmingham’s Wynfrey Hotel. The reception will be a relaxed affair with socializing as the main objective – trust us, you will not be solicited for donations or the like; we merely want you to learn more about the Institute as we are confident that you will want to be more involved in the future after the experience.

While we would love you to join us for the full Winter Symposium, attendance at the event is not necessary to come by the reception. We realize that many of you might need to learn more about us before you commit to a full weekend of Blackburn activities.

If you are interested in attending, please send a RSVP to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). If you have any questions about the reception, please feel free to contact the reception chair, Melissa Tucker Medlin (a 1995 fellow) at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or the Institute’s director, Marc Shook, at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)@sa.ua.edu.

If this looks interesting but you are not able to attend, we would still love to hear from you. Find the biography we have posted for you on our Website by running a “search” at http://www.blackburninstitute.org and let us know if you would like us to update that information. Also, please let us know your current contact information so that we can be sure to keep you informed of all the Institute’s upcoming activities. Biography and contact updates can be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

2008 Burt Jones Rural Travel Experience: Mount Vernon and Citronelle

January 22, 2008

by Martha Griffith and Joan Reichwein, 2007-2008 Blackburn Fellows

Click here to see pictures of the travel experience.

The 2008 Burt Jones Rural Travel Experience saw first year fellows traveling to North Mobile County, specifically Mount Vernon and Citronelle. The purpose of the trip, the first for the 2007-2008 fellows, was to interact with the local officials and experience a new culture and community within our state while learning more about the problems and opportunities this community has. Mount Vernon was our primary place of study and was chosen because of our 2007-2008 theme, workforce development. ThyssenKrupp Steel Company is coming to the area and is the largest economic development project in the United States. Using North Mobile County as a case study, we could see a community before the industry came and study the planning and preparation going into a project of this size. We hope that in five years we can return to further observe what happened and compare it to the strategies and ideas we learned about on this trip. While in the area, we learned about the Native American population there, the issues and challenges that face the community, education in the area, and economic development with specific emphasis on ThyssenKrupp. This trip helped show both old and new fellows a rural perspective on issues facing communities within the state.

Our group of over 40 student fellows, alumni fellows, and advisory board members began our experience with a church service at the Simple House of Praise, a local nondenominational predominately American Indian church. The reverend spoke about the importance of having unyielding faith. After the service, many church members joined us for a traditional southern dinner at the Iron Skillet. During lunch the church and community leaders discussed issues facing their community, county, and way of life. Meeting with these individuals revealed the importance of the church as an educator, an economic entity, and also as a hub of social advocacy within Alabama’s Native American communities.

That evening, young professionals met with us at the Whispering Pines cafeteria for a panel discussion on living and working in North Mobile County. State representatives Marc Keahey and Chad Fincher discussed their efforts to improve Mobile County along with the surrounding counties while preparing for the arrival of ThyssenKrupp. Stephanie Weaver, a Citronelle High School teacher, discussed recent improvements to education in Citronelle as well as the areas that desperately need assistance. Randall Reed, 2007 James Madison Fellow, future teacher, and MOWA tribal member, discussed the expected impact of ThyssenKrupp on the small town way of life that many residents enjoy. After the panel discussion, Cleon Bolden, mayor of Mount Vernon, discussed the recent developments made to his town as well as the need for improved infrastructure particularly in regards to sewage systems. The mayor discussed how the lack of proper sewage systems prevents business from moving into the area. Their stories revealed many problems that the area is facing as well as the current lack of preparation for the arrival of ThyssenKrupp. We concluded Sunday with a late night discussion at Whispering Pines Lodge.

The next morning, we traveled to Citronelle High School where we met with Ken Meginson, Mobile County School Board Commissioner for District 1, Alex Crane, Citronelle High School Principal, and three student leaders from the high school including the SGA president. In this panel we discussed educational partnerships for student success and learned how the potential increase in students due to ThyssenKrupp’s arrival will affect the high school.

Next we met at the MOWA Culture Complex to learn more about North Mobile County’s American Indian community in a panel led by Chief Longhair Taylor, chief of the MOWA band of Choctaw Indians. In addition to the panel, we also toured their museum to learn more about the history of the MOWA band. We had lunch at the Mount Vernon Community Center while hearing from Michael Waltman, mayor of Citronelle, discussing how Citronelle is preparing for the arrival of ThyssenKrupp. Then we heard from a panel on economic development. Mayor Waltman moderated the group consisting of Congressman Jo Bonner of US Congressional District 1, Mobile County Commission District 1 President Merceria Ludgood, Mobile Division Area Manager of Alabama Power Sam Covert, and Project Manager for the Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Claudia Zimmerman. Questions were posed regarding ThyssenKrupp’s arrival to the area and the effect it would have on the community, steps that have already implemented or potential action that could take place to prepare for ThyssenKrupp, and general community concerns for the future.

When our first travel experience came to an end, we briefly reflected on our time spent in North Mobile County. As we met with community members and heard about many aspects of life in this rural community, we learned more about the challenges and opportunities they will have in the future. This knowledge provided us with valuable skills to evaluate other rural communities throughout the state. Though it is impossible to completely gauge the impact ThyssenKrupp will have, the small communities of North Mobile County are working hard to prepare for the future, making it a valuable area of the state and a pleasant place to live for its citizens.

Martha Griffith is a junior from Spanish Fort majoring in History and Public Relations and minoring in Computing Technology and Blount Undergraduate Initiative Liberal Arts. Joan Reichwein is a senior from Cullman majoring in Metallurgical Engineering.