Musical Performance (April 4 Reception)
Senabella Gill is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and youth mentor, who maintains the balance of the modern history of jazz using its rich past and those iconic figures as a model of its excellence. She was dubbed the Bronzeville Diva by the late Malachi Thompson. A professional model and actress, Senabella graced the stages and covers of Mademoiselle, Ebony, and Essence magazines and has walked the runway for Harpers Bazaar New York Fashion Week. As a multi-awarded jazz vocalist, one of her most notable recognitions was provided by Kenny Webb of KISS FM< Radio New York, when awarded The Best New Jazz Artist. She would soon become recognized for her songwriting abilities and was called upon to pen a song for the late Nelson Mandela as he sought to raise money for children in his South African homeland. She presently has four albums on which three she’s collaborated with the internationally-renowned Robert Irving III aka Baabe. When Senabella is not performing, she can be heard on her podcast, Coffee Break with Senabella, on the Female Solutions Network. She can be contacted a [email protected].
Robert Irving III completes a distinguished lineage of post-bop pianists/composers who collaborated with the legendary Miles Davis. At age 26, Irving’s composition “Space” inspired Davis’ comeback in 1979. He evolved into the roles of Davis’ producer, musical director and film composer (including the Academy Award nominated film, Street Smart starring Christopher Reeves and Morgan Freeman). Irving became Davis’ longest collaborator (1979-1988).
As a musician and producer on five Grammy Award nominated projects, Irving worked closely with numerous greats including Sting, Carlos Santana, Wayne Shorter, Ramsey Lewis, Billy Joel, Terri Lyne Carrington, Diane Reeves, David Murray, Doudou N’Diaye Rose, Regina Carter, Gary Bartz, Pharaoh Sanders, John Scofield, Kirk Whalum, Grover Washington Jr, Nona Hendricks, George Duke, Patrice Rushen, Nancy Wil-son, Branford Marsalis, Roy Ayers, R. Kelly and also served as musical director for Donald Bryd and for the pop group, Sister Sledge.
In 2009 Irving’s 34-member Sonic Portraits Orchestra debuted his suite, Sketches of Brazil in homage to his mentors, Gil Evans and Miles Davis. Featuring Wallace Roney (the only trumpeter mentored by Miles Davis), Sketches Of Brazil received critical acclaim and three standing ovations before a crowd of 12,500 fans at Chicago’s Millennium Park. In 2018, the Vivian Harsh Society and the Timuel D. Black Educational Foundation commissioned Irving to create and premiere an orchestral suite to commemorate the 100th birthday of Centenarian Timuel D. Black who worked with Martin Luther King and mentored Harold Washington and Barack Obama. An 18-piece contingent of Irving’s Sonic Portraits premiered the composition, which transversed classical, jazz, gospel and blues genres, also featuring Maggie Brown, Dee Alexander and Michael on vocals.
Irving has been a mentor with the Jazz Institute of Chicago since 2004 and is former Managing Creative Director, School of World/Contemporary for the School of Jazz at the Chicago Academy of Music Conservatory (CAM). He is currently completing his memoir, Harmonic Possibilities of which excerpts were recently published by New York University’s Black Renaissance Noire Magazine.
As Music Director and a member at Olivet Baptist Church since 2002 Irving’s ability to traverse the jazz and gospel music mirrors the path of Thomas Dorsey, the father of Gospel music who had 400 secular recordings while he was a member of Olivet Baptist Church. Irving is the founder Sonic Portraits Jazz Inc, recently reformed as a Not-For-Profit organization to support artists and educate audiences. His film and video production company Ri3 REELS has been actively engaged in music video production for a decade and is now expanding into documentary film production.
Irving is the recipient of two Lifetime Achievement Awards:
Jazz Institute-2018 and Chicago Music Awards-2015
Un-Silencing and Memorializing Anti-Black Terror (April 5, 9 am)
Clifton Jackson of Springfield is a member of the Illinois State Historical Society. He holds a BA degree from SIU Carbondale and J. D. degree from SIU School of Law ,Carbondale. Recently retired, he has 29 years experience working in policy administration and human services specializing in labor relations administration. Mr. Jackson grew up in Harrisburg, Illinois 8 miles south of Eldorado, Illinois in Saline County.
Christian Fumey is master’s student in History at Western Illinois University. He holds BA in History from the University of Education, Winneba, in Ghana.
Abby Troxell is in the final year of her master’s studies in history at Western Illinois University, where she also earned her bachelor’s degree. Her specialization is in twentieth-century American history, with a particular interest in the turn of the century.
Brian Mitchell, the former Director of Research and Interpretation at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, is a specialist in “difficult history.” He spent 15 years teaching African American and Public History at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock before relocating to Springfield.
Luncheon Speaker (April 5)
Cequyna Moore is the Program Director of the World Heritage USA Monuments Toolkit Project. The Monuments Toolkit, which is in production, will give stakeholders and policy makers a framework in considering how to treat monuments of oppression. Cequyna has extensive government experience having worked with the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Historic House Trust, and the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
State of the Nation: “Forward Ever, Backward Never” (April 5, 1:45 PM)
Twyla Moore currently serves as Director of Workforce and Economic Empowerment for the Springfield Urban League Inc. Her passion and commitment to serving the community and those who have a long history of oppression, disenfranchisement, and disproportionate involvement in the criminal justice system extends for more than twenty-five years. Moore began her career in social justice as a case manager for pregnant and parenting teen mothers. From there, she built her career in the field of criminal justice as a probation officer, serving both juveniles and adults for twenty-one years.
Moore’s experience as a criminal justice professional helped her become well-educated on state and federal laws, court procedures, and underlying social issues contributing to crime. This career path led the way to her role as an advocate for those who do not have the voice, knowledge, or platform to speak for themselves. Moore wholeheartedly embraces her role as a community leader and the call to serve on several boards in her hometown, as well as the African Descendants Citizens Reparations Commission. These roles allow for opportunities to work jointly with other social service agencies, local law enforcement, local school systems, state legislators, business owners, and many other public figures who offer a collaborative approach to supporting the needs of citizens throughout the state of Illinois.
Moore remains adaptable and focused with a commitment to approaches that affect change in systems that often fail to provide equitable opportunities for employment, fair representation in the criminal justice system, educational support, and access to financial education and opportunities for African Americans and other underserved citizens.
Moore holds a B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Illinois at Springfield and will be completing her M.A. degree in criminal justice administration from the University of Southern Indiana in the spring of 2024.
Jeffrey Trask, PhD, is the Founder and current operations director of the Champaign County Christian Health Center (CCCHC) and is an adjunct professor at Tulane University. He also serves as the vice chair for the Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, an association that supports and connects free and charitable clinics across the state of Illinois. He holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Community Health with a Specialization in Health Policy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he also completed his undergraduate work, and he earned his Master of Science in Education Administration from Eastern Illinois University.
Dr. Trask founded the Champaign Urbana Reparations Coalition (CURC) located in Champaign County, Illinois – a grassroots movement seeking reparations for African Americans in Champaign County. He is also the Midwest Regional Leader for First Repair, a key nationally recognized reparations organization founded by Robin Rue Simmons in Evanston Illinois.
He also is an entrepreneur who owns multiple companies in the construction and health industries. His many other professional accomplishments include Treasurer of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Advocacy for Justice Committee; Adjunct Pastor at New Covenant Fellowship; Former Board President for Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF); and Former board Treasurer for the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).
Pamela Hoff, the James J. Stukel distinguished professor in educational policy and equity, earned a doctorate in educational studies, educational sociology and anthropology, and transformative education from the University of Cincinnati. Her research and professional work is focused on decolonizing education. As the first Black endowed professor at UIS, Dr. Hoff is provided with significant financial support to conduct research and other academic-related activities. The first is a longitudinal study that delves into the experiences of Black women in a program that harnesses their unique pedagogical approaches to champion equity. The study aims to deepen the academic community’s understanding of equity-centered pedagogy and provide a model for fostering inclusive practices. The second project involves the preservation and dissemination of African American wisdom as a means of fostering critical thinking and social awareness.
Additionally, Dr. Hoff serves as Program Director of the Grow Your Own Teacher Initiative at UIS. In this role, she is responsible for the day-to-day leadership and facilitation of grant activities, serving as the primary contact person for the consortium, conducting and managing cohort meetings, conducting meetings with academic counselors, meeting with program evaluators, coordinating tutorial support, monitoring academic progress of candidates, assisting the consortium by providing information regarding the anticipated completion dates of candidates to assist with placement where positions may be available, and attending consortium meetings.
Tiffani Saunders graduated from Wheaton High School in 1998 and went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Sociology and Criminal Justice from Bowie State University in 2002. She then studied Sociology at Indiana University, earning her Masters Degree in 2004. She has completed coursework for her Ph.D. in Sociology, also from IU, but did not complete her dissertation. However, many Springfieldians still respectfully deem her “Dr.” because of her absolute keen knowledge about sociological and criminal justice matters that affect the Springfield community. After 10 years as a lecturer of Sociology and African American Studies at the University of Illinois Springfield, Ms. Saunders served as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant for Memorial Health. She now serves as Chief of the Center for Minority Health Services at the Illinois Department of Public Health, as well as President of the Ball-Chatham School Board, and a Board Member for Black Lives Matter-Springfield.