The University of the Virgin Islands third Annual Women's
History Month Forum will feature a panel of four influential women
set to discuss this year's theme - "Women's Perspectives on Black
Males in Crisis." The public is invited to the forum scheduled for
5:30 p.m. on March 26, in the first floor conference room of the
Administration and Conference Center on the St. Thomas
campus.
The Women's History Month Forum, which is in observance of
Women's History Month, is designed to highlight the accomplishments
and contributions of women, particularly Virgin Islands women, and
to empower female UVI students to realize their potential. It is
also designed to bring to the forefront issues in the society that
affect women of all races, and to demonstrate that it is ok to talk
about these issues publicly. The forum is sponsored by the St.
Thomas campus Office of Student Affairs.
The panelists are Superior Court Judge Debra Smith Watlington,
UVI Psychology Professor Dr. Patricia Rhymer Todman, Global Life
Church Pastor Everine Hazel and V.I. Department of Education
Director of Intervention Services Cira Burke.
"The panellists will raise the consciousness of other women
and will articulate bold strategies for addressing this issue,"
said St. Thomas campus Dean of Students Dr. Doris Battiste. "I
think this year's theme will spark quite a bit of discussion on the
roles that both males and females need to play in order to get us
out of this crisis. This discussion is not about casting blame,
it's about recognizing that women have the power to effect change
and that together we can."
Dr. Battiste added, "The crisis with our young men in our
society requires ongoing discussion and implementing effective
strategies. We have to be bold in our approach. When our black men
are in crisis so are our daughters, who have no one to date or
marry, children who have no dads around to play with, mothers who
are weeping and stressed."
The panelists come from a variety of professional backgrounds.
Prior to her appointment as a judge, Smith-Watlington served as
legal counsel for the V.I. Housing Authority and chief territorial
public defender. Judge Smith-Watlington has also worked as a law
clerk for the presiding judge of the Territorial Court of the V.I.
and served as chief of staff for the Virgin Islands Housing
Authority's executive director. As public defender, Judge
Smith-Watlington represented indigent persons charged with criminal
offenses. She demonstrated a particular affinity for juvenile cases
and recognized the critical issues facing young people, and the
connection between education, crime and the quality of life.
Burke has served in various capacities in V.I. Department of
Education to include teaching science to seventh and eighth grade
students at the New Horizons Alternative Program, as an
intervention specialist, and as a program director of the Edith L.
Williams Alternative Academy. Throughout her career, Burke has
focused her efforts on working with high risk young people.
Dr. Todman is a past chair of Graduate Programs in UVI's
College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Her work has focused
on the development of psychology within the University and the
community. She has presided over the implementation of the Masters
in Psychology program initiated by UVI in 2010-2011. Dr. Todman's
research has focused on HIV/AIDS in the territory and the
chronicling of the development of psychology and mental health
services in the territory. A member of the American Psychological
Association since 1988, she is also a founding member of the
Association of Virgin Islands Psychologists. She has served on the
Virgin Islands Board of Psychology Examiners from 1997 to
2011.
Pastor Hazel is currently a prevention assistant and school
counselor at the V.I. Department of Education where she has worked
for the past 20 years. In her work with the church, Pastor Hazel
has worked as a psalmist, counselor, teacher, guest speaker and
conference host. For more than 30 years she has held many
leadership positions including, youth pastor, music coordinator,
praise and worship leader, and Sunday school teacher. Pastor Hazel
worked for the Center for Independent Living - a private non-profit
organization - as an advocate for the disabled. She has also worked
for the South East Regional Center with the V.I. Department of
Education as the local area coordinator of drug-free programs that
provided intervention and prevention services and trainings.
"We hope that this discussion will be the beginning and not
the end of continuing the dialogue of how to address these issues
which are gravely affecting women, who are in many cases, the head
of household," said Dr. Battiste. "Women need to use their
voices."