Rep. Courtney Curtis
Representative Courtney Allen Curtis is a Democratic official. Elected Nov. 6, 2012, Curtis represents District 73, part of St. Louis County. Curtis attended McCluer Senior High School and went on to attend Columbia College and the University of Missouri. As of now, Representative Curtis serves on the following House Committees: Ways and Means, Agri-Business, International Trade, and General Laws and is the President of the Freshmen Democratic Caucus.
Etefia Umana
The man with a JD in Law, a MSW in Social Work, a BA in Psychology, and a BA in African-American Studies, Etefia Umana. Umana was a recipient for the 2002 St. Louis Sentinel “Yes I Can” Award, the 2007 St. Louis American Newspaper “Salute to Excellence in Education” Award, and the
2010 Annie Malone Soiree Advocate Award. He was the Legal Analyst for Goins Graham and Associates, is a Board Member of Better Family Life, is the Principal Consultant and Founder of Acumen Educational Services, and is the Director of Student Services at Cardinal Ritter College Preparatory High School.
Eric Rowe
Eric Rowe serves as assistant principal at Normandy High School. He is currently studying to earn a doctorate of education in educational leadership and administration. He anticipates receiving the honor in 2016. By being part of the administrative staff at the school that the late Michael Brown graduated from, Rowe has direct ties to the situation in Ferguson. He is also equipped to make a difference. He has completed Dismantling Racism and Youth Development training and is knowledgeable about social justice. Rowe is an experienced school leader with five years of administrative experience at the middle and high school levels and seven years teaching experience in public, private and charter schools. He has both local and international experience, having taught in Kenya, Baltimore, St. Louis and Washington, D.C. Rowe has enjoyed many career opportunities, which include five years of management experience in nonprofit organizations, serving as a teacher at Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School, administrative intern in the Parkway School District, assistant principal at Hazelwood West High School and principal at Innovative Concept Academy.
Biographies of Panelists
Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, Minority Journalism Workshop
Stefan Bradley
Stefan Bradley serves as associate professor of history at Saint Louis University. He earned a doctorate from the University of Missouri-Columbia and holds several other academic degrees. Bradley’s primary research is in recent U.S. history with an emphasis on the African American experience. Recent courses he’s taught include Civil Rights in American: 1865-1965, African American Youth Movements in the 20th Century, Contemporary Black America and Youth Activism in Recent America. In addition to teaching at the collegiate level, Bradley is an author. He is the author of the book, “Harlem vs. Columbia University: Black Student Power in the Late 1960s.” His articles and essays have also appeared in various scholarly publications, including “Inside Higher Ed.” Bradley is the recipient of numerous awards including the Black Student Law School Association Service Award and a grant from the National Black United Federation of Charities Inc.