Southwest hosts caring conversations in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death
By Chris Caldwell
(Top L-R) Southwest President Dr. Tracy D. Hall, Mental Health Coordinator Kimberly
Weddington; (Bottom L-R) Police Services/Public Safety Associate Director Ernest Greenleaf
and Mental Health Coordinator Sharael Royal at the Caring Conversations virtual forum
on Tyre Nichols’ death.
In the wake of Tyre Nichols’ death, a 29-year-old black Memphian who was brutally beaten to death on Jan. 7, 2023, by Memphis police officers, Southwest convened two fora for students and employees where they could have candid and caring conversations concerning the tragic event.
"I hear your concerns and feelings during this tragedy in our city," Southwest Tennessee Community College President Tracy D. Hall said. "We wanted to create this space for our community to come and collectively share your thoughts, feelings and have open conversations about this tragedy. We are here to provide each of you with the support and resources needed to help you now and in the future."
The first open discussion, called Caring Conversations: Mental Health Support in the Wake of the Tyre Nichols Tragedy, was a virtual dialogue held on Feb. 2 with Dr. Hall, Mental Health Coordinator Kimberly Weddington, Police Services/ Public Safety Associate Director Ernest Greenleaf and Mental Health Coordinator Sharael Royal.
Weddington and Royal offered professional advice and tips on coping strategies and emotional healing. Greenleaf provided insight on how the incident impacted police officers and what should have been done to prevent the tragedy from happening.
A second forum, "A Conversation with Chairman Mickell Lower," was convened on Feb. 7 at the Union Avenue Campus, where Shelby County Commissioner Chairman Mickell Lowery spoke to students on police brutality, police reform and what can be done to raise awareness in local communities regarding policing.
"These conversations are hard. These conversations are never easy, but they are conversations we need to have," Lowery said. "You will become the new leaders one day, and we can't sweep these issues under the rug. We can't just keep turning the page in a city known for violence. We must be that change."
Shelby County Commissioner Chairman Mickell Lowery holds
a Saluqi t-shirt in front of the men’s and women’s basketball
teams at his open forum on the Tyre Nichols tragedy.
See below to contact Southwest’s mental health professionals.
Kimberly Weddington
Union Avenue Campus, B Building Room 227
901-333-5121
kweddington@southwest.tn.edu
Sharael Royal
Macon Campus, Farris Building Suite 2160, Office 2168
901-333-5272
smroyal@southwest.tn.edu
For information on booking counseling appointments or resources, visit the Counseling and Social Services department.
In This Issue...
- From the President
- Dr. Shelia Bouie named to Memphis Business Journal’s Woman Leading in Nursing
- Welcome Aboard!
- Southwest introduces new offboarding policy
- Southwest athletics continue to rack up post-season accolades
- Southwest reimagines career pathways; launches Southwest Workforce Solutions Center
- Southwest’s Chris Camp receives the distinguished Dale P. Parnell Faculty Distinction Recognition Award
- Southwest physical therapist assistant student Eboni Benson finds purpose in helping others
- Stan Bell returns to Southwest as master of ceremonies for the 2023 Faculty and Staff Awards
- Communication, Fine Arts and Graphics department expands curriculum with sought-after industry credentials
- Go Red at Southwest campaign yields a year of heart-smart choices
- Southwest celebrates Saluqi baseball’s record-breaking season
- Southwest’s Entrepreneurship Day celebrates local businesses in Memphis
- HONORS ACADEMY ALUMNI: Where Are They Now?
- Southwest welcomes 39 inductees into the National Society of Leadership and Success
- Southwest taps Dr. Carol Ash as Vice President of Academic Affairs and Workforce Development
- Southwest hires Jeremy Shirley as Associate Vice President of Strategic Marketing and Communications
- Alma Rutledge named Dean of Students
- Summer Institute 2023 focuses on reimagining Southwest
- Southwest’s Phi Theta Kappa inducts 16 members in candlelight ceremony
- Project M.O.S.T. celebrates the 11th annual Men in Black Awards
- Q & A with Admissions Recruiter Elizabeth Clark
- More than 1200 credentials conferred at twenty-fifth Commencement
- Southwest Professor Dr. Marcia Hunter debuts book on fulfilling one’s dreams
- Employees preview a reimagined student experience at College’s Gallery Walk
- Southwest’s stellar scholars honored at 2023 Student Honors & Awards Convocation
- Memphis Light, Gas & Water, AT&T and Comcast launch workforce pipeline partnership with Southwest
- President Tracy D. Hall named a top 100 Leader in the Memphis community
- Southwest hosts caring conversations in wake of Tyre Nichols’ death