Patrice Gaines, Award Winning Journalist

“The Power of One: Making Change, Making Connections”

Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

As an award-winning journalist and reporter, Patrice Gaines has proven that you cannot judge a book by its cover. Among her accomplishments, Gaines has written her autobiography, Laughing in the Dark: From Colored Girl to Woman of Color -- A Journey from Prison to Power, and the inspirational Moments of Grace: Meeting the Challenge. To reach these achievements, she had to dramatically change her lifestyle. Gaines grew up a self-hating young woman, entering one abusive relationship after another in search of love and purpose. She became a heroin user, went to prison for possession of the drug, and was raped and beaten before she began her long, contemplative journey to change.

For 16 years, Gaines was an award-winning reporter with the Washington Post, where she carved a niche for herself focusing on human-interest stories that reflected current issues. For six years she researched a notorious Washington, D.C. murder for which eight young men were incarcerated. Her work on the story raised serious doubts about the guilt of the youths and showed readers the power wielded by police and prosecutors. This story, plus her own experience with the judicial and penal systems, sparked her outspokenness today on such topics as the high rate of incarceration among minorities and the poor, questionable police practices, prosecutors with too much power, and the weeding out of bad lawyers. She also offers an engaging look at the power of the press, told from an insider point of view.

One of Gaines's pieces, "Tough Boys and Trouble Those Girls Waiting Outside D.C. Jail Remind Me of Myself,” earned her the National Association of Black Journalist's annual Salute to Excellence Award for commentary. She also has written for Essence and Black Enterprise magazines. Gaines has appeared on the Oprah Winfrey Show in a segment about overcoming drug addiction, NBC's Dateline, and has been broadcast on National Public Radio's All Things Considered. She is currently a commentator for National Public Radio's News & Notes, broadcasting regular features about her life in Lake Wylie, South Carolina.

Gaines received her journalism training through the Summer Program for Minority Journalists in 1978, after being chosen for the program from a national competition. She then began her journalism career at the Miami News, where she wrote for two years. In addition, Gaines attended two prestigious writing colonies: the MacDowell Colony in Petersboro, N.H. and Yaddo in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

Gaines is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists. She serves on the board of Joseph's House, a home for men with AIDS, and the Theatre for the Mentally and Physically Disabled, both located in Washington, D.C.

A certified life coach, Gaines takes great pride in giving motivational speeches through which she inspires people with her incredible life story. In her speeches, she details the changes she made to turn away from drugs, abusive men, and low self-esteem to become a confident journalist, author, and national speaker. She speaks in places where people are struggling to change, such as juvenile detention homes, colleges and universities, literacy programs, drug rehabilitation programs, and domestic abuse programs.

Lyceum Series
Fall 2008 - Spring 2009 Calendar

Click on speaker's name for more information.

Fall 2008

Wednesday, September 10, 2008 - Patrice Gaines, Award Winning Journalist
"The Power of One: Making Change, Making Connections"
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008 - Winston Crisp, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill
“WE THE PEOPLE . . .
The United States Constitution: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008 - Dr. Arlie Petters , Mathematician
"Science, Entrepreneurship, and Financial Success"
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008 - Al Young, California State Poet Laureate and Woodrow Wilson Fellow
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Thursday, November 13, 2008 - Leon Bates, Pianist
Recital
Jane M. Smith Memorial Church
7:30 p.m.

SPRING 2009

THE FINE ARTS EXAMINE THE MEDICAL ARTS
An Exhibit of Commissioned Paintings about the Training for and the Practice of Medicine and Surgery
Sponsored by The Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, Illinois
(Johnson C. Smith students can earn two Lyceum credits by attending the events connected with the Medical Arts Exhibit)
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

EXHIBITION
FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
January 15 through January 30, 2009
Edward E. Crutchfield Center for Integrated Studies
HOURS
Monday through Friday, Noon-5:00 p.m.
(Free Parking in Gymnasium Lot, Next to Crutchfield Center)

Wednesday, January 14, 2009 - David McKay, Curator; James Fullwood, Johnson C. Smith University Alumnus
"The Fine Arts Examine the Medical Arts"
Lecture

Wednesday, January 21, 2009
William Shakespeare’s
“The Comedy of Errors”
Performed by
The American Shakespeare Center Touring Company
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Thursday, February 5, 2009 - Bryan Ferguson, Film Director and Johnson C. Smith Alumnus
"The Death of Murphy"
Charlotte Film Premier and Q&A with Director
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009 - Dr. Anjail Rashida Ahmad, Poet
Fourteenth Annual World of Words Poetry Festival
Writing Workshop
Lionel H. Newsom Humanities Building, Room 108
4:00 p.m.
Public Reading
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 26, 2009 - Indigo Moor, Poet
Fourteenth World of Words Poetry Festival
Writing Workshop
Lionel H. Newsom Humanities Building, Room 108
4:00 p.m.
Public Reading
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.

Friday, March 27, 2009 - Black Ink Monks Performance Poetry
Fourteenth World of Words Poetry Festival
Public Reading
Sarah Belk Gambrell AuditoriumM
7:30 p.m.

Thursday - Friday, April 2 - 3, 2009 - The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe
JCSU Ira B. Aldridge Drama Guild Performance
Sarah Belk Gambrell Auditorium
7:30 p.m.