Program
Program Start - I have a dream speech by MLK
Program - Occasion - RXL President – Bro. Jonathan Townes
Acknowledgment of Visitors – Bro. Curtis Burroughs
Prayer and Blessing of the Food - RXL Chaplain – Bro. Christian Patterson
Food Served - Sugar’s Place and AUMC United Methodist Women
Musical Selection – Mad Drama Presentation
Introduction of Speaker - RXL member – Bro. Winston Kidd
Message from Leadership – District Director - Bro. Anthony Newman
Musical Selection – “We Shall Overcome”
Speaker – Honorable Kelsey Rushing
Overview of Contest and introduction of winners - Bro. Corky Wicks
Presentation of awards - Certificates – Bro. Corky Wicks and Robert Johnson
• 1st place contest winner essay reading – limit 10 minutes
• Pose a brief picture of the winners with the filled check for $1000 and $750 respectively
Closing remarks - RXL Foundation President – Bro. Willis Finley
We shall Overcome
We shall overcome, we shall overcome, We shall overcome someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome someday.
The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through, The Lord will see us through someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall overcome someday.
We're on to victory, We're on to victory, We're on to victory someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We're on to victory someday.
We'll walk hand in hand, we'll walk hand in hand, We'll walk hand in hand someday;
Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We'll walk hand in hand someday. We are not afraid, we are not afraid, We are not afraid today; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We are not afraid today.
The truth shall make us free, the truth shall make us free, The truth shall make us free someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, The truth shall make us free someday.
We shall live in peace, we shall live in peace, We shall live in peace someday; Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe, We shall live in peace someday.
Bio of the Honorable Kelsey Rushing
Kelsey L. Rushing, a native of Carthage, Mississippi, is a 1999 graduate of Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Before earning the law degree, he received his Bachelor’s Degree and Master’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Southern Mississippi. While at the University of Southern Mississippi, Brother Rushing was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., via the Mu Xi Chapter, in the Spring of 1992. In his almost 30 years as an active member, Bro. Rushing, a Life member, has served the Fraternity on all levels. Most recently, in July 2021, Brother Rushing completed his term as the 27th Southern Region Vice President. As Southern Regional Vice President, he is responsible for the adoption of two additional regional programs, The Jewel Internship Program and SERVICE 1906. Also, he is credited with the Cannon-Dozier Program, an alcohol prevention program he co-founded in 2008, which was adopted by the Southern Region in 2009, becoming a requirement in the Fraternity’s Risk Management Policy and Activities. Before becoming the 27th Southern Regional Vice President, Brother Rushing, who has served as District Legal Counsel for Mississippi, served as the Chairman of the Grievances and Discipline Committee where he was able to streamline the adjudication process. Brother Rushing, who is a charter member of the Rho Xi Lambda Chapter (Canton, Mississippi) is the 9th District Director for Mississippi when he was appointed in 2008. Additionally, he is the first District Executive Director having been appointed by the 8th District Director. Currently, Brother Rushing serves as the Chairman of the M.A.N. Educational and Leadership Foundation, which he co-founded in 2016.
Professionally, Brother Rushing is the Capital Defender for the Mississippi Office of Capital Defense. He was a founding partner of Smith, Rushing, Cotton & Robinson PLLC, a municipal judge for the City of Canton, Mississippi, and a Board attorney for the Canton Housing Authority. Brother Rushing is a member of the Mississippi Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Magnolia Bar Association, the Mississippi Association of Justice, and 100 Black Men. He has coached youth football for the Canton Bengals and Madison Central High School’s mock trial team.
Brother Rushing is married to the former Yumeka C. Burt, Esq., and they are the proud parents of three daughters Kennedy, Sydney, and Grace.
