Griffith to speak at first Ozark Campus Convocation

 

Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus will hold its first Convocation on Wednesday, Sept. 28, with guest speaker Naomi Haines Griffith.

An author, educator and inspirational speaker, Griffith shares stories from her upbringing that not only engage and entertain, but offer lessons about how education can break the cycle of poverty.

Justina Buck, director of Arkansas Tech-Ozark’s Career Pathways Initiative, said, “Career Pathways is very excited and honored to have a hand in hosting Naomi Haines Griffith on the Ozark Campus. Naomi’s background is similar to the backgrounds of many CPI students, and her success and determination will provide great inspiration to everyone who hears her.”

The event will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Student Services Conference Center. Lunch will be served immediately after, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Griffith is a consultant on child welfare issues, speaking at conferences throughout the United States and Canada. A well-known storyteller and family systems specialist, she uses humor and her own experiences to challenge and inspire audiences in business, education, juvenile justice, mental health, child-abuse prevention and family violence systems.

Griffith grew up in Alabama and Mississippi. She worked in the North Carolina and Alabama child welfare systems and became executive director of PACT, a pioneer child abuse prevention agency she helped to found.

She holds a bachelor’s from the University of North Alabama, a master’s from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University and a master’s in social work from the University of Alabama.

Griffith is the author of “Red Clay and Vinegar: Looking at Family Through the Eyes of a Southern Child” and the co-author of “The Unkindest Cut – The Emotional Maltreatment of Children.”

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