Southeast alumna, entrepreneur and community leader Kendra Neely-Martin will present the keynote address at Southeast Missouri State University’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner Jan. 25 in the Show Me Center.
The theme of this year’s event is “Coming Together: The Fierce Urgency of Now.” Doors will open at 5 p.m., with the dinner scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
About the Speaker
St. Louis, Missouri native Kendra Neely-Martin is an advocate for the narrowing of disparities associated with access to quality care, health literacy and the impact chronic disease has on underserved communities. A recognized Influencer, Neely-Martin works with several boards and organizations on both the regional and national level to improve academic access and professional success by sustaining networks and establishing platforms that address equity, inclusion and diversity advancements.
A doting mother and community leader, she harnesses the power of giving, as a passionate mentor who views volunteerism as an invaluable component needed to foster citizenship and sustain communities. She wholeheartedly displays the internalization of the concept of Ubuntu, with the resounding homage “I am because we are,” as a contributing factor to her distinguished brand and undying record of service and effective leadership with several not-for-profit organizations, boards and subcommittees.
Most notable is her life work with the BackPack to BriefCase Mentoring and Scholarship Program (BPBC), co-founder and executive director, which has provided scholarships and mentoring/professional development support to college students across the Midwest Region over the past 14 years. With the addition of a virtual platform BPBC now has both national and international reach and participation. The BackPack to BriefCase Program has been instrumental in cultivating the classroom to corporate mind-shift for program participants, supporting the career planning and placement efforts of colleges across the St. Louis Metropolitan Area, in addition to addressing the diversity/inclusion needs of major corporations. Neely-Martin is a sought-after consultant who leverages her 25-year pharmaceutical industry experience to impact Diversity Inclusion and Equity challenges by narrowing gaps experienced by minorities in the workplace. Her global leadership and training experiences include leading industry training on unconscious bias, cultural awareness in hiring practices, team development and how to foster psychological safety.
Neely-Martin, currently passionately serves the The Marquia Lewis Foundation Board of Directors and serves as a chaplain and Arts and Letters co-chair for the St, Louis Metropolitan Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Formerly Neely-Martin has served as: two term member of St. Louis Country Day School Board of Directors, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter Educational Development Chair, Not One More Life – STL Board, American Heart Association Minority Council Gospel for Heart Sake Power to End Stroke, City Academy School and Committee Member Cultural Festivals Big Read Committee, Camp For All Kids, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Missouri Extension 4-H Leader, National Sales Network mentoring chair, Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day School (MICDS) African American Support Committee and Lift for Life Academy mentor
Neely-Martin’s awards and recognition include the: National Jefferson Award - Nobel Prize for Public Service, 2011 Gubernatorial Appointment Southeast Missouri State University Board of Regents, Ingram’s Most Influential Missourians, Astellas Pharma US Ivan Martinez Community Service Award, St, Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Trailblazing Soror in Social Justice and Advocacy in Education Award, 2011 National Sales Network Outstanding Achievers Award for the development of the nationally recognized NSN STL Backpack to Briefcases Mentoring/ Scholarship Program, 2011 National Sales Network Black Business Women Who Rock – Rock Star Award, 2011 Jefferson Award, A Nobel Prize for Public Service, for her with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Delta Academy and Delta GEMS Mentoring Program, St. Louis Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter (SLMAC) and 2010 Central Region Recognition for Exposing Children to the Arts and Missing and Exploited Children PSA, 2009-10 SLMAC Member of Year Award, 2008 St. Louis Science Center Shining Star Award and the 2007 American Heart Association Minority Council Commitment to Communities Community Leaders Award.
She earned a Bachelor of Science in marketing from Southeast Missouri State University, Master of Arts in marketing from Webster University and a Parenting Instructor Certificate from Centers for Improving Child Caring.
Event Details
Dinner tickets and sponsorships are available semo.edu/mlk. Dinner tickets are $20 each or $160 for a table of eight. One hundred free dinner tickets for Southeast students will be available at the Center for Student Involvement in the University Center. Additional student tickets are $5 each.
Platinum level sponsorships are available for $3,000 a table, Gold level sponsorships for $1,500 a table, Silver level sponsorships for $300 per table and Bronze level sponsorships for $250 per table.
For more information, contact mlkcommittee@semo.edu or call (573) 651-2626.