Black History Month Trailblazer Event: Roots & Remembrance
90 Claremont Ave
New York, NY 10027
USA
Throughout history, our communities have not only resisted oppression but thrived in its wake—creating beauty, building justice, and paving the way for a better future. This legacy of resilience and ingenuity continues today.
Black History Month calls us to reflect and remember: to honor the roots that ground us, the bold trails blazed by our ancestors, and the ongoing work ahead.
Join us for an evening of inspiration and reflection featuring a thought-provoking panel with Union faculty, alumni, and students, and a powerful sermon from Rev. Carolyn Cavaness, ‘11.
Date: February 26, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: James Chapel at Union Theological Seminary (90 Claremont Avenue)
A reception will follow.
Our Speaker:
The Rev. Carolyn C. Cavaness, ‘11, is a fourth-generation preacher and the first woman appointed as Pastor of Mother Bethel AME Church, the birthplace of African Methodism. A graduate of Barnard College and Union Theological Seminary, she has a background in political fundraising and nonprofit leadership. Prior to her historic appointment, she served for a decade as Pastor of Bethel AME Church in Ardmore, PA, where she led community initiatives in food security, mental health, and housing justice, securing a $1.5 million grant for pandemic relief efforts. A dedicated interfaith leader, she has traveled to Israel to advance dialogue between African American and Jewish communities and has held leadership roles in numerous civic and religious organizations. Recognized as a Millennial Superstar and Main Line Hero, Rev. Cavaness continues to be a bridge-builder, advocating for justice, equity, and community empowerment.
Meet Our Panelists:
Myron Krys Florence, Ph.D. is a native of Decatur, GA, where he grew up singing lead in the church choir. He is a professor at Union Theological Seminary, serving as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology and a 2023-25 Louisville Institute Postdoctoral Fellow. In addition to his academic work, Myron is a practicing psychotherapist who helps clients and students develop their self-esteem and unique voices. His passions lie at the intersection of psychology, theology, sexuality, and the arts.
Mujahideen Muhammad, MPS ‘24 is a research assistant at The Center for Justice at Columbia University and the founder of The Pillars of Promise, an organization committed to promoting positive images of incarcerated individuals to the public and advocating for equitable treatment and legislation for those incarcerated in New York State prisons. He earned a bachelor’s degree in behavioral science from Hudson Link/Mercy University and a master’s degree in professional studies of Urban Ministry from Union Theological Seminary. Muhammad is a passionate advocate for ending mass incarceration and granting second chances to incarcerated people with excessive sentences.
Fatima Jamal is a first-year Master of Divinity student at Union Theological Seminary on the ministerial leadership track, focusing on the development of an interreligious understanding and practice among African and Black religious and spiritual traditions, including the Black Southern Christian Church, Islam, and African Traditional Religions and Cosmologies. A writer, antidisciplinary artist, director, actor, and communications professional, her work spans film, theater, literature, and theology. A maker of words and images as prayer, her work seeks breath where there is asphyxiation and dooming forces heavying the air. She wonders how we might unsettle constricting theologies and beliefs to imagine otherwise fugitivities.
Our Host:
Rev. Timothy Levi Adkins-Jones is the Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church in Newark, NJ, and the Assistant Professor of Homiletics at Union Theological Seminary. A Richmond, VA native, he was led to faith by his grandfather, Rev. Leroy Jones. Before Bethany, he served congregations in Massachusetts and Connecticut, building a legacy of activism and service.
He is part of the leadership team for the NJ Black Multi-Faith Alliance and the Clergy Caucus for Faith in NJ. A scholar in the Black preacher tradition, he holds a PhD in Practical Theology (Homiletics) from Boston University, an MDiv from BU School of Theology, and a BA in Psychology from Amherst College. He has taught at Yale Divinity School and was featured on SiriusXM UrbanView.
Rev. Adkins-Jones is a Kappa Alpha Psi member, a devoted husband to Dr. Amey Victoria Adkins-Jones, and a proud father of four.