Virtual Soul & Blues: Black Author’s Panel via Prairie Lights

Registration for this event required. Click HERE to register via Prairie Lights Books. 

Moderator: Dr. Arnold Daniels Jr.

Panelists: Kim Fitten, The Science of Greatness: Taking the Guesswork Out of Purpose
Dr. Phillips Jones, Nothing Beats Failure But A Try
Andre Perry, Some of Us Are Very Hungry Now

Kim Fitten, The Science of Greatness: Taking the Guesswork Out of Purpose

Kim Fitten is a published author, blogger, entrepreneur, and administrator at Liberty High School. She holds a BA in secondary education from Iowa Wesleyan College, a Masters in administration and evaluation from The University of Northern Iowa, and she is in her final stages of earning a PhD.

She is the founder and lead educator of LOGIC Kingdom Education; this organization exists to equip, encourage, and educate women of diverse backgrounds to live an illimitable life through spiritual growth, fellowship, and love. Empowered by biblical study, Fitten works to lift women up, remind them they have purpose, and show them how to unlock doors of opportunity. She does this work through her morning-weekday broadcast called “Morning Mindset,” her “Manifesting 101” podcast, her blog, and her two published books.

Her books teach readers how to find their purpose and visualize success. The Science of Greatness: Taking the Guesswork Out of Purpose is an interactive self-discovery tool that challenges traditional thinking that concerns greatness and purpose, and DECREE: The Journal is a reader’s vehicle to learning how to practice visualization and self-empowerment.

Phil Jones, Nothing Beats Failure But A Try

Dr. Phillip Jones received a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign in 1963, a Master of Arts in physical education in 1967, and a PhD in student development and higher education in 1975 from the University of Iowa. When Dr. Jones started his work for The University of Iowa in 1968, he was the minority student recruiter for the Office of Admissions. By the time he finished his career in 2008, he was The University of Iowa’s vice president for student services and dean of students.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jones strived to increase higher education opportunities for minority students; he was the founding director of The Iowa Institute for EOP (educational opportunity programs), a national training institute which was established to expand educational opportunities for minority and disadvantaged students. The Iowa Institute for EOP became the prototype for the U.S. Department of Education program for support services personnel. On this mission to create more higher learning opportunities, Dr. Jones went on to work as a field reader consultant for federal programs so colleges and universities have a platform to evaluate their programs and grow higher education opportunities.

In 1992 Phillip E. Jones received the Isabell Turner Human Rights Award from  the Iowa City Human Rights Commission. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the Commission on Human Resources and Social Change in the National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC) in 2004. He received recognition in 2005 from NASULGC and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) for Significant Leadership and Contributions in their Joint Task Force on Diversity. He was recognized by the University of Iowa College of Law for his vital role in founding the Pre-law Conference in 1978.

Andre Perry, Some of Us Are Very Hungry Now

Andre Perry currently serves as the Executive Director of The Englert Theatre; he is an essayist and arts advocate. Being so passionate about arts education, Perry strives to help Iowa City become the greatest small city for the arts in America.

He co-founded Iowa City’s Mission Creek Festival, a celebration of music and literature, and he also produces the Witching Hour Festival, a multidisciplinary festival expressing the creative process. In response to COVID-19 and being forced to cancel the Mission Creek Festival, Perry created Mission Creek Underground: an online portal to a performance series showcasing local musicians and actors. Perry is gifted with creativity and he works hard to bring arts programming to our community, even during these unpredictable times.

He received his MFA from the University of Iowa’s Nonfiction Writing Program and his work has been featured in The Believer, Catapult, Granta and other journals.