Virtual Discussion: Policy Perspectives on Homelessness and Humanity

Join the College of Social Work to discuss federal and state policies and their impact on individuals experiencing homelessness with Dr. Terence Lester (Love Beyond Walls) and Cicely Hodges (Florida Policy Institute). Dr. Shalay Jackson, associate teaching professor at the College of Social Work, will moderate the event.

• Registration: fla.st/FKEZOSX1 (Registration required)

Speakers:

Cicely Hodges, JD
Housing and Community Development Policy Analyst
Florida Policy Institute
Cicely is the Housing and Community Development Policy Analyst at the Florida Policy Institute. Before her work with FPI, Cicely worked at Miami Homes For All, where she did policy research and advocacy as well as collective action work. At the Center for Ethics and Public Service, she was involved in community engagement and organization and FHA-related federal litigation pretrial work. Additionally, she worked in the Tenants’ Rights Division at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., assisting low-income individuals and families facing landlord/tenant issues.

Dr. Terence Lester
Founder and Executive Director, Love Beyond Walls
Director of Public Policy and Social Change, Simmons College
Dr. Terence Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author who is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization. He also serves as the Director of Public Policy and Social Change at Simmons College of Kentucky. He received his PhD in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University. He campaigns on behalf of the unhoused and those facing poverty. He has been featured in USA Today, CNN, Black Enterprise, Essence, and Reader's Digest. They have been viewed by millions of people globally on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and "The Bright Side" with Katie Couric. He was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers. Terence has delivered countless lectures, sermons, and speeches at conferences, churches, schools, organizations, and companies nationwide. He has served on several ministerial staff and currently writes a weekly newsletter titled “From Streets to Scholarship,” addressing the intersection of public policy, poverty, race, and faith. His books include “I See You,” “When We Stand,” and “All God's Children,” along with a recent children's book aimed at educating children about compassion and homelessness, coauthored with his daughter, Zion Joy Lester, entitled “Zion Learns to See: Opening Our Eyes to Homelessness.” His forthcoming book with InterVarsity Press is set to release Spring of 2025, tentatively entitled, “From Dropout to Doctorate: What it Takes to Break the Chains of Systemic Injustice.” Terence has also received numerous awards for his community activism, including the Atlanta 500 (2020–2024), BCI Author of the Year Award (2024), Brawny Giant Award (2020), American Express NextGen Award (2020), Empire Board of Realtors Distinguished Service Award (2017), SCLC Social Advocacy Award (2016), Atlanta Voice's "50 under 50" honor (2016), and the True to Atlanta Award presented by the Atlanta Hawks (2016).