ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP
Terica Smith
ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR RECOGNIZED FOR LEADERSHIP
MARTIN, Tenn. – Two West Tennesseans were honored for their leadership, service and achievements during the 23 rd African American Leadership Conference held in Jackson on April 26. Terica Smith, an assistant district attorney for the 26 th Judicial District for the child support division, earned the Emerging Leader Award, and Tony Black, executive director for the Jackson Recreation and Parks Department, received the Outstanding Leader Award.
The African American Leadership Conference is sponsored by the WestStar Leadership Program, the UT Institute for Public Service, the Cities of Brownsville and Covington, Conner Real Estate, Crockett County, the West Tennessee Healthcare Foundation, Jonah Affordable Housing Authority, Simmons Bank, TRANE of West Tennessee, and Mark Heaston and Mary Jones. The conference’s theme was “Challenges and Opportunities” and featured seminars from experts in the fields of education, housing, medicine and other subjects.
The awards are presented annually to individuals who have made a positive impact in their cities or counties. Potential candidates are nominated by current conference members and must show a strong record of leadership in West Tennessee over the past five years. The Emerging Leader Award goes to a candidate under 40 years of age, and the Outstanding Leader Award goes to a candidate 41 years old or older.
Black has practiced civil rights, juvenile, special education and housing law at West Tennessee Legal Services and, in January 2019, was appointed to the Board of Judicial Conduct by Gov. Bill Lee.
She currently serves as a member of the board of directors for JONAH Affordable Housing Authority and Mission Convalescent Nursing Home, secretary of the Tennessee Bar Association Board of Governors and co-chair of the TBA Leadership Law Program.
White has served on the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner’s Advisory Board for Greenways and the State of Tennessee Recreation Advisory Committee.
He is the current president of the Merry High National Alumni Association and serves on the Juvenile Court Services Advisory Board, the Jackson Equity Project Board, the Keep Jackson Beautiful Board, the Jackson Tree Board and the Jackson-Madison County African American Chamber of Commerce Board.
For more information about the conference or the awards, contact the WestStar Leadership Program at 731-881-7787.
