Youth Symposium Panelists


This year’s topic is: 

Strategies for the Future: How do Youth Advocacy, Resilience, and Diversity create effective strategies for success in the 21st Century?

Here are this year's Youth Symposium Moderator and Panelists.

Brother Charles F. Coleman Jr, Esq
Moderator 

Charles F. Coleman Jr. is a seasoned civil rights attorney who specializes in EEO law, human resources solutions, and the support of diversity and inclusion efforts in the workforce. As a former Brooklyn, NY, prosecutor turned civil litigator, Charles has extensive experience as a trial lawyer, and his courtroom acumen is matched only by his leadership abilities, which he displays through his community mobilization and civic activism efforts.

Charles has appeared internationally on various media outlets as a legal and political analyst, writer, and orator. He has been branded as one of the brightest and most well-respected voices in conversations on law, civil rights, criminal justice, and other issues affecting communities of color. Charles gives public talks to businesses, student groups, and other organizations on law, culture, diversity, politics, and social justice issues.

Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson
Panelist 

Deputy Chief Calvin Johnson has served in all three districts since beginning his career with Tampa Police Department in 1999. His experience includes roles as a Sector Commander in all three patrol districts, Shift Commander and Field Training Officer Program Coordinator in District 3, Patrol Supervisor in District 1 and District 3, Supervisor of the Rapid Offender Control (ROC) Squad in District 1, five years as a Robbery detective in the Criminal Investigative Division, and five years as a patrol officer.

As Deputy Chief of Community Outreach & Professional Standards, he will exercise direct control and supervision of the Special Operations Division, Professional Standards Bureau, Communications Bureau, and all departmental Community Outreach initiatives. The Deputy Chief of Community Outreach & Professional Standards will directly oversee the department’s commitment to working in partnership with the residents we serve, in a manner that demonstrates without a doubt that every action by a member of the department is in keeping with the highest standards of public service.

Dr. Nate Hughes
Panelist

As a wide receiver in the NFL, Nathaniel I. “Nate” Hughes II knew it would take years to master his craft and compete with the best.

To Hughes, who spent years wearing, among other colors, the teal and gold of the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Honolulu blue of the Detroit Lions, the shade that matters most is the white of his coat, the one he donned last August as a member of the medical school class of 2019. 

Dr. Hughes earned a nursing degree in 2008, then walked on to the NFL and played as a wide receiver for five years. He retired from the NFL in 2012, earned a Master of Science in Nursing in 2015, then entered medical school. He graduated from the University of Mississippi as a doctor in 2019.

He is currently completing his residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey where he was recently appointed Anesthesia Chief Resident for 2022-2023. He and his wife Angel are also raising three children.

Nate Hughes, MD is proof that people can achieve multiple dreams, and can be successful in athletics, academics, medicine,  and life.

Adetayo "Tayo" Adesanya
Panelist

Graduated from Purdue University in 2011 with a degree in Electrical Engineering Tech -Big Ten Champion, NCAA Track & Field All-American & Nigerian National Champion -Sales Engineer for ON Semiconductor and Microchip Technology for a combined 7 Years -Graduated from Arizona State University in 2015 with an MBA, focus in Entrepreneurship and International Business -2013 FIBA 3x3 World Championships in Athens, Greece -Founded the Bay Area Urban League Young Professionals in January of 2017 -2018 National Urban League Emerging Leaders Program Member.

Thaddeus Bullard aka WWE Legend “Titus O’Neil”

Panelist

An American professional wrestler and former arena football player. He is the Global Ambassador of WWE and also performs for the promotion as a wrestler under the ring name Titus O'Neil. Described by the company as "one of the most philanthropic Superstars in WWE history," Bullard is the recipient of the WWE Hall of Fame 2020 Warrior Award.

Bullard played college football for the University of Florida and, after that, played in the Arena Football League (AFL). His career as a professional wrestler began in WWE's developmental territory, Florida Championship Wrestling (FCW), before being moved to NXT, where he was part of the second season and fifth season, NXT Redemption. In WWE, he is a former one-time WWE Tag Team Champion as part of The Prime Time Players with Darren Young and a one-time WWE 24/7 Champion, being the inaugural holder of the latter title. In 2021, Bullard was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as a recipient of the Warrior Award, honoring his charitable work – especially in his hometown of Tampa, Florida.