LaQuita Middleton-Holmes Keynote Speaker from Birmingham, AL

Native of the city once nicknamed “Bombingham,” LaQuita Middleton-Holmes is a black history enthusiast who is on a mission to elevate her people through history & the arts. She is a product of both Birmingham & Bessemer, AL School Systems, graduating in the top 10% of her class with Advance diplomas. In 2004, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Black Studies from top-rated liberal arts college, Berea College, in Berea, KY. She is currently earning her Master of Science degree in Education from Walden University. After graduating college, she served in the Education Department of the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute serving in tour, docent, & volunteer management. In July 2010, she founded Visionary Civil Rights Heritage Tours, a company that provides civil rights educational programming to local and national audiences. The company has quickly become a staple in the community by providing a variety of historically accurate and innovative programs. See the "What We Do" page for more details. Mrs. Middleton-Holmes has also become a highly sought out featured speaker & expert panelist, presenting at several colleges & schools across the U.S.; at various programs of the Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP; several community-led town hall meetings. In 2013, she began service as an Artist in Residence in the Birmingham City School system, teaching music and language arts. ? She has been featured as a field expert in Excursions: A Guest Directory, Birmingham Metro Area 2010-11 speaking on Rev. Fred L. Shuttlesworth; in the National Group Tour magazine; and the National Student Group Tour magazine. In 2012, she added "author" to her resume by publishing her first book of original historically-oriented spoken word, Nappyminded Ideology. Two of those poems were awarded the Leonard Slade Prize for Poetry by the Southern Conference on African American Studies, Inc. (SCAASI) in 2007 and 2011. Her next book, Mama Said, written collaboratively with Taomi Ray will be published in 2014. ? LaQuita hopes Visionary Civil Rights Heritage Tours will be the launching pad to teach African American history successfully in efforts to elevate their status in society. The company also seeks to teach non-African Americans the whole of history - one that is fully inclusive of African American history. ? Currently, LaQuita serves as the Executive Director & Master Guide of Visionary Civil Rights Heritage Tours, & as the Education Chair of the Metro Birmingham Branch NAACP. She is married to Comedian Terrence G and is the proud mother of two little girls: Niara Selah & Kelsi Yolan. ©2012-2013 LaQuita Middleton of Visionary Civil Rights Heritage Tours. All rights reserved.