[122] Former Gangster And Drug Kingpin Brings Message of Hope

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 2, 2009EDITORIAL CONTACT: Gina Logue, 615-898-5081

FORMER GANGSTER AND DRUG KINGPIN BRINGS MESSAGE OF HOPE MTSU Welcomes Anti-Violence Advocate Terrell “TJ” Johnson to Campus

(MURFREESBORO) – Terrell “TJ” Johnson, the first ex-felon ever hired by the Memphis Police Department, will speak at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, in the Tennessee Room of MTSU’s James Union Building. His address is free and open to the public.
Incarcerated at the age of 19 for drug trafficking, Johnson was appointed upon his release by then-Mayor Willie Herenton of Memphis to be prevention and intervention coordinator for the city’s Juvenile Violence Abatement Project. As President/CEO of the Wake-Up Youth Foundation, Johnson has spoken to thousands of youth across the nation. He also works with the Office of the Governor as an in-service facilitator addressing practitioners on juvenile justice and as a member of the Tennessee Legislative Black Caucus Criminal Justice Panel. Johnson also is pastor of Temple of Faith Deliverance Full Gospel Church in Bolivar, as well as pastor of Wake-Up Ministries in Memphis.
Johnson’s address is presented as part of the MTSU Office of Intercultural and Diversity Affairs Leadership Series. For more information, contact the IDA office at 615-898-5812 or go to www.mtsu.edu/ida.


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ATTENTION, MEDIA: For a poster featuring a photo of Terrell “TJ” Johnson, contact Gina Logue in the MTSU Office of News and Public Affairs at 615-898-5081 or gklogue@mtsu.edu.