2024 Summit Southeast

September 18-20, 2024

Jackson Convention Complex Center

Jackson, Mississippi

Meet The Speakers

Hezekiah Watkins

Civil Rights Activist

Mr. Hezekiah Watkins, a lifelong resident of Jackson, MS, has also been a civil rights activist since the age of thirteen. He graduated from Lanier High School and continued his education at Utica Junior College, Southern Illinois and East Tennessee State University.


Mr. Watkins became a proponent of justice after his involvement in the Civil Rights Movement. In 1961, the ‘Freedom Riders’ banned together in Jackson, MS to demonstrate against state segregation laws, and for doing so, 328 people were arrested with the charge “breach of peace.” Mr. Watkins was the youngest to be arrested on July 7, 1961 and placed on ‘Death Row’ at Parchman Prison. He was 13 years of age and an eighth grader attending Rowan Junior High School. After spending time with and learning from great leaders of this movement such as James Bevel, Dave Dennis, Jerome Smith, Jessie Davis, and Jessie Harris, Watkins continued his involvement in Mississippi’s fight for civil rights and justice which resulted in more than 100 arrests. These experiences strengthen his commitment to improving the quality of life and opportunities for young African American youth and all of mankind.

Mr. Watkins career began as a young entrepreneur, opening a houseware and appliance store. Economics being hard lead him to seek full time employment with Jackson Hinds Comprehensive Health Center for some years and, then later, with Hinds County Human Resources Agency. He presently works with The Civil Rights Museum and was the owner of the Corner Food Market and Deli of Jackson for 28 years until a heart attack in 2012 forced him to close the business.


He continues his activism for justice as a community leader who promotes community and civic involvement in African American youths of Mississippi. For his dedication to the cause of Civil Rights, Watkins has received many honors and awards, among them was has recognition by Congressman Bennie Thompson in 2012 before Congress and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award on May 28, 2023 by the sitting president, Joe Biden.


Mr. Watkins and his wife of 35 years, Chris, have been blessed with three children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Tiffany Parrish

Special Projects Coordinator

Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services

Tiffany Parrish of Laurel, MS works for the Mississippi Department of Rehabilitation Services (MDRS) in the Office of Business Development as the Special Projects Coordinator. Her key duties are providing disability awareness training, virtual workforce videos, assisting college ADA departments, assistance to businesses for their current employees with a permanent or temporary disability, providing training to the department staff, and other special projects.


Parrish previously worked at MegaGate Broadband/Cellular One as a regional sales & marketing manager. She also worked as a regional business development manager for CSpire. In addition to Parrish’s 18-year experience in the communications field, she was very actively involved as a political consultant for candidates in both state and federal elections.


Parrish is a three-term President of the Southern Civitan Club. She serves as The Arc of the Pine Belt Board President, Board member for the South Mississippi Planning and Development District, Twin Districts area, and the University of Southern Miss – Institute for Disability Studies. She is a past board member of the Rehabilitation Association of Mississippi (RAM).


Parrish is a member of the Laurel Lion’s Club. She is also a supporter of the Lauren Rogers Museum of Art, the Jones County Library System, and the Mississippi Alzheimer’s Association.

Rachel Covello

CEO & Publisher

OutCoast

Rachel Covello is an influential figure in the LGBTQ+ community, and has a passion for building bridges across divides with empathy. She has extensive experience in sales, marketing, nonprofit leadership, PR, event planning, and all things creative. As the publisher of OutCoast.com, she is a skilled LGBTQ+ content creator and travel blogger. Her work focuses on highlighting inclusive destinations and businesses from Coast to Coast. Rachel also plays a pivotal role in LGBTQ+ tourism marketing and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting, advising business leaders across various industries. She was instrumental in organizing Florida's first LGBTQ+ tourism convention, the Florida OutCoast Convention (FLOCC), fostering inclusive tourism strategies in the Sunshine State. And she hosts inclusive events for queer women under LuvHer Lounge Events.


Her contributions have been widely recognized, earning her accolades such as the 2024 Business of Pride Corporate honoree for the Tampa Bay Business Journal Honoree, 2024 Business Grand Marshal for Tampa Pride, 2023 Most Remarkable Person of the Year by Watermark Publishing, and the 2021 Business of Pride honoree by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Rachel also won the Favorite Tampa Bay Journalist/Writer award at the Watermark Wave Awards in 2021.


Outside her professional realm, Rachel resides in St. Pete with her wife and three dogs, enjoys RV travel, and is actively involved in stand-up comedy and photography.

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