presenters
Reality Check 5.0: Back-2-School edition
bj council
Former Deputy Police Chief (ret), You & Five-O Founder and Lead Trainer
Beverly “BJ” Council is the founder and primary presenter of You & Five-O, LLC (YFO). As the first African-American female to achieve the rank of Deputy Chief within the Durham City Police Department, she addresses community challenges slowly and methodically to create lasting change. As a Black female and retired police officer, she offers a unique view from both sides: she understands the police perspective while also being aware of the systemic issues and generational trauma that affect the Black and Brown communities.
BJ created You & Five-O in 2015 as a response to the rise of deaths that were occurring during interactions between law enforcement and the communities they serve. After retiring from the Durham Police Department, BJ wanted to find a way to ensure that law enforcement maintained its honor of serving and protecting those in need, while also understanding the importance of asking and, most importantly, hearing the community about how they need to be served.
captain kevin jenkins
Kinston Police Department
Kinston, NC
Captain Kevin Jenkins is a 17-year veteran of law enforcement. He was born and raised in Oak City, NC and attended Roanoke High School in Robersonville, NC. After graduating from high school, he attended North Carolina Wesleyan College where he studied Criminology. Captain Jenkins was hired by the Kinston Police Department in 2005 as a Patrol Officer. During his career, he has been involved in many types of criminal aspect of law enforcement at the local, state and federal levels. In 2007, he was transferred to the Narcotics/Gang Unit and worked there for 12 years. During that time, he also served as a Special Agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Unit for 3 years, working in undercover capacity. Captain Jenkins continued to advance in his career and was later promoted to the rank of Sergeant of the Patrol Division in 2018. He was later promoted to rank of Captain where he currently serves as Captain of the Community Service Unit. Captain Jenkins loves being involved with the community and plans a lot of the department’s Public Relation events. He has also received numerous awards and commendations for his work ethics, professionalism and compassion.
dr. erin moore
Executive Director, Center for Racial and Social Justice - Shaw University
Dr. Erin H. Moore is the Executive Director for the Center for Racial and Social Justice at Shaw University.
A native of Durham, North Carolina, Dr. Moore earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics from Spelman College. Upon graduating, she spent several years in telecommunications marketing where she mentored middle and high school students to pursue careers in the STEM fields. It was doing this work that Dr. Moore noticed the difference that knowledge of Black History made upon the students she was mentoring, prompted her to pursue a career in African American Studies. She went on the earn her Master’s Degree in African American Studies from The Ohio State University and her Doctorate in African American Studies from Temple University. Additionally, Dr. Moore has studied at The London School of Economics as the Luard Scholar to Great Britain and The University of Accra, Ghana.
Dr. Moore has had a diverse career in higher education and in nonprofit social justice. She served as the Assistant Professor of History at Central State University and as Adjunct Professor of History at Spelman College. She began her nonprofit career as the Millender Fellow for the City of Detroit, challenging environmental racism and advocating for the rights of employees. She has also worked in violence prevention among African American youth and expanding philanthropy in communities of color. Dr. Moore has created two online African American Studies programs focused on bringing African wisdom to the general public. Prior to joining Shaw University, she served as a consultant for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training and created African American Studies Curricula for K-12 schools.
Dr. Moore’s research interests include Classical African Civilizations; African Social, Spiritual, and Ethical Structures; African American Leadership; and Africana Womanism. She has a long tradition of community and volunteer service in a variety of organizations and has been a guest speaker regarding issues facing the African American community in a variety of forums, including conferences, international and community events, and live streaming platforms. Dr. Moore believes that if we are going to change the world, we must first change our world, and that begins with first changing the mind.
ric swiner
Principal, Spyder Marketing
Moderator
With almost 30 years’ experience in storytelling, Ric Swiner’s professional career has been remarkable. After receiving his bachelor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from Howard University in 1994, Ric began his television news career at NBC News Washington Bureau. What started as an 18-month position as an Assignment Desk Assistant evolved into a three-year stint as a segment producer for the Today Show and weekend White House field producer for correspondent Chip Reid. He even traveled as a member of the White House Press Pool with President Bill Clinton on a trip to Michigan.
Although Ric had some amazing experiences working behind the scenes in his hometown of Washington, DC, he ultimately wanted to be an on-air news talent. He landed his first General Assignment Reporter job in 1997 at WCIV-TV in Charleston, SC. For three years, Ric covered everything from crime and politics to music festivals and state fairs.
After three years in Charleston, Ric’s next stop was in Raleigh, NC, where he was hired as a weekend anchor for the WB affiliate. He also started a small web/graphic design business called Spyder Web Developers. After six years of reporting and anchoring in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill market (also known as “The Triangle”), the newsroom shut down, and Ric transitioned into media advertising sales.
After four years as one of the station’s top earners, Ric realized he could help more companies using the skills he developed over his career. He transformed his part-time business into a full-time endeavor. Spyder Web Developers became Ric’s sole focus, helping scores of clients tell their stories using photography, videography, and live production. Today, Ric and his team provide multimedia services to clients in academia, music, non-profits and the private sector.
Aside from running a successful small business, Ric’s most important roles are husband to Nicole and father to Price and Blake. There’s a good chance you’ll see them hanging out in downtown Durham.