Thurs 9/24 | Southbound Story & Conversation Hour: DR. SEPHIRA BAILEY SHUTTLESWORTH
When: Thursday, September 24 | 5-6 PM
Where: Ovenbird Garden
Because the best thing served at a food festival isn't always on the plate. Sometimes it's the story behind it.
Between Southbound's two festival weekends, we present Southbound Story & Conversation Hour—five evenings of cocktails, conversation, and unforgettable stories from some of the South's most compelling food voices.
Join us Monday –Friday at the Ovenbird Garden for one remarkable storyteller each evening. They'll share a story, then open the conversation. No panels. No PowerPoints. Just a drink, a great story, and a chance to hear—and talk with—people who have something wonderful to say.
5:00 p.m. Cocktails + gathering
5:15 p.m. Story + Conversation
6:00 p.m. Goodbyes
Five evenings. Five stories. Five conversations. One more reason to linger in Birmingham between Southbound's big festival weekends.
Come for the food. Stay for the stories.
Tickets: $25
About Sephira:
Dr. Sephira Bailey Shuttlesworth brings 30+ years’ experience as an educator, trainer, mentor, and motivational speaker to this event. Born and reared in rural Tennessee, she and two of her siblings integrated the Jackson-Madison County School system in the summer of 1966 in search of a better education. The next eight years were wrought with rich experiences as she grappled with open racism, isolation and crippling stereotypes. Yet, her willingness to stay the course and break down existing barriers led to many “firsts” by the end of her formal education.
While in high school, Sephira enrolled in Union University where she spent less than three years completing her undergraduate degree in Education. Two weeks after graduation, she relocated to Cincinnati, Ohio hoping to jumpstart her new career. To her surprise, the school district had imposed a three-year hiring freeze for teachers! Relying on her love of cooking and entrepreneurial spirit, she landed a job in food service management delaying the onset of her career in education. In 1983, she accepted a teaching assignment with Cincinnati Public Schools and later completed a master’s degree in education administration at the University of Cincinnati. In 2013, she received an honorary Doctoral Degree in Business Christian Management from the Global Evangelical Christian College and Seminary in Montgomery, Alabama.
In Cincinnati, Sephira met the charismatic Rev. Fred Lee Shuttlesworth in 1986. Recognized nationally for his leadership during the 1960’s Civil Rights Movement, he became the local hero challenging injustice and organizing grass roots efforts to bring about change over several decades. The two developed and nurtured a 20-year friendship that led to their marriage in 2006. Sephira worked closely with her husband on local and national issues aimed at uplifting poor, disenfranchised people, challenging injustice, and addressing equality in education.
Following a year’s respite after her husband’s death in 2011, Sephira returned to education as a charter school Director in Lansing, Michigan, and culminated her career in 2017 as Regional Support Director for a Cincinnati charter school. Since retirement, Dr. Shuttlesworth continues to travel the country enlightening audiences about her and her husband’s contributions to building the beloved community. She enjoys cooking, writing, mentoring young women, and tackling home improvement projects.
