Corrections_Today_Summer_2024_Vol.86_No.2

General Session

Awesome, so cool and fierce Misty Copeland inspires and motivates crowd at General Session

Dr. Robin Timme of Falcon Correctional and Community Services, Inc. was asked to introduce the special guest for the day Misty Copeland. Misty Copeland is a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the first Black woman to be promoted to the position in the company’s 75-year history in 2015. She is also a best-selling author, producer and philanthropist. Timme told the audience that “When my daughters heard I was going to introduce Misty Copeland today they lost their minds. They used words like awesome, so cool and fierce.” Copeland took the stage with ACA President Denise Robinson and the two began an in-depth conversation.

“When I look back at my life and all my experiences and what I’ve accomplished I see myself as someone who has a lot of hope.” — Misty Copeland

T he much-anticipated ACA Winter Conference General Session was called to order precisely at 1:30 p.m. on January 5, 2024 in Potomac Ballroom A/B with the traditional single-file entrance of ACA’s leadership.

ACA 2024 WINTER CONFERENCE Nikita Ross of the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services Proba tion and Parole sang a moving version of the National Anthem. An Honor Guard from the Maryland Department of Safety and Correctional Services, the D.C. Department of Corrections and the United States Army posted the colors. ACA President Denise Robinson welcomed

President Robinson asked Copeland how would you describe yourself? “When I look back at my life and all my experi ences and what I’ve accomplished I see myself as someone who has a lot of hope. No matter what the circumstances I always remain hopeful and know that I can find a path. It may not look like the person next to me but I find a way,” Misty then related her story: growing up in a single parent household in California, her early

the gathered correctional professionals and intro duced the two sponsors for the General Session. Bridget Schick of Aramark Correctional Ser vices, Inc. told the crowd she was “energized by what we are doing in this industry.”

Corrections Today | Summer 2024

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