Call For Transformation: Next Level

15th Annual Joint Conference on Juvenile Justice

APSU Morgan University Center
601 College St, 3rd Floor
Saturday, March 28, 2026

8:30 AM TO 5:00 PM

REGISTER

About the Conference

The Joint Conference on Juvenile Justice is an annual gathering that brings together professionals, advocates, families, and community leaders dedicated to providing prevention and intervention services for youth. The conference provides a collaborative space to share knowledge, explore effective practices, and engage in meaningful dialogue. Key topics for this year’s conference include:

  • Laws that Impact Juvenile Justice

  • Poverty and Injustice

  • Juvenile Justice Systemic Issues

  • Innovative Programs and Services

Who Should Attend?

This conference is designed for individuals and groups who work with, advocate for, or are concerned about the well-being of youth and the juvenile justice system, including:

  • students

  • parents,

  • religious leaders,

  • social workers,

  • psychologists,

  • educators,

  • judges,

  • lawyers,

  • law enforcement officers,

  • concerned citizens,

  • community activists,

  • administrators, and

  • others who are interested in the issues that confront our youth

Speakers

Moderator

Dr. Merriel Bullock-Neal, Esquire conference chair, and moderator, earned her law degree from Washington College of Law at American University and her Ph.D. in Special Education with support fields in Clinical Child Psychology, Family Therapy, and Counseling Psychology from American University. She is the Chair of the Montgomery County Disproportionate Task Force, attorney in private practice, Supreme Court Rule 31 Mediator, CEO, and Founder of Merry In God Foundation. She practices law in Juvenile Court, Circuit Court, Chancery Court, and the United States District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. Dr. Bullock-Neal is a member of the Leadership Clarksville Class of 2014 and EMERGE Inaugural Judicial Class of 2021. She has served as Chair and member on the Board of the Two Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross. She has served as President of Clarksville Civitan and as President of the Delaware Chapter of Links, Inc. She has served as a university professor, consultant, researcher, international speaker, and an advocate for human rights.

Keynote Speakers

Dr. Linda Copeland brings more than 30 years of experience working within the child welfare and juvenile justice systems.  Throughout her career, she has focused on improving outcomes for youth and families through equitable practices, collaborative leadership, and data-driven reform. Linda has worked closely with courts, state agencies, and community partners to strengthen systems, reduce disparities, and promote effective services for justice-involved and vulnerable youth.  Known for her ability to bring diverse stakeholders together, she remains committed to advancing policies and practices that create fair, responsive, and accountable systems for children, families, and communities.  Linda currently serves as the Youth Justice Director for the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth.

Representative Ronnie Glynn House member of the 113th General Assembly Previous Chair, Montgomery County Democratic Party Big Brother Big Sister Retired Army Master Sergeant (23yrs) Military Housing Manager A life-long Tennessean, Ronnie has dedicated his life to his country, his community, and his family. As a young father at 20 years of age, a four-year enlistment expanded into 23 years of service with honor and distinction, including a tour with the 82nd airborne division, serving in four countries, and completing three combat deployments between Afghanistan and Iraq. His final stop brought him to Clarksville with the 101st airborne division at Fort Campbell. Equipped with a bachelor's degree in business and the army’s lessons of integrity, selfless service, and leadership, and was prepared to give back to his community. Ronnie and his wife Sherry have four adult children and 11 grandchildren. He serves as a mentor to young people through Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Presenters

Elizabeth Adamski was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in the Bronx after immigrating to the United States at just five years old, she grew up surrounded by the rich traditions of her Dominican and Puerto Rican heritage. Today, she is a proud mother of two and a devoted grandmother of four.  She is a certified Rule 31 Mediator through the Tennessee Supreme Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission and serves as the Director of Mediation Center, the first mediation center of its kind in Clarksville. She is also the Founder and Director of the Clarksville Hispanic American Family Foundation (C.H.A.F.F.), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit she established in 2018 in response to the devastation of Hurricane Maria. She proudly served in the military for 24 years. Today, she remains deeply committed to expanding the impact of C.H.A.F.F., dedicating her time to uplifting families, inspiring women and children, and fostering spiritual growth and opportunity for all. Guided by her belief in faith, family, and service, she continues to work toward building a stronger, more inclusive community.

Sharon K. Edwards is an Anti-bullying expert and author. Ms. Edwards has recently re- leased a book entitled, “ACTIONS”, the Bully & Suicide Resource Guide for the 21st Century. Additionally, she  has co-written with Seymour Hagans a video entitled, “I’m Invisible: A Teen’s Suicide Victim’s Cry”. She has served as a consultant with groups such as The LEAP Organization, Georgia School Systems, Clarksville Montgomery County School System, WEEMS Academy, Virtual High School, and others. Ms. Edwards has received the following awards: The Tennessee Back to School Anti Bullying Award given by Mayor Karl Dean of Nashville, TN, The Distinguished Woman of Excellence Award “For Outstanding Community Service,” and Putting a “Stop to Bullying” from the non- profit organization  called  Once in  a  Lifetime  Movement. She has conducted numerous presentations and workshops on bullying. She was recently inducted into Phi Eta Sigma.

Zoyie Jackson is a trailblazing advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). She's a 21-year-old Retired (MSG) Combat Army Veteran and a Purple Heart Recipient. As the Legacy Honoree she was awarded the 2022 BLK Excellence Award, and the 2023 Community Activist of the Year award. Zoyie has a B.S. in Business Management, she is the CEO and Founder of Equitable Solutions First, LLC, commander of the Women Veteran of America Clarksville, TN Chapter 47, the Montgomery County Black Caucus Vice President, a board member of the local Red Cross, an active member of the Rotary Club, an active member of Montgomery County Veteran Coalition a current student of Leadership Clarksville class of 2024. Driven by her sense of duty and a genuine desire to give back, Zoyie Jackson embodies the values of service, compassion, and advocacy and wholeheartedly believes that the mission is bigger than self, she is often heard quoting “Our Voices are Strong and Better together than apart”.

Henry Moore, Jr., is a grief counselor.  He has more than 30 years of expertise in trauma and emergency medicine through innovative pre-hospital techniques.  Currently he is employed by Alive Hospice in Nashville, Tennessee.  After serving 24 years in the United States Army as a medic, he graduated from Austin Peay State University with a bachelor’s degree in social work and a master’s in social work from Western Kentucky University, with honors.  He is also a member of Leadership Clarksville.  He has been on the Disproportionate Minority Contact Task Force for almost 10 years.  He also has volunteered on the board of directors for Soldiers and Families Embraced (vice president), and for the Montgomery County Veteran Coalition.  He also volunteers as a basketball coach for Low7Sports, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Agape Prison Ministry.

Kate Revels is a native of West Virginia and a retired veteran of the United States Air Force. Serving and communicating with others have been the focus of her life’s work. After leaving the military, she worked as an investigator of child abuse and neglect for the Department of Family and Children Services in the state of Georgia. She also served as a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator and Trainer. Ms. Revels is a long-time member of the Montgomery County Disproportionate Minority Contact Task Force. She holds degrees in Applied Communications, Management Studies, and Human Resource Management. Additionally, she identifies as a womanist. Outside of her professional work, she is an actress, poet, songwriter, and storyteller. A strong believer in God and His Son, Jesus Christ, Ms. Revels resides in Clarksville, TN, near her two children and two grandchildren. She shares her home with her Jack Russell terrier, Mojo.

Juanita Stephens holds a Business Management and Marketing Degree from Columbus College and a Masters Degree in Education from Austin Peay State University. Prior to moving to Fort Campbell, she taught business classes Panama Canal College- Republic of Panama. Since her arrival to this area, Mrs. Stephens has been an adjunct faculty instructor - Fort Campbell Center. Also, she taught for Miller Mott College and in the Montgomery County school System and played an active role in many community organizations and received numerous service awards.

Conchetta Willis serves as the Statewide Community Mobilization Manager for the Equity Alliance, the largest Black woman-founded and led nonprofit in Tennessee.  In this role, she leads civic and political voter mobilization through education, engagement, and empowerment.  This includes leading her team to register 300+ new voters and to reach an additional 27,000 current Montgomery County voters in 2024 and 2025, helping activate them to the polls. This work supports efforts to increase the county’s low voter turnout during special elections and down-ballot voting during a presidential election. Aside from her work at TEA, she serves as an Adjunct Professor of Communications at Nashville State Community College, underscoring her ongoing commitment to academic excellence and community impact. Willis holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in communications from Austin Peay State University. She is a doctoral candidate at Clemson University, where her research examines the Rhetoric of Black Silence, intergenerational communication, and the ethics of research in the Black community. Her published research on advocacy communications has appeared in international academic journals, and she regularly provides expert commentary on activism, focusing on grassroots organizing and shaping discourse rather than merely functioning within it.

Sponsors

Donors

Bishop Anthony Alfred 

Clarksville Civitan Club

Juanita Stephens

Nancye Britton

Family of Faith Worship

April Smith

Beth Kasper

Clarksville Branch of NAACP

Vanessa Weddington

Dr. Anderson Grant

Kimberly O’Neal

Previous Year Programs

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2011 Conference

2012 Conference

2013 Conference

2014 Conference

2015 Conference

2016 Conference

2017 Conference

2018 Conference

2019 Conference

2020 Conference

The 2020 Annual Joint Conference on Juvenile Justice Program was cancelled due to COVID. 

2021 Conference

2022 Conference

2023 Conference

2024 Conference

2025 Conference