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[[File:Donna Dukes.jpg|right|thumb|Donna Dukes]]
[[File:Donna Dukes.jpg|right|thumb|Donna Dukes]]
'''Donna D. Dukes''' (born c. [[1969]] in [[Birmingham]]) is an educator, non-profit executive, community activist, filmmaker and former radio host.
'''Donna D. Dukes''' (born c. [[1970]] in [[Birmingham]]) is an educator, non-profit executive, community activist, filmmaker and former radio host.


Dukes is the daughter of former [[Miles College]] student body president and [[Civil Rights Movement]] organizer [[Frank Dukes]]. She graduated from [[Woodlawn High School]] as secretary of her senior class in [[1987]]. She completed a bachelor's degree at [[Miles College]] in [[1991]].
Dukes is the daughter of former [[Miles College]] student body president and [[Civil Rights Movement]] organizer [[Frank Dukes]]. She graduated from [[Woodlawn High School]] as secretary of her senior class in [[1987]]. She completed a bachelor's degree at [[Miles College]] in [[1991]], graduating as valedictorian of her class.


In September [[1991]] Donna and her mother, [[Jacquelyn Dukes]], co-founded the [[Maranathan Academy|Maranathan Family Learning Center & Academy]], an educational program for critically at-risk youth and adults in [[Kingston]]. In [[1997]] Dukes was named an "Unsung Hero" by {{BN}}. She delivered a widely-viewed presentation on working with at-risk youth to the [[TEDxBirmingham]] conference in [[2016]]. Maranathan suspended in-person teaching during the [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic]] and Dukes organized a food distribution program for students and their families. She has been honored by Morehouse College and the ''[[Birmingham Business Journal]]'' for her leadership.
Dukes had planned to study law, but her experience as a volunteer tutor at a juvenile detention center changed her course. In September [[1991]] Donna, with support from her mother, [[Jacquelyn Dukes]], founded the [[Maranathan Academy|Maranathan Family Learning Center & Academy]], an educational program for critically at-risk youth and adults in [[Kingston]]. In [[1997]] Dukes was named an "Unsung Hero" by {{BN}}. She delivered a widely-viewed presentation on working with at-risk youth to the [[TEDxBirmingham]] conference in [[2016]]. Maranathan suspended in-person teaching during the [[2020 Coronavirus pandemic]] and Dukes organized a food distribution program for students and their families. She has been honored by Morehouse College and the ''[[Birmingham Business Journal]]'' for her leadership.


On radio, Dukes hosted a Sunday-morning gospel program on [[WATV-AM]] and [[WJLD-AM]] from [[2005]] to [[2009]], and a daily gospel program on [[WAGG-AM]] from [[2010]] to [[2013]]. She left the program to focus on her documentary film, ''[[Stand: Untold Stories from the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement]]'', which had its premiere at [[Miles College]]. The documentary was broadcast on [[Alabama Public Television]] in February [[2014]] and has since been shown on PBS stations nationwide.
On radio, Dukes hosted a Sunday-morning gospel program on [[WATV-AM]] and [[WJLD-AM]] from [[2005]] to [[2009]], and a daily gospel program on [[WAGG-AM]] from [[2010]] to [[2013]]. She left the program to focus on her documentary film, ''[[Stand: Untold Stories from the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement]]'', which had its premiere at [[Miles College]]. The documentary was broadcast on [[Alabama Public Television]] in February [[2014]] and has since been shown on PBS stations nationwide.
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* Walton, Val (September 28, 2008) "Expo helps women overcome hardships Event held." {{BN}}
* Walton, Val (September 28, 2008) "Expo helps women overcome hardships Event held." {{BN}}
* Gray, Jeremy (April 20, 2009) "Lesser-known heroes: Daughter of civil rights activist films a documentary." {{BN}}
* Gray, Jeremy (April 20, 2009) "Lesser-known heroes: Daughter of civil rights activist films a documentary." {{BN}}
* Grammer, Kelli (October 2015) "[https://styleblueprint.com/birmingham/everyday/donna-dukes-faces-birmingham/ Donna Dukes: FACES of Birmingham]" ''[[StyleBlueprint]]''


{{DEFAULTSORT:Dukes, Donna}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dukes, Donna}}
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Woodlawn graduates]]
[[Category:Woodlawn graduates]]
[[Category:Miles College alumni]]
[[Category:Miles College alumni]]
[[Category:Valedictorians]]
[[Category:DJs]]
[[Category:DJs]]
[[Category:Community activists]]
[[Category:Community activists]]
[[Category:Nonprofit executives]]
[[Category:Nonprofit executives]]
[[Category:Principals]]
[[Category:Principals]]
<!--Maranathan Academy is a nonprofit school specializing in critically at–risk youth. Its primary goal is to break the cycle of government dependency that has plagued the critically at–risk populace for generations.  Maranathan Academy is the only school in Birmingham and its’ surrounding cities that works exclusively with critically at–risk youth, and is also the only school in Birmingham and its’ surrounding cities that accepts students who have been expelled for weapons related or violent offenses. Although originally founded solely for educating expelled students and youth in the juvenile court system, the Maranathan Academy student body now includes victims of severe bullying, sexual assault, LGBTQ discrimination and other traumatic life events (parental neglect/abandonment, pervasive neighborhood/familial violence with subsequent PTSD). According to Dukes, “Students enter Maranathan wounded and looking for a place to belong. They emerge equipped to excel.”
Maranathan Academy has graduated over 300 critically at-risk youth and adults. It has impacted more than 1500 lives. Because of its decades long successful track record regarding breaking the cycle of government dependency among critically at risk youth and adults, Maranathan Academy was selected to be part of Housing Authority Birmingham Division’s (HABD) Campus of Hope. Maranathan Academy works with HABD residents to attain high school diplomas, therefore making it possible for them to attain jobs paying livable wages; become certified in trades; enlist in the military; enroll in college and gain economic sufficiency. They are then able to move out of government housing and toward home ownership. The Campus of Hope has since earned the distinction of being designated a HUD Envision Center demonstration site, the first in the state of Alabama.-->

Latest revision as of 15:36, 25 March 2021

Donna Dukes

Donna D. Dukes (born c. 1970 in Birmingham) is an educator, non-profit executive, community activist, filmmaker and former radio host.

Dukes is the daughter of former Miles College student body president and Civil Rights Movement organizer Frank Dukes. She graduated from Woodlawn High School as secretary of her senior class in 1987. She completed a bachelor's degree at Miles College in 1991, graduating as valedictorian of her class.

Dukes had planned to study law, but her experience as a volunteer tutor at a juvenile detention center changed her course. In September 1991 Donna, with support from her mother, Jacquelyn Dukes, founded the Maranathan Family Learning Center & Academy, an educational program for critically at-risk youth and adults in Kingston. In 1997 Dukes was named an "Unsung Hero" by The Birmingham News. She delivered a widely-viewed presentation on working with at-risk youth to the TEDxBirmingham conference in 2016. Maranathan suspended in-person teaching during the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic and Dukes organized a food distribution program for students and their families. She has been honored by Morehouse College and the Birmingham Business Journal for her leadership.

On radio, Dukes hosted a Sunday-morning gospel program on WATV-AM and WJLD-AM from 2005 to 2009, and a daily gospel program on WAGG-AM from 2010 to 2013. She left the program to focus on her documentary film, Stand: Untold Stories from the Birmingham Civil Rights Movement, which had its premiere at Miles College. The documentary was broadcast on Alabama Public Television in February 2014 and has since been shown on PBS stations nationwide.

Dukes is a member of Sixth Avenue Baptist Church and the Birmingham Nonprofit Consortium. She is also an officer of the Birmingham East Kiwanis Club and a director of The Women's Network of Birmingham.

2007 mayoral campaign

During the run-up to the 2007 Birmingham mayoral election, Dukes worked as a volunteer for Patrick Cooper's campaign. Melva Langford, the wife of candidate Larry Langford filed a harassment complaint against Dukes and campaign manager Sheila Tyson, who were canvassing her Fairfield neighbors for witnesses who could counter her husband's claim to have established residency in the city of Birmingham. No criminal charges were filed.

2008 Women's Empowerment Expo

In 2008 Dukes organized a Birmingham Women's Empowerment Expo which was to have been held at the BJCC on August 2. The day before the event, Mayor Langford abruptly refused to sign a check for just under $9,000. The appropriation had been approved by the Birmingham City Council. The loss of the city's sponsorship caused the event to have to be rescheduled for later in the fall.

Originally Langford told the council that they should not have been surprised at his refusal and blamed them for trying to provoke a fight by presenting the funding request to him without prior notice. Council members lambasted him for superseding their appropriations in order to carry out a personal vendetta. Later that week, the Mayor's office clarified that that request had not been submitted according to policies established by the city's internal auditing office. "I wouldn't have signed it anyway for the reasons that I have stated," Langford said, "But even if I didn't have the issue I couldn't have signed it." (Bryant - August 8)

After the event was canceled, Dukes, then on staff at WATV-AM, sought private sponsors to be able to reschedule it. She promoted the event during the "Morning Talk" program on rival WJLD-AM in early August. Though she claims to have been given permission to appear on the program, she was suspended and subsequently fired by WATV-AM manager Ron January. She resumed her Weekly program on WJLD.

References

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