Speaker Jevin Hodge electrifies audience with his motivational words. Philip Fowler/The Gramblinite
“That’s the sound of our ancestors screaming. We are champions of what many people in our time has died for.”
Jevin D. Hodge ended his speech about what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. means to him with a question deserving of an answer, “Are you going to be an observer or participate in history?”
Hodge was the honorary speaker at The Favrot Student Union Board for an event for the celebration of MLK Day.
Hodge asked the audience what are they doing to be remembered.
Growing up in a single parent household, Hodge said his mother, Berdetta Hodge, who is a member of the Tempe Union High School District Governing Board, instilled Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s. message for sacrifice, impact and legacy and made him into the man he is today.
King gave Hodge the hope that he can do anything he set his mind to.
As a senior in high school, he authored Senate Bill 1066, which would have recognized graduating high school seniors in Arizona who had completed more than 200 hours of community service. This bill passed the Arizona Senate with bipartisan support. It was believed that the bill was vetoed by Republican Governor Jan Brewer because it was introduced by then-State Senator David Schapira, a Democrat.
“Stand up for what you believe in and navigate institution,” Hodge said.
While working with elected officials and community leaders, he grew a passion for uplifting Arizonan adolescents. His goal was to focus on how to increase civic engagement among all Arizonans. Hodge stated the only way to progress was to love thy enemy. He became a Millennial Inspirational Speaker, noted as “America’s Leading Young Agent for Change” and author of L.Y.F.E. – Living Young Free and Extravagant.
Hodge is active in policy advising, included advising top level government officials and key business leaders on how to best engage millennials.
Elected on January 28, 2017, Hodge became the 1st Millennial African American Vice Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party. Currently, he serves as an active member of the Board of Directors for the Tempe Union High School Education Foundation, in Tempe, Ariz. and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Booker T. Washington Child Development Center in Phoenix.
As an advocate to local communities, Hodge has been involved in policy advising and campaign management at the municipal, state and federal level.
Hodge has traveled the nation speaking to millennials and various organizations on how to mobilize, attract, educate and retain young talent.
In addition to his current positions, he was the former Executive Vice Director of an Arizona-based non-profit organization called The Manifesto Project. The Manifesto Project’s mission is working to answer the question: How does Arizona retain and develop its young professionals? Furthermore, he serves as the National Engagement Coordinator for LINK Strategic Partners. LINK Strategic Partners is a national strategic communications and stakeholder engagement firm located in Washington, D.C.
Hodge was selected to speak by Favrot Student Union Board president LaJazzmond Pichon.
Hodge holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and an emphasis on Public Policy from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.