In Washington, DC, a Pine Bluff resident addresses the National Press Club.

Little Rock, Arkansas – The 400 Years of African American History Federal Commission, founded under Public Law 115-102 in Washington, DC, invited a Pine Bluff man to speak before the National Press Club.

Reverend Jesse C. Turner is the president of the Pine Bluff Faith Community Coalition Ministerial Alliance and the executive director of Interested Citizens for Voting Registration, Inc., according to a news release.

Turner was the first Black American from Pine Bluff to speak at the National Press Club on Friday. He discussed how pen or pencil and the Ministerial Alliance work together.

“Faith-based mentors have made an impact on violence and negative behaviors on school campuses, he said. “However, to sustain the success of faith-based mentors must remain visible for at least one hour one day a week, The success of Pastors on Patrol evolves around three Cs, they are courage, commitment, and consistency. When deployed the method is a proven and effective tool for reducing violence and negative behaviors, in some cases by thirty-three percent. Working as a team, Pastors on Patrol has demonstrated that success can happen and even greater success is possible when courage, commitment, and consistency, is built on Christ as our foundation”

A press release stated that visitors to www.400yaahc.gov can view the work of PEN OR PENCIL and the Pine Bluff Faith Community Coalition Ministerial Alliance National Documentary by selecting films from the menu at the top of the page.