Speakers

The Honorable  Dr. Teta V. Banks is a diplomat,  human rights advocate, and educator. Originally from Liberia, she grew up in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of the late Dr. Victoria Banks and Rev. Dr. A.A.

Banks, Jr.  civil rights colleagues of Dr. King and Mrs. Rosa Parks.   She holds the position as Chair of the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA).

She is also the Vice President of the Council of Organizations (COO) and  is the former National Chair of the United Nations Association of the United States of America (UN Foundation).Dr. Banks accompanied the U.N. Secretary-General on his mission tour for the refugee crisis, and was a U.S. delegate to the Secretary-General’s U.N. Special Session on Human Trafficking.  

Dr. Banks also has served as Honorary Consul General of the Republic of Liberia, representing the country as it progressed through an era of civil war, rebuilding, the ebola crisis, and redevelopment. Appointed in 1994 by the President of Liberia, Consul Banks has been responsible for increasing humanitarian aid to Liberia, trade and economic development, and as an  advisor to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.  She has also served as President of the Consular Corps of Philadelphia, working with nations throughout the world in international affairs, trade and economic development, and humanitarian aid.  

Dr. Banks has held numerous positions in non-profit organizations, universities, and governmental organizations. These include the following:  Executive Director of the King Association for Nonviolence appointed by  Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Liaison for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, President of the Consular Corps of Philadelphia,  President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women ( Pennsylvania), and founding editor of Vital Issues: The Journal of African American Speeches. In the academic arena, Dr. Banks has served at several universities including Spelman

College, Rutgers University, Howard University, Washington University and Prairie View A&M University of the Texas A&M System. She has worked with programs funded by the Mellon Foundation, Pew Foundation, U.S. Department of State, and U.S. Department of Education. She is a senior advisor to the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives by appointment by the great- granddaughter of Frederick Douglass. Other advisory board positions include the following:  the U.S.- Africa Bilateral Chamber of Commerce, Houston International Development Council, President of the Houston- Monrovia (Liberia) Sister Cities Planning Committee, Caribbean Chamber of Commerce, Mayor’s Office of African and Caribbean Affairs (Philadelphia) , Texas Southern University’s Honors College, and the North American University.  She is the Chair of International Trends and Services (ITS) Committee of  the Texas Spring Cypress Chapter of The Links, Incorporated and member of the Western Area and National ITS Committees,  and an esteemed Honorary Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.  

Banks is the recipient of many awards and recognitions, including recognition as a “Distinguished Daughter of Liberia,” Global Goodwill Ambassador, Humanitarian Award by U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, The International Trade Center Humanitarian Award, Human Relations Commission

Chairman’s Award, G7 Award, and “ Top 30 Influential Women of Houston.”  She attended Wellesley College, Howard University, Wayne State University and Oxford University. She also holds certifications in Human Rights Education Training from U.S. Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights, the Sustainable Development Goals from University of Copenhagen, and Global Diplomacy from University of London.