Derrick Hammond
An Oak Ridge pastor and the police chief will be the speakers at a Monday morning discussion of building community.
The speakers are Derrick Hammond, pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church, and Oak Ridge Police Chief James Akagi.
The discussion is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Monday, September 11, in the Fellowship Hall at Grace Covenant Church at 320 Robertsville Road.
The discussion is sponsored by Women’s Interfaith Dialogue. It will focus on “Building Community in a Time of Hatred and Violence,” a press release said.
It’s the first meeting of Women’s Interfaith Dialogue in the 2017-2018 schedule.
“As we all so well know, hearts are torn by waves of decisions and events that do not reflect justice and concern for all people,” a press release said. “We want to find a way to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem, as the adage from the ‘60s reflects. One way to do this is to come together and learn about the options and challenges that face us at the grass-roots level. Our speakers can share with us first-hand information that can be helpful and will be available to answer questions from the audience.”
Hammond is the pastor of Oak Valley Baptist Church. In addition to his pastoral duties, Hammond is heavily involved in local and surrounding community affairs, and he led the interfaith delegation at the Oak Ridge City Hall recently that called for greater understanding and justice in all local policies and actions, the press release said.
Hammond is a graduate of the Chamber’s Leadership Oak Ridge program and serves as an active member of the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation Board, Emory Valley Center Board, Oak Ridge Breakfast Rotary Club, East Tennessee Economic Council, and Beeson Divinity School Alumni Advisory Board. He also serves as the finance commissioner for the Knoxville District Baptist Association and as an adjunct instructor for Tennessee Technical University and the Institute of Continued Learning of Roane State Community College.
James T. Akagi
Hammond has a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Auburn University. He also completed the dual master’s degree program at Samford University, earning a Master of Divinity and a Master of Business Administration, the press release said.
Akagi heads the Oak Ridge Police Department, which is staffed with 61 certified officers, 24 civilian employees, and several volunteers. He has been the Oak Ridge police chief for more than six years, and he came to the city with 25 years of experience, having served with the Oklahoma City District Office of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.
The public is invited to this free event, the press release said.
The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue brings together women of diverse faith, color, and culture to explore, understand and learn from one another for the purpose of advancing justice, compassion, friendship, and human rights with a focus on women and children, the press release said.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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