Cleo Scott Brown Owner/'Speaker, Author, Race Relations Strategist, History Matters Institute
Location:
Goose Creek,
SC United States Joined:
May 23rd, 2015
CLEO SCOTT BROWN, author of Witness to the Truth and owner of History Matters Institute, speaks nationally using history to generate meaningful, insightful discussions about race relations, voting rights, and class that lead to introspection and change. She has experienced many things, and like her father, who is the central figure in her book about voting rights, she believes that their experiences have been for a greater purpose.
At seven, she was in the car with her father when he was shot for trying to get the right to vote. At nine, she was watching her father pull up Klan crosses from the end of the road to their home. At ten, she was hiding while her older brothers and sisters did target practice in order to defend the house if the family got into a tight squeeze. At 11, she was helping adults learn how to pass the multi-part citizenship test required to register to vote. She got to become a little human guinea pig in a school integration experiment at age 12, an experience that proved to be more traumatic than the constant threat of being killed. And then at 17, she was off to experience the black power movement at the predominately black Grambling State University and at 21, affirmative action quotas and some racial healing at General Motors in Anderson, Indiana. Her and her father’s direct personal experiences, combined with a lack of bitterness and anger, provide the rare but necessary combination that moves people to introspection and action.
Since the release of Witness to the Truth published by the University of SC, Cleo has had the opportunity to share this very unique story with audiences across the country, helping to bring enlightenment and understanding about the very complex and oftentimes emotional subject of American race relations. She received the HBO Beah Richards Spirit Award for her work in this area and the city of Monroe selected her book as their summer community read in 2008. Cleo also writes blogs on race and voting for the History Matters Report, the monthly publication of the History Matters Institute. She is also the sponsor of the “A Mile in My Shoes” writing project for African American males and she is currently compiling a collection of their essays for publication. She is also a contributor to the African American National Biography, Oxford University Press, W. E. B. DuBois Institute, Harvard University, 2008.
Cleo is a Goose Creek, South Carolina resident and a retiree of a South Carolina utility where she worked as a Risk Manager. At the time of her retirement, she was also the Chairman of the Board of the Electric Public Power Insurance Consortium and a member of the FM Global Insurance Company Risk Management Executive Committee representing the utility industry.
Since her retirement, Cleo has dedicated her time to sowing into others. She served as the Mentor Coordinator for Berkeley County Schools for five years before taking her current position as Executive Director of the Royal Foundation where she works to remove impediments to success. She also serves as the Vice President of the John H. Scott Memorial Fund which has been providing scholarships to northeast LA students in poverty for over 30 years in honor of her deceased father. She also teaches local and state level courses for the SC Congress of Christian Education. She has two sons.
Cleo was top honor graduate of her class at Grambling State University in Grambling, LA where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration.
Launched the History Matters Institute and History Matters Report that is helping people better understand and talk about issues of race relations and class.
Executive Director|
Royal Foundation
From February 2011 to Current • 15 year(s)
Responsible for programs, budgets, reporting, and other duties associated with day-to-day operations of a church-affiliated non-profit providing empowerment programs.
Race Relations Strategist, Speaker & Author|
Scott Brown Group LLC/History Matters Institute
From January 2003 to Current • 23 year(s)
Author of 'Witness to the Truth', writer for History Matter's monthly publication, and national speaker/workshop leader who uses history to generate meaningful discussions about race, voting, and class.
Mentor Specialist|
Berkeley County School District
From February 2005 to June 2010 • 5 year(s)
Created and coordinated county-wide mentoring program for Berkeley County School District with over 100 mentors volunteering one hour per week in 18 schools.
Risk Manager|
Santee Cooper Power
From January 1990 to May 2004 • 14 year(s)
Established and managed risk management function for an electric and water utility, including claims management and loss control functions; negotiated and procured corporate property and liability insurance for a $3+ billion asset company.
Financial Analyst III|
Santee Cooper Power
From January 1988 to January 1990 • 2 year(s)
Responsible for liability and property claims. Automated claims tracking and reporting systems.
Senior Auditor & Internal Auditor|
Santee Cooper Power
From January 1979 to January 1988 • 9 year(s)
Internal audit responsibilities for the electric and water utility company.
Internal Auditor|
General Motors
From January 1976 to January 1979 • 3 year(s)
Internal auditing functions for the automotive manufacturer.
