Voices I. Voices in Tribute to President Barack Obama, Our Nation’s 44th President

About the Book

This book contains truly insightful poems that stirs the imagination and evokes the reader to reach within their core and draw on their better nature as they commit to working together on the tough task of rebuilding our society. It reminds us that we are capable of living up to the best ideals and achievements if we have the courage to act together with the power of many hands and collective voices. They remind us of what is important - sacrifice, caring and empathy, dedicated work and harmonious relationships, as we build a society better than the one we inherited as we in turn bequeath a fitting legacy to our progeny. The many voices expressing their emotions at the President's electoral success were motivated by the President’s singular voice as he outlined a new path for our nation in many of his speeches and most certainly by his own poem on voices reproduced below, titled “One Voice.”

About the Author

Dr. Michael Ralph Sr. is a senior university executive at Southern University and its campuses, located in the State of Louisiana. Previous to his current assignments, Dr. Ralph has held many senior positions in higher education. These include, President of the Leadership & Empowerment Center – A higher education leadership organization where his responsibilities included strategic planning for higher education, university-industry research initiatives, grant proposal preparation, procurement and contracts development and the preparation of colleges and universities for accreditation and re-accreditation. He has also served with distinction as an Associate Vice Chancellor for Research and Program Development at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University (NCA&T). Dr. Ralph earned a Ph.D. from New York University, his Masters degree from University of British Columbia, in Vancouver Canada and his Baccalaureate degree from the University of the West Indies. He is the author of the books - Empowering Choices! Infinite Possibilities! ©2001, and booklet The Leadership Matrix. ©2000. These publications have received extremely favorable reviews. Additionally, he has authored many scholarly papers in his field and is a frequent panelist and keynote speaker at professional conferences and meetings. As a frequent presenter at the Society for College and University Planning. Dr. Ralph was invited by this national organization to present a paper on “How Colleges and Universities may Plan in the Future to Mitigate the effects of large scale Disasters,” at the organization’s 41st conference in July 2006. In 2008, Dr. Ralph received and accepted the singular honor of being invited by a national organization for university planning and other affiliate organizations, to serve as the inaugural President and lead the International Organization for Disaster and Emergency Preparation for Colleges and Universities. Among his hobbies is playing the piano, writing poetry, other non-fiction books and articles. He is also a member of Toastmasters International Club and enjoys public speaking and poetry reading. In January 2009, Dr. Ralph participated in a Bicentennial tribute to President Abraham Lincoln hosted by The National League of American Pen Women, in Washington D.C. He was given the high honor of serving as one of the readers of Lincoln’s of Lincoln’s second inaugural address. On January 17, 2009, Dr. Ralph accepted the honor of doing a dramatic reading of Abraham Lincoln’s second inaugural address on the Occasion of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Celebration. This event was hosted by National league of American Pen Women Inc, at the historic Pen Arts building at 1300, 17th Street, NW, Washington D.C. Dr. Ralph’s reading received a standing ovation, praise and acclaim for passion in delivery and the oratorical skills demonstrated. Dr. Ralph was presented with the League’s coveted certificate of appreciation and a cash award for a deserving student of the University System.