31 Mar 2022 Person of the Month: Dushun L. Scarbrough Sr.
FAMILY:
I recently celebrated 18 years of marriage to the lovely Angela Scarbrough. We share three children, DuShun Jr., Kennedy, and Braxton Scarbrough.
Education:
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, Master of Business Administration from Webster University in Orlando, Fla., and a Master of Counselor Education degree from Florida A&M University, Juris Doctorate from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School. Class of 2011 recipient of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Driving Government Performance and Class of 2014 recipient of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government’s Leaders of the 21st Century Certification, member of the Delta Regional Authority Leadership class of 2013.
Work:
Executive Director of the Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission.
Professional accomplishments:
2012, 2014 nominee, 2015 finalist for Arkansas State Employee of the Year; 2017 Silent Hero finalist, National Award for Government Employees; 2018 Drum Major for Leadership Award, U.S. Department of Education; “Best Dad” Award from Children. I currently serve on several boards whose objectives and missions are to improve the lives of young people. I have varied experience in organizational management and capacity building, leadership, and promoting diversity. I also lead internal contract and expense audits and organize extensive financial reports into concise overviews to present to the Legislative Audit. My strategic recommendations have been praised as “a vital component of the agency’s fiscal health.”
Community/church activities:
Dr. King spent his final months planning to launch a Poor People’s Campaign to address economic disparities. That inspired me to target the needs of economically disadvantaged communities. We hosted food giveaways during the holiday season.
When we talk about service and Dr. King, we want to make sure that we are also working to serve the basic needs of individuals, which may be merely a meal or access to health care. The Commission provided free vaccine clinics for the unsheltered population in downtown Little Rock and in Dumas (Desha County).
Our work is important because it is demonstrative of taking steps toward change. At some point, like Dr. King preached in his iconic “I Have A Dream” speech, we must put the future in perspective and think about the type of world our children will live in. Since 2012, under my leadership, the commission has initiated and garnered the participation of Arkansans from across the state to assist in healing race relations in Harrison. It’s important that Arkansas is reflected as a welcoming state for economic development.
What goals does the commission have for this year?
One focal point is to address violence within the city of Little Rock and other cities throughout the state that have experienced an uptick. These concerns will be addressed through educational outreach in the impacted communities.
What role does faith play in your work?
I believe that my vision and work is God-ordained, and I’m on an assignment. The golden rule of being blessed is that you must pass it on. Dr. King’s life and teachings focused on serving others. He believed that you could never be fully fulfilled without a life of service. In fact, one of his most famous quotes is, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
The Arkansas Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission is a nonpartisan agency that aligns with the mission and vision of the governor of Arkansas. Under my leadership, we host the largest day of service in the nation honoring the life and legacy of Dr. King. We have been lauded by Dr. Bernice A. King, daughter of Dr. King, and Coretta Scott King as the most active Commission. We’ve been asked to use our knowledge and expertise in assisting other commissions across the nation in becoming sustainable and active. The commission also sponsors the King license plate, making Arkansas one of five states in the nation to have a plate dedicated to the late civil rights leader and nonviolence champion.
