Dr. Chuck Radis, Author

John Jenkins, Mayor of Maine 

John Jenkins led an extraordinary life as Maine’s first Black state senator, mayor of Lewiston and Auburn, and 5-time world champion in martial arts. Through his unique brand of inspirational Pep Talk sessions with women’s groups, cancer survivors, and school children, Jenkins came to be one of Maine’s most popular and beloved figures while transforming those he touched. Who would have predicted that Jenkins’ dream would bring him to Bates College in Lewiston, Maine, a state with the lowest percentage of minorities in the nation? It was at Bates College that John Jenkins came under the mentorship of Bates alum, Benjamin Mays, who had delivered Reverend Martin Luther King’s eulogy, and was a prominent figure in the civil rights movement. It was in Maine that John Jenkins set down roots, made life-long friendships, and successfully ran for office. Come listen to Dr. Chuck Radis, Author of John Jenkins, Mayor of Maine, speak about his lifelong friend.