The Leadership Jackson Alumni Association (LJAA) presented Darkness to Light: Stewards of Children “An Evening with Marilyn Van Derbur” to educate West Tennesseans on the prevention of child sexual abuse on September 28 at Union University’s Carl Grant Events Center.

Emily St. John Mandel is the author of the critically acclaimed novel “Station Eleven,” a finalist for the 2014 National Book Award. Mandel is the author of three previous novels—“Last Night in Montreal,” “The Singer’s Gun,” and “The Lola Quartet”—all of which were Indie Next picks.

John Carter Cash, having been involved in music all of his life, is an accomplished and award-winning record producer. However, his activities in the creative world reach far beyond music production. He is also a singer-songwriter and author. The grandson of Maybelle Carter and the only son of John R. Cash and June Carter Cash, he preserves the family legacy and is a caretaker to the heritage of his musical ancestors.

Dorothea Benton Frank is a “New York Times” bestselling author, public speaker and a nonprofit fundraiser. Frank and her four siblings were born and raised on Sullivans Island, South Carolina.

Her first novel, “Sullivans Island,” debuted on the “New York Times” list at number nine and went back to press over twenty-five times, has well over one million copies in print and may be found in ten foreign languages.