By Blake Deshazo

The Selma Times-Journal

Q Commons, an inspirational conference that offers people a chance to listen to speakers from various backgrounds, will be held in Selma Thursday night at the St. James Hotel from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Selma is one of 65 cities across the United States that will participate in the conference.

“I think the closer it gets, the more I realize that it’s really happening,” said Mike Lewis, who organized the event. “I’ve looked forward to it for so long. I just believe it is going to be a great event for our town. I think it comes at a perfect time with what’s going on in Selma.”

With just one day left until the conference, Lewis is taking time to spread the word about Q Commons Selma.

“We’re using the [last couple of days] to get the word out to as many people as possible and invite as many people as possible,” Lewis said. “We’re just continuing to do call and emails along with social media to get the word out as much as possible.”

While telling people about Q Commons, Lewis has sparked curiosity and an interest in people that are planning to attend.

“As I tell them more about it and introduce the concept, they really like it,” Lewis said. “As they have checked it out online, they have become really excited about it and are looking forward to it. I think once they actually experience it for themselves, they will want to participate in future Q Commons events.”

Set to speak in person at Selma’s Q Commons event are Paul Garnes, executive producer of “Selma,” Justin Averette, editor of The Selma Times-Journal, and Dane Shaw, executive director of the Fatherhood Initiative of Dallas County and acting president of Arsenal Place Business Accelerator.

“It is one thing to read a book or to see a movie, but it is quite different when you can actually hear from the author of the book or the person who had a part in producing or presenting the movie,” Lewis said. “It is kind of like going to the primary source and hearing from the people themselves.”

People that attend will also hear from national speakers Malcolm Gladwell, a New York Times Bestselling Author; Soledad O’Brien, a nationally renowned broadcast journalist; and Mark Burnett, a television producer.

Tickets can be purchased online at www.qcommons.com/Selma.

Individual tickets are $29, while couple tickets are $24.50. A second Q Commons event for Selma is being planned for Sept. 2. More details will be published in future editions.