Living Your Truth is a series of conversations with those on the front lines, who bravely and gracefully live the truth of their hearts within their formidable lives. Hosted by the Social Justice Racial Equity Collaborative Council, and convened by The Sophia Institute, it is our hope their words inspire and challenge each of us to find our own truths. Listen to them speak personally and passionately about their work for social justice, racial equity, and transformative change.

Speakers: Senator Marlon Kimpson and Representative Peter McCoy

Senator Marlon Kimpson                  Representative Peter McCoy

Senator Marlon Kimpson has dedicated much of his life to fighting for those who have been wronged by corporations and organizations that put profits over people. As a partner with Motley Rice LLC, Kimpson has represented a variety of clients in civil litigation including personal injury and wrongful death victims, families devastated by air crash accidents, and pension funds in securities litigation. In addition to his law practice, Kimpson was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in the general election on October 1, 2013 securing 80% of the vote and recently re-elected on June 14, 2016 securing 80% of the vote once again. Kimpson has been appointed to serve on the Corrections and Penology, Judiciary, Medical Affairs, Rules and Transportation Committees.

After his first year in 2014, Kimpson received an Honorable Mention on the list of the most powerful and influential Democrats in the South Carolina Senate. He was also awarded the Academic Freedom Award by the South Carolina Library Association and Senator of the Year by the Charleston Hospitality Association. In 2017, Kimpson received the Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. Soaring Eagle Award by the American Association of Justice.

During his second year in 2015, Kimpson was a primary sponsor of the body camera bill, as South Carolina became the first state in the nation to mandate the use of body-worn cameras by law enforcement statewide. As the resident Senator for Mother Emanuel AME Church, Kimpson was a sponsor and one of the floor leaders of the bill that removed the Confederate flag from the S.C. State House grounds. After years of trying by numerous legislators, Kimpson successfully persuaded his colleagues to add an earned-income tax credit for working families to the S.C. roads bill.

Kimpson is active in the community serving as a lifetime member of the NAACP, member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Incorporated and the Sigma Pi Phi Boulé. He is a member of Morris Brown AME in downtown Charleston.

Kimpson graduated from Morehouse College and received his J.D. from the University South Carolina School of Law. He is married to Kimberlyn Davis Kimpson and they have two young children, Marleigh and Marlon Davis.

Representative Peter McCoy’s, legal background has given him the experience and knowledge needed to vigorously defend the rights of his clients in all courts in South Carolina. Whether it is a criminal defense case, DUI, family law matter, or a personal injury case, Peter McCoy is prepared to handle all the needs of his clients. During law school, Peter clerked for the Ninth Circuit Solicitor’s Office during his summer and winter breaks from school. After graduation, he was hired as an Assistant Solicitor for the Ninth Circuit by Solicitor Ralph Hoisington.

After spending more than five years as a criminal prosecutor, Peter has handled thousands of drug, drug trafficking, murder, manslaughter, armed robbery, white collar, DUI, and felony DUI crimes in Charleston County. He started off his work as a prosecutor by being the lead DUI prosecutor for Charleston County. In this capacity, he prosecuted countless DUI and Felony DUI cases throughout the Ninth Circuit. For his remaining tenure as a criminal prosecutor, Peter handled violent, gun, and drug crimes. He has extensive court room experience having handled numerous jury trials for some of the most serious crimes in Charleston County. In 2010, when Peter was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives he left the Solicitor’s Office and opened up his own firm.

Since entering private practice, Peter has practiced extensively in Magistrate, Municipal, General Sessions, Common Pleas, and Federal District Court handling cases that range from speeding tickets, to serious criminal felony charges, to numerous civil disputes ranging from car accidents to libel/slander defamation suits. In September 2011, Peter and Joshua P. Stokes merged their individual practices to form McCoy & Stokes, LLC. In April 2013, Peter was one of seven lawyers throughout South Carolina selected as a 2013 Super Lawyers Rising Star in the practice area of Criminal Defense Law. Mr. McCoy also holds the highest peer-reviewed, professional rating (“AV Preeminent“) available from Martindale-Hubbell reflecting a combination of “Very High General Ethical Standards” and overall “Legal Ability”.

Peter’s years at the Solicitor’s office coupled with his service as an elected official have earned him the reputation as a honest, fair, and hard working trial lawyer. He has been awarded the Key to the Town of James Island, he sits on the advisory board to the Save the Morris Island Lighthouse, and is a regular lecturer at the College of Charleston, the Citadel, and Trident Technical College on the topics of Criminal Law and Local Politics.

Having come from a long line of attorneys who have served South Carolina in the Legislative and Judicial branches of State Government, Peter has a deep commitment to the people of the State of South Carolina. Peter and his law firm look forward to helping with you with all of your legal concerns and needs.

Moderated by Madeleine McGee   

Madeleine has served South Carolina’s nonprofit community for more than 30 years. She’s led start-ups like the downtown revitalization program in Georgetown, SC, as well as established nonprofits like Coastal Community Foundation of SC that she ran for 10 years.

A fierce believer in the power of collaborative partnerships and a committed community advocate, Madeleine has also provided consulting services and worked for both local and state governments.

Since her appointment as president of Together SC in 2011, Madeleine has helped build South Carolina’s network of “Allies for Good” to effectively serve more than 800 member organizations and the state’s entire nonprofit sector.

Fueled by her lifelong passion for the work of South Carolina’s nonprofit community, she works closely with Together SC’s board of directors to provide services that strengthen the sector and the communities they serve.

Madeleine received her bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Virginia. She’s helped build Habitat houses and is a Big Sister with the Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring program. Madeleine is a native Charlestonian, a SC Liberty Fellow and served on the Town Council for Sullivan’s Island, where she resides with her husband, Bunky Wichmann, three amazing children, and two Boykin Spaniels.

This is a tuition free event.  Registration is requested for planning purposes.

PARKING:  There are two parking garages near Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church that have hourly rates.  They are located at 69 Wentworth Street and 34 St. Phillip Street.