Callen Woodard is a Birmingham-based attorney and two-time graduate of the University of Alabama. Her commitment to mentorship was shaped in part by her work in the University of Alabama School of Law's Children's Rights Clinic, where she advocated for children with disabilities in West Alabama. She continues that commitment through volunteer work with Distinguished Young Women and the American Legion Auxiliary's Alabama Girls State, where she works to create pathways for young people to grow as leaders and engaged members of their communities. She currently serves as a law clerk to the Honorable R. David Proctor on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. In September, Callen will join Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP in Birmingham as a Banking & Financial Services Associate.
Dalis Lampkins is a higher education professional and community engagement advocate dedicated to student success, civic participation, and service-learning. As a first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about creating opportunities for students to develop as leaders and engaged citizens. Her work spans mentorship, policy advocacy, literacy initiatives, and nonprofit leadership, including service with Make-A-Wish Alabama and numerous community-based programs. Through her research and practice, Dalis focuses on fostering meaningful community partnerships and empowering individuals to create positive social change.
In a few sentences, how would you explain Turning the Page Together to someone who has never heard of it?
Turning the Page Together is much more than a book club. It is a space where girls in juvenile detention can experience connection, encouragement, and the opportunity to see themselves in a different light. Through books, discussion, and mentorship, we help participants explore their own stories, reflect on their experiences, and imagine new possibilities for their futures. At its heart, the program is about reminding young women that they are more than the circumstances that brought them there and that there are people in their community who care about them and believe in their potential.
How have community partnerships—such as with The House Tuscaloosa or Blackburn Fellows—strengthened the program?
The program would not exist without strong community partnerships. Organizations like The House Tuscaloosa and the Blackburn Institute have provided not only resources and support but also people who are willing to show up consistently for these young women. Every volunteer, mentor, and community partner helps communicate an important message: these girls matter and that their community has not forgotten them. Those partnerships allow us to create meaningful experiences and ensure that participants interact with caring adults who are invested in their success.
Can you share a moment from the book club that stayed with you?
The moments that stay with us most are not a single conversation but a pattern we see every time we visit. The girls are incredibly appreciative that we come. Many of them tell us how much they look forward to book club because we are the only outside program that regularly visits them. Something as simple as bringing books, having discussions, and spending time together can mean so much when your world has become very small.
There are times when they repeatedly say at the end of a session that they never thought people from the community would want to spend time with them. It was a heartbreaking reminder of how isolated many of these young women feel, but it was also a powerful reminder of why this work matters. The books are important, but often what participants remember most is that someone showed up, listened, and treated them with dignity and respect.
In a sentence or two, how does this Howell Heflin–funded project grow out of your earlier Blackburn-funded work?
The Howell Heflin-funded project is a direct continuation of work that began through support from the Blackburn Institute. The Blackburn funding allowed us to pilot the program, build partnerships, and see firsthand the impact that consistent mentorship and literacy engagement
could have. The Howell Heflin support allows us to take what we have learned and bring those opportunities to even more young women across Alabama.
How does seeing a project grow over time reshape how you think about leadership and impact?
Seeing the project grow has taught us that leadership is often less about creating something and more about sustaining it. Real impact comes from showing up consistently, building trust, and creating opportunities for others to become involved. Watching the program expand from an idea into something that has touched the lives of dozens of young women has reminded us that meaningful change is usually the result of many people making small, intentional investments over time.
What has this work taught you—personally or professionally—that you didn’t expect?
This work has taught us how powerful simple acts of presence can be. We expected books and discussion to matter, but we did not fully appreciate how much it would mean for participants to know that people from outside the facility cared enough to return month after month. Personally, it has deepened our belief in the importance of human connection and second chances.
Professionally, it has reinforced that community engagement is most effective when it is rooted in relationships, consistency, and a genuine willingness to listen. Some of the girls we meet have experienced significant challenges, yet they continue to show incredible resilience, humor, and hope. They have taught us as much as we could ever hope to teach them.