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![TMCNet: 50 Women of Excellence [New Pittsburgh Courier (PA)]](http://images.tmcnet.com/siteart/invisible.gif)
50 Women of Excellence [New Pittsburgh Courier (PA)]
(New Pittsburgh Courier (PA) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Education DARA WARE ALLEN, PhD Executive Director YouthWorks Inc.
From leading a youth workforce development agency and a federal college access program to serving on the Pittsburgh Public School Board, Dara Ware Allen's career has focused on providing services to connect the region's vulnerable populations to mainstream opportunities. As the Executive Director of YouthWorks, a program that develops career potential of the city's youth, she has served as regional job placement coordinator and program manager during her 12-year tenure with the organization. Allen, a founding member of the Urban League Young Professionals of Pittsburgh, is a graduate of Spelman College and holds a PhD in Workforce Development from Pennsylvania State University. She is married to Gregory Allen and the mother of two boys, six-year-old Evan and four-year-old Micah.
Health Care JERRY ANN ALLEN Executive Director Allen Place Community Services Inc.
Jerry Ann Allen's passion for nursing and patient care urged her to found her own personal care home and a health care consulting firm. She created Allen Place Personal Care Homes and Allen Place Management Resources in the late 1990s, after 38 years in the nursing field. In 2009 she cofounded Allen Place Community Services Inc. with her husband, Milton Allen. The organization provides health and wellness programs to North Side seniors and is located in the former Chatham Elementary School. Allen works with several community organizations, including the Kane Foundation and African American Women for Political Change. She is a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church, Chi Eta Phi Nursing Sorority Kappa Chapter, among several other organizations. The El Campo, Texas, native holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texas Woman's University and a Master of Public Management with a concentration in health systems management from Carnegie Mellon University. She holds certificates from Robert Morris University and Mercy Parish Nurse Program. She is a graduate of Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Civic Leadership Academy 2010. She and husband, Milton Allen, are parents of Adrian and Alicia, and grandparents of Ayden and Gavin.
Education ELAYNE ARRINGTON, PhD Assistant Professor, Dept. of Mathematics University of Pittsburgh Elayne Arrington, PhD, who was the 17th Black woman in the United States to earn a PhD in Mathematics in 1974, is proud of the strides she sees young women make every day as a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Pittsburgh. The National Merit Scholar, who earned the second highest SAT Score in mathematics the year she graduated from Homestead Senior High School, was awarded numerous scholarships and had the best academic record the year she entered the University of Pittsburgh's School of Engineering. However, she was denied a full scholarship sponsored by Mesta Machine Company because the organization refused to give the award to a woman. Despite the slight, Arrington went on to become the Engineering School's first Black Female Graduate, earning a degree in Aeronautical Engineering. During her career she has held positions with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base's Foreign Technology Division as an intelligence analyst and as a consultant. Arrington is author of several papers, has studied at Oxford University in England and the University of Salzburg in Austria, and was profiled by Princeton University for a publication on women in mathematics. She sits on several boards, including the Community College of Allegheny County Board of Trustees, the Allegheny Union Baptist Association board. She has been recognized by The Steel Valley Chamber of Commerce as an outstanding citizen and was appointed dean of the Pennsylvania Baptist State Congress of Christian Education. She is a member of Morning Star Baptist Church. After earning a Master of Science in Mathematics from the University of Dayton and a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Cincinnati in 1974, Arrington has been employed full-time at the University of Pittsburgh's mathematics department.
Social Service JARENE BARNES Placement Officer Bidwell Training Center Inc.
Aa an advocate and community activist, Jarene Barnes understands her duties to speak up for children when they need assistance most. For the past two decades Barnes has worked in the educational, nonprofit and advocacy sectors to benefit women, children, victims of violence and others in need of a helping hand. As vice president of the board of directors for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Allegheny County, it is Barnes' job to ensure that abused and neglected children have someone working solely in their interest throughout the judicial process. She has served as a member of the National Court Appointed Special Advocate Programs African American Advisory Committee and on the Native American Tribal Advisory committee. She was also a grant reviewer for the NCASA in Seattle. She is also a freelance writer who contributes to the Onyx Woman Network, a magazine and online media outlet encouraging entrepreneurship, financial empowerment and professional development for Black women. She is currently employed with Bidwell Training Inc. (a subsidiary of Manchester Bidwell Corp.), as a placement officer for medical programs. The Pittsburgh native is a graduate of Carlow University, where she majored in Business and Communications. She is also an alumni of the CORO's Women in Leadership Program. Barnes is in the process of starting a nonprofit organization that focuses on caregivers.
Community Service TiANDA BLOUNT Executive Vice President MeI Blount Youth Home TiAnda Blount, executive vice president of the MeI Blount Youth Home, leads an organization that has helped hundreds of disadvantaged young people in the area. The Schenley High School graduate attended Spelman College in Atlanta and later received an associate degree from Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics and continued her education at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla., where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Aviation Business Administration. Blount was employed as a flight attendant for US Airways for 15 years. Her community service includes serving on the board of directors for the Negro Emergency Educational Drive, as event chair for the NEED Annual Scholarship Dinner and serving on the board of trustees of the Linsly School in Wheeling, W.Va. She is an active member of Central Baptist Church in the Hill District and serves diligently with the Women's Ministry, Bible study and facilitator with S.A.L.T. Ministry. Blount, wife of Pittsburgh Steelers great Mel Blount, is mother of three sons, Akil, Jibri and Khalid.
Social/Community Service NANCY TRAVIS BOLDEN Retired Social Worker Retired social worker and community activist Nancy Travis Bolden has held several positions designed to help those seeking social service in the region. The Monticello, Ky., native holds a Bachelor of Science from Central State University, a Master of Arts in Social Administration from Ohio State University and certification for Secondary School Administration from Duquesne University. She served as a program director for the YWCA in several cities and was also a member of the Pittsburgh Board of Public Education from 1961-1992. In the past, she has worked with the Allegheny County Council Camp Fire Girls, the Children's Lobby of Western PA and the Allegheny Children and Youth Service Council, to name a few. Her current affiliations include working with the Senator John Heinz History Center's African American Advisory Committee, the PA Association of School Retirees and the Frank E. Bolden Scholarship Committee, among several others. She was recently appointed to Central State University's Alumni Hall of Fame. She is a member of the Church of the Redeemer.
2012 Legacy Honoree JEAN BRYANT Retired Journalist, Teen Pageant Founder Career journalist and community leader Jean Bryant is responsible for making the Miss Black Teenage Pageant a Pittsburgh tradition since 1973. A native of Roselle, N.J., Bryant was a news reporter for the New Jersey Afro-American Newspaper before moving on to the Pittsburgh Press in 1972. After staying with the Press for 20 years she worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette until her retirement in 1999. During the middle of her career she established the Miss Black Teenage Pageant, an eightweek pageant and self-improvement program for teenage girls. The program assisted 1,831 young women and raised almost $500,000 in educational scholarships (including tuition free scholarships to Clarion University) before it ended in 2008. In 1993, Bryant founded the Mister African American pageant as an anti-violence initiative for young men. The program benefited about 200 young men before ending in 2003. She has received several professional awards, including the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000 and its Legends in Journalism Award in 2007. She has also received awards from Black Extravaganza, WAMO and has a Golden Quill Award for Distinguished Achievement in Journalism. Essence Magazine, the New Pittsburgh Courier, the NAACP and others have recognized her community service efforts. Bryant belongs to Macedonia Baptist Church in the Hill District and is a mother of three sons: Crawford, Stephen and Charles.
Community Service JEANNE V. CRICHLOW Director of Volunteer & Community Services UPMC Mercy Jeanne V. Crichlow, director of volunteer and community services at UPMC Mercy, oversees a staff of volunteers while also serving as the hospital's community representative in Uptown, the Hill District and the South Side neighborhoods. Born on the island of Tobago, Crichlow moved to Pittsburgh as an infant and graduated from Robert Morris University with a Bachelor of Science in business management. She earned a Master of Business Administration in management and marketing from Duquesne University, where she is a distinguished alumna. Her past duties include working in several capacities for Highmark and working at Mercy Hospital prior to its merger with UPMC. Crichlow is a lifetime member of The Church of the Holy Cross, where she is an usher and the Graduation Sunday coordinator. She is also a board member of Uptown Partners of Pittsburgh and a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association. In her spare time she is also an avid steel drum player with the Caribbean Vibes Steelband. She is a monthly donor to the Functional Literacy Ministry of Haiti.
Communications/Dental JUDITH M. DAVENPORT, DMD Retired Dentist As co-founder and director of Sheridan Broadcasting Corporation, Judith M. Davenport, DMD, brought Pittsburgh's Black community the music and information most relevant to them for decades. Sheridan, the only Blackowned and operated radio network in America, holds the American Urban Radio Network, which has close to 400 affiliates across the country. The former dentist earned an undergraduate degree from The Pennsylvania State University and a master's degree in public health from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health. Davenport has received several professional honors, including being named to the Washington Regional Selection committee for the President's Commission on White House Fellowships in 1994. She serves on numerous boards, including the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, the board of visitors of the Harvard Arts Museums and the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, to name a few. She is a director of the Heinz Endowments, a Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania and has received several accolades as an alumnus of the Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Juvenile Rehabilitation LYNETTE DRAWN-WILLIAMSON Deputy Director Shuman Center Lynette Drawn-Williamson, deputy director of Shuman Juvenile Detention Center, believes the original purpose of juvenile corrections is rehabilitation as opposed to mundane punishment. She has a special interest in engaging residents through education and arts and is working to provide tools to support those efforts. In the past she has held several positions at Shuman including child care worker, supervisor and training manager, to name a few. Drawn-Williamson is also a competency based trainer who conducts workshops for Children, Youth and Family Caseworkers, is a Quality Service Reviewer, a portfolio advisor and a trainer for Family Development Credentialing. She is also a member of the Juvenile Detention Centers Association of Pennsylvania. Her community service commitments include serving as a commissioner with the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations and serving on advisory boards for the MGR Foundation and the Heinz Endowments for African-American Men and Boys. She is also a longtime member of the Kiwanis Club of East Liberty. She is a member of St. Paul Baptist Church Pittsburgh, where she is a deaconess. She and her husband, Robert, are the parents of two: Robert Jr. and Shealyn.
Education BARBARA EVANS, EdD Associate Dean of Academic Affairs CCAC (West Mifflin) Barbara Evans has been advocating on behalf of young people in the education arena for more than two decades. She began her career in the Pittsburgh Public School District and later received a Lilly Endowment Fellowship to pursue her doctorate degree at the University of Pittsburgh. She worked as a research assistant at the Learning Research and Development Center and later as an assistant dean at Pitt's Graduate School of Public Health. Today, as Community College of Allegheny County's associate dean of academic affairs, Evans established CCAC's first "Ethnic Relations: Service Learning in Jamaica'' course that included a one week community service component in Jamaica over the Thanksgiving break last year. She has also served as project director of the "One College, One Community" initiative and the National Endowment of the Arts' Big Read program and reached out to 17 partners ranging from schools and libraries to correctional institutions to promote literacy. Her efforts have been recognized with CCAC's Vanguard Diversity Award and the Go The Extra Mile Award. She was also a 2009 Leadership Development Institute Scholar for the National Council on Black American Affairs. She is a member of SPRING Community Engagement Network and is on the boards of Amizade, a non-profit global service learning organization and the Pennsylvania Council for International Education. She belongs to Mt. Ararat Baptist Church in the East End and The Pittsburgh Gospel Choir. She holds a Doctor of Education degree in policy, planning and evaluation and a Master of Arts in teaching from the University of Pittsburgh.
Health Care CHERYL SQUIRE FLINT Executive Director Healthy Start Inc.
As executive director for Healthy Start of Western Pennsylvania, Cheryl Squire Flint has guided the organization to a period of unprecedented growth and visibility. During her 17-year career she has expanded core outreach programs and oversaw collaboration with the Western Psychiatric Institute's Women's Behavioral Health CARE, which was designed to identify barriers to treating perinatal depression. She also integrated an electronic records system for home visits, telehealth monitors for patients to manage chronic illnesses, the Infant Massage program and increased the number of agencies and federal health centers throughout the region, among many other accomplishments. She was a presenter for the Waynesburg University Nursing Program on infant mortality and health disparities, and has raised funds for AIDS awareness locally and for the Open Arms Orphanage in Malawi. In 2012, she was elected vice president of Healthy Start's national organization. She is co-author of several published works, including, "An Emerging Best Practice Model for Perinatal Depression Care," which was selected by the Psychiatric Services journal, and "Community-based Perinatal Depression Services for African-American Women: The Healthy Start Model," which appeared in the Journal of Social Work and Public Health.
Social Service KAREN L. FLORENCE Program Director T.RA.I.L.S. Ministries Inc.
Karen L. Florence, a program director at T.R.A.I.L.S. Ministries Inc., has recently expanded her work with individuals stuck in the cycle of addiction to the children who are left to deal with life without parents. She has worked at Gateway Rehabilitation Center's Beaver County Jail Treatment Programs for more than 10 years and has been at Gateway for 23 years. In 2001, Florence began working in her position parttime, venturing out to do private practice work, consultation and training in the public and private sectors. Her experience is working with youth and adults who have issues leading to their involvement in the Criminal Justice System. She has an extensive background in chemical dependency issues and their effects on families, particularly children. Her most recent works have been with AMACHI, a program for children who have a parent/parents incarcerated. Florence works as a supervisor with the AMACHI Program through T.R.A.I.L.S. Ministries and conducts training on a vast array of topics. She continues to upgrade her knowledge and supervision skills by attending all required and additional advanced trainings. Florence's nearly twenty years of experience in the field has allowed her to impact clients and staff through the innovative specialized programs she has developed and implemented.
Social Service LISA M. FORD, MSW, LSW Senior Vice President of TECD & Quality Improvement A Second Chance, Inc.
Lisa Ford, a practicing social worker for the past 23 years, applies her skills in clinical services, group facilitation, training and more to her position as a senior vice president at A Second Chance Inc. In the past, Ford has held positions of senior vice president of child and family services, vice president and senior director of clinical and pharmacy services with the organization. She started with A Second Chance in 2005 and worked with the Allegheny County Department of Human Services Office of Children Youth and Families as a regional office director prior to joining the organization. She is also a trainer for the PA Child Welfare Resource Center an organization that trains new and existing child welfare professionals. She is also an adjunct faculty member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work and Community College of Allegheny County. Ford holds an undergraduate degree in psychology and a Master of Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh, and is working toward her PhD in leadership administration in the nonprofit and public sector at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She belongs to several organizations, including the National Association of Social Workers Pennsylvania Chapter, the Association of Black Social Workers Pittsburgh Chapter and the Black Administrators of Child Welfare and National Forum on Black Public Administrators, to name a few. She has also received numerous awards, including the Executive of the Year and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Pittsburgh College of General Studies. She is member of Mt. Ararat Baptist Church and a proud mother.
Employment LISA MICHELLE GARLAND, MBA University Relations Recruiter Highmark, Inc.
Lisa Michelle Garland, university relations recruiter at Highmark Inc, works to help the next generation entering the workforce find their way to one of the region's largest employers. With more than 10 years of human resources experience, Garland specializes in end to end recruitment, campus recruitment, project management, retention and diversity practices, legal compliance, and executive support and negotiations. She has also mentored and coached team members on career development. Additionally, she also provides ongoing career transition services through one-on-one coaching, group workshops, and educational seminars at colleges and universities and nonprofit organizations. Garland is vice president of administration for the National Black MBA Association Pittsburgh Chapter and chair for the marketing committee for the Black Network business resource group at Highmark. She also serves as a member of the board of trustees for the Western Pennsylvania Family Services organization and is a member of the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association and the Boy Scouts of America local chapter. She holds a bachelor's and master's degree in business administration from Point Park University and is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh Leadership Development Initiative. She is married with two children.
Health Care LOVETTA FORD, MSW Acting Deputy Director VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System As acting deputy director of VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Lovetta Ford is stepping up from her regular duties to help lead operations of the primary source of care for the region's veterans. Ford has been serving as acting deputy director since February but will return to her position as an associate director once the term is complete. As the associate director she is responsible for oversight of all operations at a major medical facility, this includes regulation of a $550 million budget and management of 3100 federal employees. Prior to this appointment, Ford was the behavioral health manager and homeless program coordinator for VA Healthcare-VISN 4 for six years. She began her career at what was then known as Highland Drive VA Medical Center as a clinical social worker, and has held numerous clinical and supervisory positions at VAPHS, including social work director. Ford holds a bachelor's and master's degree in social work from West Virginia University. She also earned a post-master's certification in marital and family therapy from the University of Pittsburgh. Ford prides herself with having a strong commitment to excellence and giving everything she does 100 percent. During her free time, Ford enjoys traveling, sports, spending time with her family and motorcycles Community Service CHERYL HALL-RUSSELL President & CEO Hill House With a mother and grandmother both dedicated to non-profit careers, Cheryl Hall-Russell was a natural choice for president and CEO of the Hill House Association and Hill House Economic Development Corporation. A graduate of Indiana University Purdue University at Indianapolis, Hall-Russell holds a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts, a Master of Public Affairs with a nonprofit management concentration, and a Master of Arts in philanthropic studies. Before joining the Hill House Association, Hall-Russell was CEO of the Indiana Youth Services Association, which provides juvenile delinquency prevention, crisis intervention and other services. She has also held past positions as vice president of urban studies at the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis and as a research associate at the Indiana University Center of Philanthropy. She has written several books and articles on philanthropic giving in minority communities and religious institutions and wrote an opinion column for the Indianapolis Star for two years. Her community commitments in Indiana include serving on the Indiana Commission on Childhood Poverty, the Children's Coalition of Indiana, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women Indianapolis Chapter and the Afterschool Coalition. Since coming to Pittsburgh in September, she has joined County Executive Rich Fitzgerald's Economic Development Vision Team, the advisory board for Pittsburgh Today and the board of Urban Innovation 21. Hall-Russell is mother of 19-year old Cameron and 9year old Aida Joy. She attends Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside.
Community Service GINA R. HICKMAN Executive Director Center for Spirituality in 12 Step Recovery, Inc.
It took the catastrophic loss of a son to push Gina R. Hickman toward a life of community activism. The executive director of the Center for Spirituality in 12 Step Recovery started the group Women in Need of God's Support, or WINGS, to provide support to women in local communities who were bearing the burden of similar losses. Forming the group encouraged Hickman to attend school to become a social worker and over the years she began to focus in the area of drug and alcohol rehabilitation. She began her career with the Center for Spirituality in 2004 and was appointed executive director in 2011. Today, she is a mother, wife, grandmother and great-grandmother. She is coming up on 15 years of sobriety.
Community Service ELAINE HARRIS-FULTON Consultant Creative Expression Equals Economic Success As activist, advocate and parent leader, Elaine Harris-Fulton feels that it is a privilege to be able to volunteer in the community. The Westinghouse High School graduate attended Bishop College in Dallas, and Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University in Houston. She is also a graduate of the Education Policy and Leadership Center's Institute for Community Leadership in Education program, a graduate of I Lead Train ing and is a parent ambassador. She is currently a consultant at the University of Pittsburgh's Office of Child Development and a parent representative for Carnegie Mellon University's Fitwis Program She has rallied parent and organizational support to create several community programs in Wilkinsburg, including, In Search of Enrichment Through Empowerment and Knowledge, Welfare Advocate Asserting Your Rights, and Politics and Advocacy and Community Service. Her efforts have been recognized with the Family Support Principle Award, the Governor's Western Regional Volunteer Award, the National Association of Women Business Owners and the Education Policy and Leadership Center. She is a proud mother of three children, Robert, Ciana and Elaine and is the grandmother of Robert IV. She is also a mentor to four teenage girls.
Business/Sports Writing DIANE R. HUGHLEY Procurement Administrator Alcoa, Inc.
As the first woman and first African-American to earn a Master of Science in sports leadership degree from Duquesne University, Diane R. Hughley has raised the bar for all who aspire toward careers in sports, regardless of color or gender. A contributing writer to the Soul Pitt Quarterly Magazine, Hughley began writing sports articles for pleasure as a teenager, but eventually narrowed her focus to leadership within professional sports and the best ways to facilitate the quality. In addition to the column, Hughley is also a freelance writer, an editorial consultant, writes business plans for startups and runs the blog Diane's Sports Talk (www.dianessportstalk.com.) Hughley's community service includes mentoring a local high-school girls' basketball team and tutoring adults who are trying to obtain their General Equivalency Diploma. She is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society and the National Media Advisory Committee for the National High School Basketball Association, a non-profit organization headquartered in Chicago. She is currently employed as the administrator for Alcoa's Global Procurement Center of Excellence and the North American Procurement Lead Team. She has received leadership training and certification from CORO Pittsburgh's Women in Leadership program and is pursing a master's in business administration at Duquesne University.
Social Service MICHELLE JACKSON Chief Community Affairs Officer Housing Authority City of Pittsburgh Michelle Jackson's role as Chief Community Affairs Officer of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh puts her in charge of programs designed to help residents help themselves. She oversees the Community Affairs Department and Resident Self-Sufficiency Program and is responsible for implementing cross-departmental initiatives, day-to-day management and staff development, among many other duties. Since joining the Authority in 1989, Jackson has had several highlights, including the establishment of the Authority's Communications Department in 1997. Under her leadership, the department presents the HUD awarded Clean Slate, a drug prevention and education advancement program for the youth of Pittsburgh public housing. She was also instrumental in the development of Clean Slate E3, a nonprofit affiliate of the Housing Authority that provides scholarships, employment and training programs to public housing youth and adults. She also created the Clean Slate program and the Creative Arts Corner audio/video training program. She has previously served on the board for the Big Brothers and Sisters Organization, YouthWorks and Propel Charter School, and currently serves on the board of One Vision One Life and the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communications from Penn State University. Jackson is a life-long member of Macedonia Baptist Church, a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and the Co-Chair of the AfricanAmerican Heritage Day Parade Committee. She has one daughter, Jourdan.
Education SHIRLEY A. JOHNSON Assistant Professor Indiana University of Pennsylvania Shirley A. Johnson, a professor in the Professional Studies in Education Department at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, is proud to say she educates the next generation of educators. In addition to teaching pre-service teachers and supervising elementary and secondary principal interns, Johnson is involved with a number of higher education grants with the Pittsburgh Public School District designed to provide new educational opportunities, starting with fourth grade students. She is involved in another initiative designed to encourage teaching careers among African-Americans and other students of color. She is a coordinator for the Pittsburgh Promise Plus-Heinz Endowment grant, coordinator for the PASSHE Growing Your Own-Future Educators Association Chapters in Pittsburgh Public High Schools grant and an advisory committee member for the Heinz Endowment grant. Johnson has 34 years of experience in public education, including serving positions from special education teacher to high school principal, and has served as an educational consultant for the University of Pittsburgh in urban school districts across the country. Johnson's community involvements include serving in the Missionary Society of the Allegheny Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church-Braddock District. She is first lady, deaconess and serves in several other ministries at First Cambria AMEZ Church in Johnstown. She and her husband, Rev. James E. Johnson, are parents to two daughters, Avanti and Jamiele.
Community Service OLIVIA JONES Retired Executive Director of Homewood-Brushton YMCA & Community Activist An early love of sports led Olivia Jones toward a 39-year career working with urban YMCA branches. Jones, a Braddock native raised in Hazelwood and Homewood, served as Program Director for the Hazelwood YMCA for 13 years and was Executive Director of the Homewood Brushton YMCA for 26 years. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Services and has numerous certifications, including individual/group counseling, case management, performance-based systems, treatment planning and family strengthening programs. She used her education and training to develop and implement programs that focused on education, violence prevention, substance abuse prevention, family support, career development and community outreach. In 2005, with support from numerous foundations, Jones oversaw the creation of a new $5 million, 44,000 sq. ft. facility constructed in HomewoodBrushton. The facility is equipped with a gymnasium, wellness center, dance studio and additional program space that increased the capacity to serve additional youth and families. Under her direction, an average of 4,000 youth and families were served annually. Jones has received 27 awards in recognition of her work with youth and families. She retired from the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh in December. Her past and present community affiliations include the following boards and committees: Gang Prevention Network, Homewood-Brushton Improvement Association, The Center for Family Excellence, East Side Community Collaborative, the Homewood Brushton Community Coalition and the Homewood Children's Village.
Education TONI S. KENDRICK Principal Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8 Pittsburgh public school graduate Toni S. Kendrick has used her passion for the district to strengthen resolve to reach students over the course of a 33-year career. Kendrick received her a Bachelor's of Science from California University, a Master's of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a principal's certificate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has worked as a teacher, Instructional Teacher Leader, counselor, Student Service Specialist for the eastern part of the city, assistance principal, and currently proudly serves as the principal of Pittsburgh Allegheny 6-8. She has served several community organizations, including participation in the Gateway Medical Society annual Health Conference, the Rainbow Kitchen food bank, Project BundleUp, AMACHI, the American Diabetes conference, to name a few. She has been a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated for more than 36 years and currently serves as the sorority's Great Lakes Cluster Coordinator. She is the proud mother of one daughter, and the loving grandmother of four grandchildren.
Government MARGARET L. LANIER Treasurer City of Pittsburgh A Pittsburgh native born and raised in the Hill District, Margaret Lanier has been employed with the city for the past 32 years. The Schenley High School graduate went on to continue her education at Robert Morris College where she majored in Accounting. Lanier began her career with the City of Pittsburgh in 1980 and in 2008 was appointed to the position of Deputy Director / City and School Treasurer. She is the first African-American female to hold this office. Lanier is also a member of the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority Board where she holds the position of Assistant Treasurer and Assistant Secretary. Additionally, Lanier is a committed DiverseCity 365 Taskforce member and received the 2012 Living Legend Honor. As a DiverseCity 365 Taskforce member, Treasurer Lanier chairs various committees and has lead initiatives that inspire an inclusive workforce. Along with her duties as Treasurer, she is a member of the Mayor's Landbank Reserve Task Force and conducts presentations for the Civic Leadership Academy for the City of Pittsburgh, Department of Finance.
Employment Inclusion LISA M. MCBRIDE, PHD Special Assistant to the President of EEEO/University Ombudsperson at California University of PA Lisa M. McBride has worked diligently to promote institutional practices that fosters a climate of inclusion. The St. Louis, Mo., native earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. She holds a Master's of Science and Bachelor's of Science in Criminology from Indiana State University. Since becoming Director of the Office of Social Equity in 2009, she has provided direction in recruiting and has actively sought funding for equity and inclusion initiatives. She is responsible for ensuring the university responds to state and federal reporting and investigative requirements related to affirmative action. She also serves as chair of the President's Commission for the Status of Women as University Title IX Coordinator and Chief Diversity Officer. She began her career as a police officer with the St. Louis Police Department and has held previous positions as Associate Professor of Criminology within the Florida University system. She is certified as a county mediator by the Florida Supreme Court and certified by the State of Florida Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training as a human diversity instructor. McBride is a founding member of Cal U Men United, a mentoring group aimed at improving retention rates for men of color.
Law Enforcement ROBIN M. MUNGO Trooper First Class PA State Trooper Trooper First Class Robin M. Muno has lead the way in forging a new understanding between the region's youth and law enforcement officers. The South Carolina native graduated from high school In Monoroeville before attending Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va., and the University of Pittsburgh. She also enlisted in the U.S. Army Reserve and served eight years. After attending State Police Academy, Mungo reported to Troop C in Punxsutawney for her first assignment as a parole officer. She held positions as a patrol officer in Belle Vernon and a criminal investigator in Uniontown before being chosen as Community Services and Public Information Office for the Pittsburgh Station and as a parttime recruiter. In 2004 she launched the Allegheny County Camp Cadet program, which has graduated 337 young cadets since 2005. She also helped to launch the Northeast Florida Camp Cadet program, assisted the Allegheny County Housing Authority with a Teen Summit hosted in McKees Rocks and started the Pittsburgh Station's Citizen's Police Academy. Her professional awards include the William H. Moore Award for Excellence in 2007, the KDKA Champion Award, the Leading Pittsburgh Award in 2009 and others. She is one of two people selected to appear in a national Weight Watcher's commercial and has appeared on the Dr. Oz show to discuss her weight loss. Mungo and longtime companion Trooper First Class Charles E. Jones Sr. are parents to two children: Charles Jr. and Sharron.
Community Service DENISE L. NORRIS Organizational Leadership & Communications Consultant Corporate Planners, Inc.
A 30-year career in media, marketing and advertising has given Denise L. Norris a distinct advantage in promoting her life's most recent calling: a nonprofit organization dedicated to community service. Norris, who has served as founding president and CEO of Corporate Planners Inc., for the past 10 years, recently launched the "Aspire to go Higher" organization as a vehicle to bring support and ministry to the region's neighborhoods. A strong political activist, Norris was manager of the Obama Campaign's Moon Township office during his historic 2008 run and was Partnership manager for welcome centers and volunteers in 2009 when the G20 Summit was hosted in Pittsburgh. She served as Chairperson of the Greater Pittsburgh Healthy Marriage Coalition from 2005-2007. Norris' community commitments include creating the "City Wide Liturgical Dance Ministry, Confidence in Him" and serving as a Marriage Ministry facilitator with her husband, Rev. Urie Norris Jr. Norris has received professional recognition from companies such as Foote Cone & Belding/Honig Advertising Agency in San Francisco, CBS radio in San Francisco, Infinity Broadcasting/Viacom Communications in Pittsburgh, Western Union Telecommunications, Fox-TV, Pitney Bowes Corporation, among others. She recently obtained her Masters of Science in Organizational Leadership from Robert Morris University. Norris and her husband Urie Il are parents of four children: Vergia, Urie III, Philemon and Nehemiah.
Motivator ROCHELLE OAKS PhD President & CEO The Oaks Group, LLC Rochelle Oaks, President and CEO of The Oaks Group, LLC, is on a mission to help her clients and loved ones tap into their fullest potential. The consultant and conference presenter is author of the pocket guide and training manual, "Maximize the Power Within You!" Using her 20-year background in training, and building organizations and communities, Oaks brings together the principals of education and life-long learning to prepare individuals and teams to succeed. Oaks holds a Doctorate of Information Systems and Communications from Robert Morris University, a Master's degree in Regional Planning from California University, and a Bachelor degree in Human Resources from Geneva College. She is the recipient of numerous awards.
Education CASSANDRA L. ODEN Director, Center for Student Success Robert Morris University Nearly 20 years of supporting the dreams of Robert Morris University students is only the beginning for Cassandra L. Oden. She began her career in 1993 as an Enrollment Manager who recruited and advised adult students in the university's Saturday program. She was appointed as Coordinator of Disabled Student Services and director of the Act 101 program in 1999. As director of the university's Center for Student Success for the past 12 years she oversees undergraduate tutoring and counseling services as well as the 30 Sections of First-year Experience program, the Early Success pre-college program and continues to direct the Act 101 program. Oden's professional honors include the Distinguished Staff Award, the Talk Magazine 2010 Minorities Achievers Award, the Black Student Union Theodore Jones Excellence Award, the Student Government Staff Excellence Award for Commitment to Change, Dedication to Diversity and Passion for People, and the Athletic Appreciation Award. She is a member of Allegheny Center Alliance Church and mother to an adult son.
Education JOELYNN H. PARHAM Principal St. Benedict the Moor School Career educator Joelynn Hunt Parham was called to come out of retirement to lend her expertise to setting up a new Catholic school. Parham started her career in education in southern Virginia after graduating from Norfolk State University in Norfolk, Va. She earned a Master's in Education from William and Mary University and a Master's in Leadership from the University of Pittsburgh. After teaching in the Pittsburgh Public School System Parham began teaching for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh at St. Benedict the Moor School. She eventually became the first Black principal of St. Benedict and was also a substitute administrator at Holy Rosary and a substitute teacher at Thea Bowman Catholic Academy. She has helped to revitalize the former Robert L Vann Elementary School to reopen a new school that is a merger of St. Benedict the Moor and the former St. Agnes Catholic School. The new school opened this year. She has received numerous honors for her accomplishments, including the Golden Apple Award, being named a Mother of Distinction by Jack and Jill of America and being named Who's Who Among American Teachers. She is a Silver Star Soror and life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc and instructor for the Pearl Academy. She is a greeter at St. Benedict the Moor Church and majority clerk of elections in Penn Hills.
Community Service GEORGETTE D. POWELL Founder/Director PA Vets All The Way Home LLC As an Air Force veteran and the child of an Army Sergeant, Georgette D. Powell understands more than most the importance of protecting the men and women who protect our country after their service is complete. The Ft. Campbell, Ky., native and 17-year Pittsburgh resident founded PA Vets All the Way Home LLC in an effort to address the needs of disabled veterans and their families. The organization's goals are to create an independent living facility for disabled veterans, to work with service organizations in the region, and to create a directory for military and veteran families. Powell's additional community service includes coordinating Allegheny County's outreach team at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and helping to create new food pantries and improve existing pantries. She is also secretary of the East Liberty Family Health Care Center Board of Directors. Powell spent nine and a half years in the United States Air Force as a Flight Nurse for a flying medical clinic based at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois and Rhein Mein in Frankfurt, Germany. She is mother to two sons, 22-year old C. Adam and 17-year old Benjamin, and a 15-year old daughter, Georden.
Health Care CHARLEEDA REDMAN, RN, MSN, ACM Executive Director of Corporate Care Management-UPMC Charleeda Redman, RN, MSN, ACM, is executive director of Corporate Care Management at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Redman graduated with her BSN in Nursing from Carlow University in 1995. She completed her graduate studies in Case Management/Leadership at Carlow University in 2000. Redman has worked in Case management for more than 14 years. She is responsible for overseeing third party audits, system integration, denial management, pre-arrival authorization, and training and development of hospital case managers. Redman is the recipient of numerous honors including the Fab 40 recognition from the New Pittsburgh Courier, KDKA-TVs Lift-up Award for Hard Work and Dedication in the workplace, and Manchester's Who's Who of Executives and Professionals. She has been a member of ACMA since 2005 and past president of the western Pennsylvania chapter. She is also a member of Sigma-ThetaTau Nursing Honor Society and the American Organization of Nurse Executives.
Business MELISSA RICE Chief Operating Officer Rice Enterprises LLC Melissa Rice, Chief Operating Officer of Rice Enterprises LLC, knew she was on the path toward entrepreneurship when her father bought his first McDonalds restaurant. Working at the family's restaurant in Buffalo N.Y., Rice saw the business grow enough to support the purchase of four more restaurants in a 7-year period. When the family sold the business and relocated to Pittsburgh, it was able to grow Into a 16-store organization. Rice was certified by McDonalds Corporation to become an owner/operator in 2007. Today, Rice Enterprises is known as a premiere minority business in the region and was voted as the #1 Minority Owned Business in Western Pennsylvania by the Book of Lists in 2011. Rice's community commitments include membership with the African American Chamber of Commerce and the South Hills Chamber of Commerce in addition to donating to little league teams and church events.
Business MICHELE RICE CEO Rice Enterprises LLC As CEO of Rice Enterprises LLC, Michele Rice is in charge of overseeing operations and finances of 15 area McDonalds Restaurants. Rice, a native of Akron, Ohio attended the University of Akron. She began her career in 1987 working in the family business and has been working for the business for 25 years. She worked her way through all levels of management. Throughout her career as a manager, she won numerous awards for Outstanding Manager in her region. In 2003, Michele became an approved McDonald's owner operator. She has continued to work in the family business and manage the dayto-day operations of the restaurant. She also has the responsibilities of training and development, office and benefits administration, and hiring. Michele also holds several leadership positions within McDonald's Pittsburgh Region. In 2012, Michele was appointed CEO of Rice Enterprises LLC in May 2012. She currently operates the business with her parents, James and Edith Rice, and siblings Melissa and James Rice. Rice is currently enrolled in The Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence at the University of Pittsburgh. She is on the board of the NBMOA. She is a member of the African American Chamber of Commerce and the South Hills Chamber of Commerce. Rice has two children, 21-year old Brittany and 19-year old Christian.
Health FELICIA LANE SAVAGE Founder & Owner YogaRoots on Location Twenty-year yoga instructor Felicia Lane Savage is working to take the exercise to those in the city who could possibly benefit from its healing qualities the most. Savage has taught throughout Pittsburgh in private homes, classrooms and at seminars for years, but for the past seven years has worked with the Healthy Black Family Project as a Health Coach and Yoga Instructor and Trainer through the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Maryland College Park. She also founded YogaRoots On Location to promote what she's dubbed as "Felicia Fusion" Yoga, which blends yoga-based movements with current music and other key principles of yoga such as wholistic nutrition and positive thoughts and actions. She recently completed a year-long certification with the Urban Zen Integrative Yoga Therapist program, a collaboration between fashion designer Donna Karan and yoga instructors Rodney Yee and Coleen Saidman and earned the highest credentials a yoga teacher can obtain through the Yoga Alliance. She is certified to teach children, youth and adults and in 2009 hosted the largest yoga teacher certification class in National Exercise Trainers Association history at the Kingsley Community Center Association. She is mother to two children, Cleveland and Maya. She hopes to someday open a Yoga Alliance accredited school to certify teachers using her own curriculum. Go to www.yogaroots.com to learn more about her book and DVD project. In addition to yogic studies, Felicia holds a Bachelor's of Science in Natural Sciences with a focus in Mathematics, Geology and Biology, a PA Instructional I Teaching Certificate and a Master's of Education in Elementary Education, all from the University of Pittsburgh.
Education/Religion MARY L. SHIELDS Teacher Urban League Charter School Evangelist Mary L. Shields has dedicated her life to spreading the word of God and also increasing word-power among the many students she taught to speak foreign languages. The Geneva College graduate holds a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and German and a Master of Administration in curriculum and supervision from Duquesne University. After beginning her career as a substitute foreign language teacher for the Pittsburgh Public School District, she held positions with Central Catholic High School and in the Penn Hills School District before joining Sterrett Classical Academy. She was chosen to pilot a Latin-based language course at Sterrett and moved on to become the district's first Black language supervisor. While serving as acting director of foreign languages for one semester, Shields traveled throughout the United States, Spain, Italy and Africa for education and outreach. She retired from the district after 31 years and now serves as a Spanish teacher at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School. She is the wife of Rev. Lamont B. Shields, pastor of Morningside Church of God in Christ. They are the parents of two daughters and the grandparents of four.
Social Service MARCIA M. STURDIVANT, PhD Deputy Director Allegheny County Dept. of Human Services Office of Children, Youth and Families As deputy director of Allegheny County Department of Human Services and administrator of the nationally recognized Office of Children, Youth and Families, Marcia M. Sturdivant is tasked with running the second largest child welfare agency in the state. Sturdivant received her doctorate in educational and developmental psychology from the University of Pittsburgh, where she is an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Social Work and holds a master's degree in criminology/correctional science from the University of Detroit. Sturdivant is an assistant professor in the Department of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences at Point Park University, where she received her undergraduate education. She is also president of the Black Child Development Institute-Pittsburgh Affiliate. Sturdivant lectures extensively on both the local and national level on child maltreatment, racism and its effect on child and adult development, family group decision making, spirituality and culturally based intervention strategies. Sturdivant has been a repeated participant and research panelist of the Oxford University Educational Roundtable in Oxford, England. She serves on several boards, including England. Her dedication to helping families extends to the community by service on numerous boards, including The Urban League of Pittsburgh, Inc., The Pennsylvania Statewide Adoption Council, and The Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission on Services to Children and Youth, to name a few. She has received several local and national awards, including the 2007 National Association of Black Administrators in Child Welfare Valeria Bullard Award as the nation's Black Administrator of the Year, Point Park University's Distinguished Alumni Award and The YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh Racial Justice Award. She is a member of Nazarene Baptist Church, where she directs the Children's Church and Children's Choir. She and her husband Larry Anderson Sr. are the parents to two sons: Larry Jr. and Marshall.
Education SARAH L. SUMPTER Principal Pittsburgh Sterrati Sterrett Classical Academy Principal Sarah L. Sumpter has worked toward a career with the area's youth since working in the Neighborhood Youth Corps as a Pittsburgh Public School student. The Carrick High School graduate was granted a scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary education and a Master of Arts in communications. She completed her principal certification at Carnegie Mellon University's Heinz School and moved from a position as vice principal of Carrick High School to principal of Prospect Middle School. She moved to Sterrett after five years. Sarah's professional awards include the Black History Month Teach Award from WPTT and Eddie Edwards, the NAACP's Black Educator Award and the Distinguished Alumni Award from the Carrick Alumni Association. She works with several community initiatives, including Carlow College Mock Interview for Prospective Teachers, the Mt. Ararat Baptist Church Mentoring Program, Be a 6th Grade Mentor and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, among others. She is a member and trustee for Carrone Baptist Church.
Social Service/Religion LENALL THOMAS, PhD, MSW CEO Center for Family Excellence, Inc.
Lenall Thomas, CEO for the Center for Family Excellence, is working to bring assistance and resources to all the region's struggling families. The developmental psychologist holds a Master of Social Work and a doctorate in psychology and education from the University of Pittsburgh. She is a certified Values for Life trainer. Thomas is also an adjunct professor in the Degree Completion Program at Geneva College. She is a graduate of Prairie Bible College and matriculated at William Jennings Brian College before completing her undergraduate Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Pittsburgh. She is an active member of Morning Star Baptist Church where she serves as superintendent of Sunday school, new members minister, and she sings in the Inspirational choir. She is a National Baptist USA, Inc., Sunday School Publishing Board certified dean and instructor, dean in the Allegheny Union Baptist Association Congress of Christian Education (Western Region of the PA Baptist State Convention), the first female to be appointed as state director of christian education for the PA Baptist State Convention under the leadership of former President JVA Winsett. She recently retired from tile gospel singing group The Voices of Zion after 39 years of service. Thomas has conducted numerous trainings and workshops across the United States. She has received many awards, including the PA Commission on Crime Prevention, and Mentoring Award from the Mentoring Program of Pittsburgh. In 2009 she joined a group of educators who travel to Germany on behalf of the National Baptist Congress of Christian Education. She has taught Creative Ways of Teaching internationally to a diverse group of believers. Thomas is the mother of two sons, George and James.
Career Management LYNNETTE TAYLOR-CRIEGO Instructor Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Lynnette Taylor-Criego's mission is to provide exceptional quality coaching and career management consulting that educates, inspires and has a positive impact on her clientele. Over the course of more than 15 years in the career management field, Taylor-Criego has facilitated professional development seminars, supervised staff, and redesigned job search curriculum, in addition to her experience in human resources as a recruiter/employment specialist. She has facilitated groups on job survival, leadership development, generational diversity and all aspect of job search strategies. The courses have been conducted in both for profit and nonprofit environments. She is currently providing services to the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. Taylor-Criego holds a bachelor's degree in education from Slippery Rock University and is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh XIX. Additional certifications include: human resources management, career coach and certified facilitator for Development Dimensions Inc. Her community involvements include service with the American Society for Training and Development, the National Career Development Counselor Association, the African American Chamber of Commerce and Dress For Success, to name a few.
Health Care CATHERINE N. UDEKWU MD Pediatrician Catherine Udekwu, MD, MBBS, has been a pediatrician in the Pittsburgh region for several years. She is currently located in the Varma Building in Pittsburgh. She also works out of several hospitals. The native of Nigeria completed her medical studies at the University of Nigeria in 1988. She is the recipient of several awards, including the Compassionate Doctor Recognition award and the Patient's Choice Award in 2011. She is affiliated with 12 area hospitals.
Business CHLOE VELASQUEZ President, Sabio Springs As President and Founder of Sabio Springs bottled water company, Chloe Velasquez has brought an uncle's longtime dream to fruition and established success in a market unique to most Pittsburghers. With more than 10 years of corporate experience with American Express Travel, Velasquez is a graduate of CORO Women In Leadership's first program, Leadership Pittsburgh XVIII and the Tuck Minority Business Executive Program at Dartmouth University. She is a well-known civic activist who serves on several boards, including Family Health Services of Western PA, CORO Center for Civic Leadership and the Hill District community Development Corporation. In the past she has worked with Bethlehem Haven, Mental Health America Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Women Work to name a few. She is a founding member of the Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh, participated in the local Girl Scout council's first Camp CEO program and regularly speaks to local groups that focus on youth, entrepreneurship and emerging business owners. She has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at Chatham College and was invited to be a member of Allegheny General Hospital's initiative, Closure-end-of-life-care in the African American Community. She was appointed to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl's Economic Development Panel in 2007 and was appointed to his advisory committee charged with helping to manage the proposed long-term lease of city parking assets. She has been recognized with Duquesne Light's African American Leadership Award, the Western Pennsylvania Regional Minority Purchasing Council's Minority Supplier of the Year Award, PowerLink's Spirit of PowerLink Award, the Women & Girls Foundation's Women in the Material World and the NAWBO Rookie of the Year 2002 Award. She is mother to a daughter Sage, after whom her company is named Community Service/Law Enforcement DEBORAH L. WALKER Student Conduct Officer University of Pittsburgh In a career spanning more than 20 years at the University of Pittsburgh, Deborah L. Walker has helped enforce community and resident safety in numerous capacities. From 1984 to 2003 she served as a law enforcement officer for the University of Pittsburgh Police and was assistant director of community standards for the Office of Resident Life from 2003 to 2007. She has been the University Student Conduct Officer since November 2007. Walker was appointed by Mayor Luke Ravenstahl to the Pittsburgh Citizen Review Board as a law enforcement specialist and is now serving as chairperson of the Police Review Board. Her other community involvements and professional affiliations include the Urban League of Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, and Pitt's Staff Association Council, for which she has served as president since June 2011. Her honors and distinctions include an African American Heritage Day Award from the Pittsburgh Pirates, a Ronald Harmon Brown Civic Leadership Award from the Urban League of Pittsburgh, and a Chancellor's Distinguished Service Award from the University of Pittsburgh. She also has been inducted into the Westinghouse High School Hall of Fame. Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice in 2001 as well as a Master's Degree in Public Policy in 2003, both from the University of Pittsburgh.
Business LARA WASHINGTON President Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corp.
As president of Allegheny Housing Rehabilitation Corporation, Lara Washington leads a company committed to the development and effective management of affordable housing in the region. Washington's duties include overseeing the company's 1,750-unit portfolio and maintaining relationships with federal and local housing agencies. She is building on a legacy created by her father, Milton A. Washington, who founded the company. Prior to joining AHRCO, Washington worked with accounting firms PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Paine Webber as a consultant. She is active on several boards, including the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh, the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation. She also serves on the steering committee for East End Cooperative Ministry and the Transportation Visioning Committee for Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald. The Pittsburgh native and The Ellis School graduate holds a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Economics from Brown University and a Master's in Business Administration and a Master's in Education from Stanford University. She and her husband, Ken Spruill, reside in Squirrel Hill with sons 12-year-old Kendall and 10-year-old Tanner.
Religion REV. LAURAN B. WEBB Associate Minister Monumental Baptist Church Reverend Lauran B. Webb, pastor of City of Hope Church of the Nazarene in Duquesne, was lead on a path toward spirituality from the time she was a child playing church in her backyard. The native Pittsburgher was born and raised in Schenley Heights by her mother, Evangelist Essie Carter. After learning to sew and crochet Webb opened up the Chain One Boutique in Oakland and designed and crocheted fashions for a store in Squirrel Hill. She served 21-years on the Pittsburgh Police force, retiring in 1999. Webb, who holds a degree in Christian Education from Nazarene Bible College in Colorado, began working for the church's Second Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction in Wilkinsburg, where she was voted in as vice-president of the Wilkinsburg Ministerium. She was the first Black vice-president taking the place of Father Warren Metzler and her assignment was to recruit Black churches. In 2000 she became one of the founding members of Pittsburgh lnterfaith Impact Network. She was called to found the City of Hope Church of the Nazarene in the late 90s. Serving as one of two Black pastors in the district, she founded the City of Hope Compassionate Ministry Center in Duquesne, where they offered services such as Ticket-to-Work program, re-entry training for ex-offenders and fed 100 families a month thru their food pantry. She now serves as an associate minister at Monumental Baptist Church. She is the author of four books. Her newest book is "Murder in Schenley Heights: The day the sugar rolled off of Sugar Top," a novel examining the murders of Black men in the Hill District. She is the mother of two gorgeous daughters, and is also the grandmother of six grandchildren.
Community Service GWENDOLYN L. WATKINS Community Relations Coordinator University of Pittsburgh During a 41-year career at the University of Pittsburgh Gwen Watkins has been an integral part of the university's community outreach efforts. Her journey from a position as an executive secretary in the Office of Urban and Community Services to her current position as Faculty/Staff in Service to the Community Coordinator in the Department of Community Relations is only a small part of her growth through the university. She served as President of the university's Staff Association Council 2009-2011 and is a 35-year member of the Staff Association Council. She has served as a staff representative for several boards and committees and established the Staff Association Council Endowed Scholarship Book Fund for family members of staff attending the university. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate degree in Social Work and Community Service from the university's College of General Studies. Her accomplishments have been recognized by the 2008 Chancellor's Award for Staff for Excellence in Service to Community. Watkins is an active member of Rodman Street Missionary Baptist Church. She is mother of two, William and Michelle and grandmother to Marcus and Micah.
Housing Management BRENDA B. WELLS Director, Western Region Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency Decades of work in the housing finance industry have put Brenda B. Wells in a position to help make the dream of homeownership accessible for thousands of Pennsylvania families. Wells, who began her career with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency as a Housing Management director in 1983, today serves as director of the Agency's Western Region. In her role as director she serves as liaison for the agency's housing programs and promotes programs and initiatives geared toward affordable housing throughout the community. She also assists property owners, managers and tenants throughout the country as a training consultant with the Quadel Consulting Corporation and National Leased Housing Association's Assisted Housing Manager's Certification Program in Washington D.C. Wells' community commitments include serving as chair of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh's Affordable Housing Advisory Council, serving as board liaison for PAHMA, working with Pittsburgh Partnership for Neighborhood Development's Investment Committee and working with PNC Bank's Community Development Banking Advisory Council. Wells was awarded a Certificate in Executive Leadership from the National Council of State Housing Agencies Executive Leadership Program at the Mendoza College of Business at the University of Notre Dame in 2002 and has been recognized by Black Opinion magazine's, 2002 Black Achievers Award and Medallion. Wells holds a Bachelor's of Sociology from Hampton University as well as professional certifications including Certified Property Manager (CPM) from the Institute of Real Estate Management and Public Housing Manager (PHM) from the National Organization of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. She is married to Jerome Wells and they have two daughters, Qiana and Courtney.
Religion REV. ELEANOR WILLIAMS Co-Founder Parents Against Violence and Special Education Teacher at Schaeffer Intermediate After serving the needs of disabled and disadvantaged students in the Pittsburgh Public School District for 30 years, Rev. Eleanor Williams will retire this year. The Oliver High School graduate holds a Bachelor of Science in special education from Duquesne University, a master's in education and administration from Carlow University as well as a Master of Divinity with an Urban Metro Institute certificate from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. She has taught learning support and emotional support students, as well as being an interventionist and tutoring community children. She is licensed and ordained as a Baptist preacher from the New Zion Baptist Church in Manchester and is founder of On the Wall Ministries, which featured a street ministry to reach out to the community. After three years her congregation joined with the Destiny of Faith Ministries, where she is currently associate pastor and pastor of Christian education. Williams is co-founder of Parents Against Violence, a non-profit founded in 1993 in response to a rise in street violence. She is also a relative of Negro League legend Josh Gibson and is on the board of directors for the Josh Gibson Foundation. In addition to her professional duties, Williams is a poet who has been published in several anthologies. She and her husband, Johnnie Williams III have four adult sons: John, Michael, Brandon and Issa. They also are grandparents to 18 children.
Community Service LATASHA WILSON-BATCH Executive Director Best of the Batch Foundation Latasha Wilson-Batch, wife of Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch and executive director of the Best of the Batch Foundation, leads an organization that has a mission to touch the lives of the area's disadvantaged youth. The organization supports a number of educational and social initiatives, including Toys for Tots Literacy Program, the National Center For Jewish Women's BatchPacks for Kids program and the Best of the Batch Club, which rewards high achieving students in grades K-5 with a field trip with Charlie Batch. The program has helped thousands of area youth.
(c) 2012 New Pittsburgh Courier
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