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MEMBER DIRECTORY

Andrea Thompson

Position: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Categories: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Andrea Lorena Thompson led the Detroit Literacy Lawsuit against the State of Michigan alongside her son, and the community. Her son one of the plaintiffs in the case changed history winning the Historical Landmark Decision on April 23, 2020. The unfinished business of Brown vs Board of Education. The state of Michigan failed to provide her son and Detroit students with the most fundamental of skills: the ability to read. Now that children have a constitutional right to literacy, it is a remarkable victory for her son and Detroit students. Andrea is an Educator, Social Entrepreneur Change Maker, Activist, Innovator & Problem Solver. Andrea Lorena Thompson, Founder, President & CEO of Ladies Entrepreneur Empowerment Circle. LEEC is a Detroit based platform with nearly 7,000 thousand Women Business Owners & Entrepreneurs internationally & nationally. With over 4,000 in Detroit united to build a stronger economy in effort to make a difference in communities of color across the nation. She along with her husband is the Founders of Date Night-Detroit Power Couples a Detroit based platform with over 300 married or in committed couples in relationships united to help create a safe space and platform for men and women in love. A 2019 Humanity in Action Detroit Fellow Recipient focusing on community-centered efforts of urban redevelopment in the city of Detroit, panelist for 2019 Education Leaders of Color National Convening, Community Connections grant recipient and panelist and Economic Justice Alliance of Michigan graduate.

Andrea Thompson

Business Owner, Movement Leader

Andrea Lorena Thompson led the Detroit Literacy Lawsuit against the...

Arthur Cox

Position: Veteran, Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader, Veteran

A native to Louisville, Kentucky and a United States Air Force Veteran, Arthur Cox has worked as Executive Director of St. George’s for over 15 years. In 2004, he led the successful organizational transformation from a recreational hangout into one of the premier educational after-school and summer program for youth in West Louisville, where it still thrives today. Arthur earned a Bachelors Degree in Sports Management from the University of Louisville. He has served as numerous youth development committees and coalitions within the community. He’s trained in Outcome Measurement, Youth Program Quality Assessment, University of Louisville CHAMPS Facilitation & 4 Your Child Fatherhood Facilitation. Arthur is a graduate of Focus Louisville. He has completed the Center for Non-Profit Excellence Emerging Leaders program and is a part of the 2015 Graduating class of the Leadership Network. He’s a part of the Executives Leadership Circle recognized by the Center for Non Profit Excellence. Prior to his role at St. George’s, Arthur worked with Youth Alive, YMCA, and The Louisville Youth Opportunity Network (LYON). Arthur is a home base business owner and empowers others to do the same. In his leisure time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his Fiance Sha’Da and his three beautiful children, Omari and Aniyah and Sha’Corey.

Arthur Cox

Veteran, Movement Leader

A native to Louisville, Kentucky and a United States Air...

Ben Johnson, Jr.

Position: Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader
Ben Johnson, Jr. is the Assistant Director of Recreation for Louisville Parks and Recreation. He oversees thirteen different recreation facilities offering diverse programming for participants of all ages and abilities. This is Ben’s second stint with Louisville Metro having previously served as the Assistant Director of Youth Development. Continuing his commitment to bettering the lives of young people and Black Males in particular, Ben created several unique programs in Louisville; Youth Chats with LMPD where local police officers come to community centers to dialogue with young people and an agreement with Youth Detention where his staff provides recreational programming to their youth. He also convinced the school system to open a satellite office in one of his community centers giving families easier access to educational resources. Ben has served as a mentor to numerous young Black Males in group and individual settings. He participates regularly in different activities, reading programs, workshops, panel discussions, tie tying events, etc. Any opportunity to be around and work with / for young Black Males, Ben tries to be there. Recently named a BMe Genius Fellow, Ben is also an American Express Leadership Fellow at The Campaign for Black Male Achievement. He just joined the board of the L.E.E. Initiative, which has a multi-faceted approach to addressing food insecurity and similar challenges. Originally from Philadelphia, married, a father and graduate of Florida A&M, Ben spends a lot of time traveling with his family, supporting his alma mater and promoting other HBCUs.

Ben Johnson, Jr.

Movement Leader

Ben Johnson, Jr. is the Assistant Director of Recreation for...

Blair Mickles

Position: Movement Leader, Veteran
Categories: Movement Leader, Veteran
Raised in Rankin, PA, Blair is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran (Operation Enduring Freedom), having served from 2004 to 2015. A Certified Life Coach and advocate for those in need, she obtained her undergraduate degree in Social Science (concentration in Criminal Justice and Government) with a minor in Psychology from the University of Maryland University College. She is currently pursuing a more in-depth education in Social Work through the Master’s program in addition to Master’s in Public and International Affairs with a concentration in Human Security at the University of Pittsburgh. She looks forward to being more strategic and impactful while making positive changes in both her community and abroad. Blair has taken on community organizing roles by serving as a co-organizer of the Women’s March on Washington-Pittsburgh. She actively works to address a variety of social justice issues to include community violence, sexual violence, food security, immigrant and refugee rights and college access among underprivileged students. As an advocate for mental health, she is also certified in Mental Health First Aid and Psychological First Aid and has served as a volunteer trauma responder addressing the needs of survivors of gun violence. She still finds time to be a volunteer firefighter in Rankin, since 2002, while also fulfilling an internship at the Community Engagement Center in Homewood. She can also be found volunteering with the immigrant and refugee students as well as various veteran organizations in the area and across the country.

Blair Mickles

Movement Leader, Veteran

Raised in Rankin, PA, Blair is a U.S. Army Combat...

Brandon Frame

Position: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Categories: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator. He is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do. Guided by his vision TheBlackManCan, Inc. has impacted over 10,000 Black Men and Boys across the world, established a MENtor network of over 500 Black Men and built a socially conscious online community that has over 500,000 followers and generates 7 million impressions weekly. Accomplishments and accolades are no stranger to Brandon Frame, but what makes him extraordinary is the humility and servant-leadership that marks his life. Brandon Frame is the Deputy Director of Social Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly where he leads a portfolio of schools to build the capacity of the staff in implementing and sustaining Social Emotional Learning. Under his tenure as a leader of the UA’s Resilient Scholars Program, participating schools saw dramatic reductions in suspensions and improvements in school culture, and the program expanded nationally to states like Texas, Virginia, and California. Brandon is also Co-Founder of the award-winning twitter chat #hiphoped and the Author of Define Yourself, Redefine the World: A Guided Journal for Boys and Men of color and the children’s book My First Tie. Brandon is currently an Ed.D. student at Boston University. He is a graduate of Morehouse College and resides in Bronx, NY.

Brandon Frame

Business Owner, Movement Leader

Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator....

Bryan Lewis

Position: Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader
Bryan Lewis is a Detroit-based environmental justice and youth development advocate who is passionate about growing the next generation of green leaders. As the former Director of EcoWorks’ Youth Energy Squad (YES), he and his team supported thousands of Detroit k-12 students in developing environmental solutions that helped to make their homes, schools, and communities more sustainable for everyone. Mr. Lewis, in his time with YES, worked to highlight youth voice as a mechanism for social and environmental change. He founded a leadership initiative within the program that works with a small group of 10 youth leaders – exposing them to environmental justice activism, community leadership, and national politics (through a discovery trip to Washington, DC). Now, as a consultant, Mr. Lewis works with organizations like E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) to organize business leaders to advocate for clean water policies in Michigan. He is also a member of Michigan Governor Whitmer’s Environmental Justice Advisory Council.

Bryan Lewis

Movement Leader

Bryan Lewis is a Detroit-based environmental justice and youth development...

Calvin Mann

Position: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Categories: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Calvin T. Mann, National Encourager is facilitator, talk show host (Daddy Talk), mentor, visionary, coach, author, community activist and proud father of 4. He continues to build boys and men in ways that change their trajectory. He has coordinated recreation and mentorship programs, led intervention strategies in detention centers, communities, families, and schools. Since 2004, a champion for the silenced voices of children slain to suicide and violence; Mann placed t-shirts with positive messages of encouragement at the sight of slain children to raise awareness of our responsibility to our children and their future. Mann’s passion and unique perspective exemplifies diversity, self-belief and love for his fellow man. Often serving on panels, creating intervention opportunities in schools, or speaking directly to students of all ages offering his enlightening words while captivating audiences. Offering practical solutions and perspectives of fatherhood, realizing your potential, mentorship, family connections, community impact, or sportsmanship his topics empower people toward real change. He has earned the respect and admiration of many including the City of Detroit who bestowed its highest honor The Spirit of Detroit award along with Wayne County and the State of Michigan both presenting powerful Resolutions naming April 6th EMIY National Respect Day to acknowledge the achievement, investment and role of Calvin T. Mann locally and throughout the country. Calvin is a Man[n] on the front line; encouraging boys and supporting fathers; changing families and our community one encouraging word at a time.

Calvin Mann

Business Owner, Movement Leader

Calvin T. Mann, National Encourager is facilitator, talk show host...

Candace Robertson-James

Position: Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader
Candace Robertson-James, DrPH is an assistant professor, director of the Master of Public Health Program and Chair of the Department of Urban Public Health and Nutrition at LaSalle University. Dr. Robertson-James’ research interests include health equity and the promotion of racial equity. She has led and evaluated community participatory research initiatives involving multiple sectors (health, community, school, faith, etc.) promoting health in diverse communities for over 10 years. Dr. Robertson-James has participated in research exploring the role of discrimination and gender differences in health risks as well as the role of faith institutions in sexual and relationship violence prevention. She has also served as the program evaluator for programs assessing the role of gender in health, programs integrating HIV risk reduction into domestic violence services, health education initiatives targeting women with a history of incarceration as well as other groups of women and heart health initiatives. In addition, she also teaches on a variety of public health, health promotion and research topics. She published her first children’s book, Reflections of Me, in July 2019 to honor the stories of the women who participated in her dissertation research exploring the role of racism and sexism in self-reported health status. Reflections of Me, integrates messages participants shared they wish they would’ve received as young girls and seeks to promote a positive self-concept. Her goal is to serve passionately, promote endearing change and to leave a lasting impression that will inspire action.

Candace Robertson-James

Movement Leader

Candace Robertson-James, DrPH is an assistant professor, director of the...

Carmen Kennedy-Rogers

Position: Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader
Carmen Kennedy-Rogers serves as the senior program officer of education for The Skillman Foundation. She leads the Foundation’s efforts to improve educational opportunities in Detroit. She embraces the strong belief that all young people have an undeniable right to receive a comprehensive and unbiased education coupled with diverse and robust life experiences. She is committed to ensuring that the rights of young people are recognized and respected rather than denied and neglected. She unapologetically vigorously pursues “educational social justice”. Prior to her role at The Skillman Foundation, Carmen served in five different Michigan school districts as a high school basketball coach, physical education teacher, athletic director, and high school principal and assistant superintendent. She currently serves as a board member for Wayne State University College of Education Board of Visitors and the Michigan Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Board of Directors. Carmen holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and three degrees from Wayne State University, including a Master of Arts in Sports Administration, School Counseling and an Education Specialist Degree. She recently completed her doctorate in Educational Leadership at the University of Michigan-Flint. Carmen is married to Alex Rogers, Jr. and together they gratefully raise their son, Alexander Rogers, III. They reside in the Detroit Metro area with their rescue dog, Molly. Outside of work, she focuses on self-care by meditating, reflective journaling, living a healthy lifestyle, and spending quality meaningful time with family and friends.

Carmen Kennedy-Rogers

Movement Leader

Carmen Kennedy-Rogers serves as the senior program officer of education...

Chase L. Cantrell

Position: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Categories: Business Owner, Movement Leader

Chase L. Cantrell is the Executive Director of Building Community Value (BCV). In this role, he leads a diverse team of experts in implementing BCV’s training, technical assistance, and consulting programs. Chase is a critical voice in Detroit’s policy making and revitalization efforts, playing a crucial role as an advocate for residents who work hard to restore and improve the physical infrastructure of Detroit’s neighborhoods. Observing a gap in Detroit’s real estate ecosystem, Chase founded BCV as a bridge between the resources accessible to traditional real estate actors and Detroit residents and nonprofits who wish to make a positive impact within their communities. He is active in all aspects of the organization’s service offerings and has provided direct consulting support to local community development organizations. He has positioned the organization to be laser-focused on providing meaningful technical assistance to small-scale developers. Prior to founding BCV, Chase served as a Detroit-based transactional attorney at Dykema Gossett and Kotz Sangster. He built his career helping companies of all sizes (from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies) in matters related to real estate and corporate law. He is still a licensed member of the State Bar of Michigan and a member of the ACLU Lawyers Committee for Wayne County, Michigan. Chase has a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Michigan College of LS&A.

Chase L. Cantrell

Business Owner, Movement Leader

Chase L. Cantrell is the Executive Director of Building Community...

Cornell Jones

Position: Movement Leader
Categories: Movement Leader
Rev. Cornell Jones is a street pastor, activist, mentor, father and husband. He is currently the Group Violence Intervention Coordinator for the City of Pittsburgh and John Jay College where he brings outreach teams and law enforcement together to counteract and prevent violence in the Community. He is respected on a national level for his work that he does in the streets of Pittsburgh. Through his business Freedom Indeed LLC, he trains people all over the country on methods to stop violence in communities, school, and prisons. Rev. Jones served as the Protestant Chaplain at SCI Pittsburgh Prison (formerly known as Western Penitentiary) for over 10 years. While working in the prison, he was involved in many crisis deescalating and gang prevention teams such as: Security Threat Group Team, CISM, and the CERT team. He is a crisis chaplain and a trained member of the National Organization of Victim Assistance (NOVA) where he assists people who have been victims of large scale crimes. He truly has a heart for youth and adults who are incarcerated and the marginalized communities. He is the founder of WXCN Power Radio. This is the first radio station that is 100% ran by ex-offenders. The vision for WXCN is to Empower and Educate the community about community issues and mass incarceration.

Cornell Jones

Movement Leader

Rev. Cornell Jones is a street pastor, activist, mentor, father...

Courtney Smith

Position: Business Owner, Movement Leader
Categories: Business Owner, Movement Leader
There are people who see shortcomings in our society and feel overwhelmed or apathetic. Then there are people like Courtney Smith who roll up their sleeves and fill in the gap. With over a decade of experience in the social impact sector, she has dedicated her career to promoting equity and social justice. Recently dubbed a modern day history maker by Essence Magazine, Courtney is a servant leader, serving not only by choice, but by nature. Her undeniable tenacity birthed the Detroit Phoenix Center, a high-impact nonprofit organization meeting the wraparound needs of homeless and high risk youth & families. She is also the lead strategist at Humble Work & Co., a social impact firm mobilizing millennials to make a difference in the world. Her outstanding commitment to service has garnered national recognition, including Comcast Newsmakers and the Steve Harvey Show. Courtney prides herself on being transparent and progressive, two traits that have made her a sought-after speaker on topics related to youth and community development, advocacy, and servant leadership. Courtney has been named to Crain’s Detroit Business Twenty in Their 20s list of trailblazers to watch in the region. She is a Michigan Chronicle 40 under 40 honoree, Forbes Under 30 nominee and a double-time recipient of the Spirit of Detroit Award; along with many other notable achievements. Courtney sits on the Board of Directors for Hero Nation and is an Advisor for the Child Forward Initiative. Courtney graduated from Eastern Michigan University and is pursuing graduate coursework at Harvard University.

Courtney Smith

Business Owner, Movement Leader

There are people who see shortcomings in our society and...