Barbara Barge
Tour Guide & Civil Rights Leader
Foot Soldiers Park
Selma, AL
In 1965, the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) called upon high school and college students in Selma to join the movement, after adult marchers were threatened with termination if they continued participating. The involvement of student activists brought national attention to the Civil Rights Movement. Governor George Wallace’s staunch resistance to change and his violent response on March 7, 1965, contributed to the nonviolent protest that led to the historic and protected march from Selma to Montgomery. Governor Wallace ordered state troopers to surround George Washington Carver Homes, where Brown Chapel was located, forcing all residents and non-residents alike to remain in the area. This tactic aimed to intimidate marchers but ultimately failed to suppress the movement. The standoff was later referred to as the “Berlin Wall.” At just 15 years old, Barbara Barge was an active participant in these pivotal events. She took part in numerous marches, the rewording of Negro spirituals, and the practice of nonviolent defense tactics. At the time, she didn’t fully grasp the lasting global impact of the movement.Barbara went on to become an educator in the Dallas County School System for 28 years. After her retirement, she chose to remain in Selma, where she continues to advocate for students’ rights and the importance of education. As a tour guide at Foot Soldiers Park, Barbara proudly shares Selma’s rich history of Civil Rights and Voter’s Rights, honoring the legacy of those who fought for justice.
Teumbay Barnes
Principal Consultant
Cornerstone35
Nonprofit Strategist, Philanthropy & Higher Ed Professional | Training & Transforming Grassroots Initiatives
A passionate community activist and advocate for access to quality affordable childcare and sexual assault prevention, Tee brings more than 15+ years of experience in community organizing, philanthropy, policy, leadership development, journalism, and higher education to her role. She has spent her career working to change the narrative and create safe and sacred spaces for those experiencing any form of injustice. She believes and understands that the power of change lies in the people.
Camile Bennett
Founder and Executive Director
Project Say Something
Alabama
Her global perspective stems from growing up as an undocumented immigrant on the Creole island of St.Martin, home of her maternal family and moving to North Alabama her paternal family's home at the age of 13. In 2014 Camille Bennett Founded and became the Executive Director of Project Say Something (c3) and Project Say Something Direct Action (c4) nonprofit organizations with a mission to confront anti-Black systems and ideologies, promote reproductive justice, and fight against patriarchal violence using education, community empowerment and advocacy. After the State of AL passed a bill targeting her and PSS, Bennett founded Project Say Something Direct Action, a 501c4 organization that focuses on the eradication of anti-Black policies in AL. Project Say Something has been on the frontlines of eradicating bad bills like Anti-riot legislation, Anti-Critical Race theory bills and has successfully advocated for the reproductive health of Black women by advocating for equitable child care policy. Project Say Something, initially a local grassroots effort, mobilized regionally and nationally through coalition building, sustained protests, and advocacy for the political power and humanization of Black Alabamians.A 32-year resident of Alabama, Camille serves her community as the Chief facilitator/Minister of Living Spirit:an interfaith Center for Spiritual Oneness since 2012. Camille and her husband Taurus are the Founders and Directors of Focus-Scope Child Enrichment Centers. The centers focus on the holistic child development of Black and low income children. Focus Scope Child Enrichment Centers offer free Doula services to all families in efforts to meet the reproductive health needs of Black women. Project Say Something supports Black mothers by offering mutual aid for families in need of emergency cash assistance. Earning a National Championship in public speaking from The University of Alabama in 1999, Camille continues to lift her voice empowering local, national and international communities to advocate for racial justice. Camille is the wife of Taurus Bennett and mother of Christian (23), Morgan (19).
Michelle Browder
Founder and Director
More Up Campus, Anaracha, Lucy, Betsey - Mothers of Gynecology Monument
Montgomery, AL
Michelle is a native of Denver, Colorado. At the age 7, Michelle and her family moved to rural Verbena, Alabama in the late 70’s. Michelle experienced bullying through racial bias at an early age. Out spoken as a child, Michelle began combating her attackers through physical confrontations leading to multiple suspensions. During her last suspension, Michelle’s father gave her an ultimatum, “Prison or Art.” He challenged her to seize the moment to be creative. At the age of 13, Michelle harnessed her entrepreneurial spirit and started a hand painted T-shirt business. After graduation, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia and attended the Art Institute of Atlanta studying Graphic Design and Visual Communications. For nearly 35 years, Michelle has used art, history, and “real talk” conversations to mentor marginalized and disfavored students through visual arts and spoken word. She has created and branded art diversion programs used by juvenile detention centers in Atlanta, Georgia and Montgomery, Alabama. Michelle’s art has been shown in galleries across the country notably the Rosa Parks Museum in Montgomery, Alabama. She has painted for Tyler Perry, Denzel Washington, and countless other stars. She opened a gallery and restaurant called PJR’S FISH AND BBQ RESTAURANT that employed high school students, returning citizens, and the homeless. Michelle has traveled across the country speaking and motivating our children to be More Than a statistic, generalization, or stereotype. She challenges all children and students to defy the odds of victimization. Today, Michelle is the founder and director of I AM MORE THAN... Youth Empowerment Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama. She owns and operates More Than Tours, a social business providing educational tours for nearly 10,000 underserved students in marginalized communities of color. Michelle’s mission is simple,“Exposing Our Children To The Truth, Will Give Them Access To A Seat At The Table.
Dr. Tandrea Elmore, LPC, NCC
New Vision Counseling Center, LLC
Montgomery, AL
Dr. Tandrea S. Elmore, EdD, LPC, NCC, is a Montgomery, Alabama native educated in Montgomery Public Schools. In 2002, she obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at Auburn University and later pursued graduate studies in Counseling Psychology, specializing in Community Agency Counseling at Troy University. She went on to earn her Doctorate in Education from Northcentral University. Dr. Elmore is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a National Board-Certified Counselor with an extensive professional background working with youth, families, and adults across diverse, high-need environments.Her career path has included service in youth development centers, boot camps, detention facilities, therapeutic foster care, and intensive outpatient addiction programs. Currently, she serves as a Professional School Counselor within the Montgomery Public School system, where she supports students’ academic, career, and social-emotional growth. In addition, she is an Adjunct Psychology Instructor at Trenholm State Community College, where she educates and mentors future professionals in the field.In 2020, Dr. Elmore founded New Vision Counseling Center, LLC, a private practice dedicated to helping individuals establish and maintain mental and emotional wellness. She is also the founder of Project 2 Uplift, Inc., a nonprofit organization with the mission of uplifting children and families one family at a time. Through her clinical work, community engagement, and volunteerism, Dr. Elmore has consistently advocated for marginalized populations, working diligently to break cultural stigmas surrounding mental health services.Her areas of expertise include mental wellness, leadership development, parenting and caregiving, and career readiness. She has facilitated numerous workshops and presentations designed to support educators, service providers, and students. Dr. Elmore’s leadership is marked by authenticity, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in the power of education and counseling to transform lives.She is an active member of several professional and community organizations, continuing to serve as a voice for equity, inclusion, and wellness in both education and mental health.
Lenice Emanuel
Executive Director
Alabama Institute for Social Justice (AISJ)
Lenice C. Emanuel, MLA, is a speaker, writer, and racial justice activist. She has over 25 years of record leadership in nonprofit management, government, fund-development and community relations. During Emanuel's career, she has secured and managed more than $30 million in grants that have served to positively impact a range of social justice issues to include academic, economic, racial, and gender equity. She is a Climate Reality Leader and part of a corps of advocates and influencers in 152countries trained by former Vice President Al Gore. She holds certification in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University, a Master of Liberal Arts degree in leadership and ethics from Spring Hill College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from Auburn University at Montgomery. Her roles have included serving in Florida as President &CEO of YWCA Tampa Bay, and in Alabama as CEO of YWCA Greater Mobile, Director of Grants and Community Development for the City of Prichard, Project and Division Director of Parental and Community Involvement for the Mobile Area Education Foundation, and Senior Project Director for Success By 6, with the Montgomery YMCA. Currently, she serves as the Executive Director of the Alabama Institute for Social Justice (AISJ), located in Montgomery, Alabama. AISJ is dedicated to the empowerment of women, people of color, and addressing poverty in marginalized communities through the platform areas of child care advocacy, voter engagement, gender equity,grassroots organizing, environmental justice, and racial healing and reconciliation. She is dedicated to bringing diverse groups together to engage in meaningful dialogue in an effort to build awareness and solidarity to advance a more just society.
Senator Kirk Hatcher
Alabama State Senate, 26th District; Head Start Director
Tania Jimenez
Executive Director
Asheboro Latinx Services
Asheboro, NC
Tania Jimenez (she/her/ella) is a trans-Afro-Latinx Mexican woman who is a staunch advocate for her Latinx/LGBTQIA+ community. She takes pride in leading an organization that provides the best services possible to the Latinx and LGBTQIA community in Asheboro, NC. As Founder and Executive Director of Asheboro Latinxs Services, she leads an organization whose mission is to provide basic health care services and legal and social advice and continue advocating for equal rights and services for our Latinx community in North Carolina. In addition to her primary job functions, Tania has been recognized for her work being a first-hand responder during COVID-19 by providing food and services for her community. She has been recognized for her previous work in San Francisco, California, and Orange County for her commitment to her work for the Trans Latina communities.
Nikita McClain
Founder I Principal Strategist
Hayes Street Consulting
Montgomery, AL
Nikita McClain, CCE, SHRM-CP, CCUFC delivers thought leadership and strategic execution that translates intentionally architected work culture and experience into impactful, mission-forward outcomes. With experience spanning organizations and industries, Nikita has consistently championed the execution of sustainable, forward-thinking solutions. Her adaptive, people-centric approach engages groups and teams in co-creating solutions that resonate and motivate action. As Founder of Hayes Street Consulting, her focus is on positioning clients to engage in adaptive work equipped with cultural competence, relevant data, and actionable frameworks. When not architecting transformations, you'll find Nikita spending time with family, mentoring the next generation of leaders, serving the community, reading, or being HomeGoods happy.
Valda Harris Montgomery
Associate Professor, Alabama State University
Dr. Richard Harris House
Montgomery, AL
Dr. Valda Harris Montgomery, Ph.D. was born in December 1947, in Montgomery, Alabama. Her parents were Richard and Vera Harris. Her father was a Tuskegee Airmen, pharmacist, and owner of Dean’s drugstore and her mother was a homemaker. Her father’s position as a Tuskegee Airmen and business owner made him closely connected within the black community. Through his contacts, he was involved in the Bus Boycott and also was trusted to secretly house the Freedom Riders while they were in Montgomery. As a result, Valda Montgomery was closely in contact with the leaders and activists of the movement. Her close proximity also pushed her to become involved in the movement herself. She joined in on various marches and after desegregation, she would involve herself in various sit-ins.In her younger years, her family was close with Martin Luther King Jr.’s, whose children she played with and helped babysit. She attended St. Jude Education Institute and, upon graduation, she entered Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. She has also earned degrees from United States Sports Academy and Auburn University. She became an associate professor in the Clinical Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program at Alabama State University in Montgomery, AL. She has written a book titled Just a Neighbor, which is an exploration of her family’s history and relationship with the Civil Rights Movement. Currently, she is still acquiring more information on her family’s history and works to preserve the historic Harris home.
Sadie Moss
Director
McRae Early Learning Center
Selma, AL
For more than 50 years Sadie Moss has been dedicating her life to educating the youth of Selma and Dallas County. She has been a teacher, a counselor and now director of the McRae Gaines Learning Center. Moss started with McRae in 2005 and quickly rose to leadership as the director in 2006. She now works with children ages 12 months to 7-years-old, whom she affectionately calls her “babies.”Even though she’s originally from Orrville, Moss said her love for Selma runs deep. “I just love Selma, and if we could get some people here who would really do something for people, then we could really get Selma moving,” she said. “I don’t know any other place I’d rather be.”
Dawn Owens
Owner
Owens Professional Strategies
Montgomery, AL
Dawn Owens is an accomplished Early Childhood Educator, instructional coach, policy advocate, and thought leader. She currently serves as Director of the Montgomery Education Foundation’s Bold Goals initiative, where she spearheads community engagement and coalition building. Dawn also works with groups like ECFC to shape justice and equity learning experiences in Alabama, and recently worked with the Alliance for Early Success to bring more than 200 attendees from their state grantee teams to Montgomery. Dawn’s past experience includes working for the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Education (formerly the Alabama Department of Children’s Affairs, Office of School Readiness), and the Alabama Department of Human Resources, Child Care Services Division. She also served as Community Engagement/Birth-to-Eight Policy Specialist for VOICES for Alabama’s Children, and Early Childhood Education Special Projects Manager at The Council for Professional Recognition.
Thomas Rains
Executive Director
The Judge Frank M. Johnson, Jr. Institute
Montgomery, AL
Thomas Rains is Executive Director of the Johnson Institute and its first employee, having joined in the summer of 2019. Previously, Thomas advocated for education policies to increase college and career readiness across Alabama. He has worked as a middle school teacher in the Mississippi Delta, a journalist covering finance in New York, and as a researcher of politics and policy in Washington, DC. He is a member of the advisory board for Teach For America-Alabama (previously Vice Chair) and is a member of the Family Guidance Center of Montgomery’s Success by Six advisory board. Thomas is a graduate of Leadership Montgomery Legacy Class XXXV and the Alabama Leadership Initiative. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and dual bachelor’s degrees in history and journalism from Boston University. An Atlanta native, Thomas was raised in Birmingham and Lanett, Alabama. He and his family have called Montgomery home since 2011.
Daniela Rodriguez
Executive Director
Migrant Equity Southeast
Georgia
Daniela Rodriguez (She/Her/Ella) is a nationally recognized immigrant rights activist, nonprofit leader, and community organizer based in Savannah, Georgia. Born in Mexico and raised in the U.S. since age 13, she began organizing in college, co-founding a grassroots initiative to empower immigrant students and challenge inequities in higher education. She now serves as the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Migrant Equity Southeast (MESE), a nonprofit organization advancing immigrant justice across more than 30 counties in South Georgia. Under her leadership, MESE has become a trusted voice for immigrant families—mobilizing grassroots power, expanding access to education and healthcare, and driving systemic policy change. Daniela’s leadership has earned widespread recognition. She has been named one of the “50 Most Influential Latinas in Georgia” for five consecutive years, featured in Atlanta Magazine’s “60 Georgians Shaping the Future,” and selected as a YNPN Atlanta 30 Under 30 leader. In 2024, she received the Nikki T. Randall Servant Leader Award, one of Georgia’s highest honors for community leadership. Through her leadership and vision, Daniela continues to inspire young people to embrace their power and step into leadership. Guided by the belief that education is a human right and that immigrants are here to stay, she is shaping the South’s future through a steadfast commitment to equity, dignity, and justice for all.
Valerie Smedley
Owner
Tours of Montgomery
Montgomery, AL
Valerie Smedley is more than a tour guide—she’s a storyteller who brings Montgomery’s past to life. As the owner of Tours of Montgomery and a retired lieutenant colonel in the Alabama Army National Guard, Valerie is deeply connected to the city’s rich historical legacy. Her deep knowledge of Montgomery’s historical landmarks and storytelling skills bring history to life. Valerie connects past events to present-day Montgomery with each step, making this tour both educational and engaging. In the historic Centennial Hill district of Montgomery, Alabama, Valerie pursued her entrepreneurial dream by opening a unique tourist souvenir gift shop. Her journey to becoming a small business owner is rooted in her deep connection to the area and its rich civil rights history. Tours of Montgomery, located on the corner of Highland Avenue and Jackson Street, is surrounded by significant landmarks. Dr. Richard Harris’s home, where Freedom Riders found shelter in 1961, Martin Luther King Jr.’s residence during his tenure at Dexter Avenue Memorial Baptist Church, and the Ben Moore Hotel, the first hotel in Montgomery to welcome African Americans, are all nearby. Valerie chose this location intentionally to offer tourists a chance to engage with the city’s civil rights legacy.
Christine Spear
Education Consultant
Montgomery, AL
Dr. Christine R. Spear retired from K–12 education in June 2020 after nearly 30 years of dedicated service. Prior to her retirement, she spent 18 years as an Education Specialist and Administrator with the Alabama State Department of Education. In this role, Dr. Spear provided leadership, guidance, and training to more than one hundred local school systems in the implementation of various state and federal education programs and initiatives.Dr. Spear holds a master’s degree in education from Auburn University at Montgomery, an Education Specialist Degree from Alabama State University, and an Educational Doctorate in Leadership from Concordia University–Portland. In August 2022, she began serving as a STEM Education Consultant for the Alabama Expanded Learning Alliance. In this capacity, she is thrilled to assist in the field of education once again, with a particular focus on out-of-school time learning opportunities. Dr. Spear continues to be a passionate advocate for children. She believes that every child deserves equitable access to quality education, meaningful enrichment opportunities, and supportive environments that nurture both academic growth and personal development. Her work is driven by the conviction that empowering children today builds stronger communities and creates a more promising future for generations to come.
Rochelle Wilcox
Co-Founder/CEO
For Providers By Providers (4PXP)
New Orleans, LA
Rochelle has been an early childhood education professional for over 23 years. Her advocacy for early learning started in the classroom as a teacher and led her to one of her current positions, CEO/Executive Director of Wilcox Academy of Early Learning. WAEL consists of three ECE centers rated 4 stars by the Quality Rated System (Administered by the Louisiana Department of Education). Rochelle is also Co-Founder of Elite Teachers Institute, a CDA/Early Childhood Ancillary Program (approved by the Louisiana State BESE) that serves Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, East and West Baton Rouge parishes. Rochelle holds an Associate of Art in Early Childhood Education and a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with an Education in Urban Society concentration from the University of New Orleans. Rochelle is passionate about empowering current and future early childcare leaders to have a strong advocacy voice on policy issues impacting the stability of early childcare education, families, and our community.Rochelle was the first early learning center provider to sit on the Board of Agenda for Children. She currently sits on the boards of The Children’s Funding Accelerator, The Drexel Prep Foundation, and Saul’s Light. She also sits on the steering committee of the New Orleans Grade Level Reading Campaign, The New Orleans Early Education Network, and is the co-chair of Geaux Far Louisiana. She is the 2023 recipient of the Inaugural Early Childhood Leader of the Year award bestowed by Dream teachers and the Louisiana Department of Education. Over her career she has served over 2,000 children, families, and ECE providers, however her highest honor is being a wife and a mother to 3 sons.
Kenita Williams
Chief Operating Officer
Southern Education Foundation
Dr. Kenita T. Williams joined the Southern Education Foundation in 2017 and serves as the chief operating officer. Kenita is responsible for the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of the organization, as well as the implementation of SEF’s programmatic priorities. Additionally, Kenita represents SEF’s values and efforts to key external partners and serves as a thought partner to the president and CEO—helping to create the organizational systems, processes, and culture that ensure that SEF is as catalytic and impactful as possible. Kenita brings a wide range of knowledge and critical experience to SEF, having held positions in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. She has served as the partnerships manager for Atlanta Public Schools and as senior program manager for Public Policy at the Southeastern Council of Foundations. She spent several years as a consultant for JFM Consulting Group and worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Correspondent for then-U.S. Senator Barack Obama. Kenita is also a Teach for America alumna and spent three years teaching third grade in Atlanta. Kenita earned her bachelor’s in political science and history from Yale University, her Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy, a teaching certificate from Georgia State University, and her doctorate of education degree from Johns Hopkins University.