Racism: Challenging Perceptions

This season, community leaders joined Adrienne in four sessions for engaging dialogue about how educators, leaders and families are finding space to support the education of diverse students from PreK onward. The discussions will be broadcast on YouTube on August 3rd and August 10th at 8:00 p.m. The conversations were held at the Oakwood Arts building. Oakwood Arts is a local non-profit nestled in Historic Church Hill in Richmond, Virginia whose mission is to make art and careers in creative industries accessible to all through community engagement, inspiring programming and experiential learning.

Yanina James

Yanina currently serves at The Life Church RVA as the Director of Community Outreach, where she coordinates general operations and community engagement for the church at large.

She received her Bachelor's in Communication and Master's in Organizational Development & Consulting from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Prior to ministry, her working experience has been in higher education and human resources.

Despite her being new to working in ministry, she has always had a passion for outreach, domestic and overseas missions and worship. Her main goal in life is work alongside Christ in restoring and preserving dignity in those in need.

She is originally from Prince George, VA, is a proud Afro Latina and enjoys going to live concerts, expanding her vinyl collection, and working on DIY projects in her spare time.

Reverend Dwylene Butler

Rev. Butler was licensed to preach at the age of 17 at First Baptist Church of Stratford, CT. In 2002, Rev. Butler was ordained at the First African Baptist Church where she served as the Minister of Youth & Christian Education for the late Rev. Dennis E. Thomas.

Currently, Rev. Butler is the Executive Minister of the Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church, where Rev. Tyrone Nelson is the pastor. In this role, she oversees the day-to-day church business operations and coordinates worship.

Rev. Butler leads the Ordained to Praise Children's and the Instruments of Praise Young Adult Dance Ministries.

She self-published a devotional and plans to produce more books in the coming years.

Dionne Henderson

Dionne Henderson is a native of Richmond, VA, and a graduate of Thomas Jefferson High School and the University of Virginia where she double majored in English and African & African American Studies. Dionne was named President & CEO of Partnership for the Future in November 2020, a role that is very personal to her as over twenty years ago she was a Partnership for the Future student.

Dionne has spent her entire career serving under-resourced and historically marginalized communities in the Richmond area. Her vast nonprofit experience includes small, medium, and large local and national nonprofits. She brings with her a unique perspective and passion for helping youth change the trajectory of their lives. Dionne’s greatest career accomplishment is having the opportunity to do both life-changing and lifesaving work.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Dionne is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves on the board of the Central Virginia Basketball Officials Association where she has been a high school basketball official for over 10 years. Dionne is married to Brian Henderson, a teacher and Boys Varsity basketball coach. They have two young children, Kingston and Nia. In her free time Dionne enjoys traveling, spending time with her young children, officiating basketball games, and supporting her husband and his team.

Royal J. McCargo

Royal J. McCargo, Owner of 1010 Post Construction, LLC is a native of Richmond, Virginia. Raised in Historic Jackson Ward, Royal attributes is upbringing in a low-income community to laying the foundation of his moral and value system. Very early, his community recognized something different in Royal and sought to protect him from all the ills and temptations growing up in Jackson Ward afforded. It's the support and guidance from his community that propelled Royal to graduate in the Top 5 of his high school and received a full scholarship to the University of Virginia. Royal earned an English, B.A., and Sociology minor.

Currently, Royal serves as the Owner/Operator of 1010 Post Construction, LLC. Launched in January 2016, 1010 Post Construction offers full scope post construction cleaning, demolition, property preservation, disaster relief, and silt fence services. Since launching 1010, Royal has volunteered his time and services with a host of community based organizations and development centers. Royal’s proud to hold as his community partners Happily Natural Day, Peter Paul Development Center, Richmond Cycling Corps, 5th District Mini Farm, Renew Richmond, and Relationship Foundation of Virginia.

In his free time, you can find Royal out and about with his wife and daughters. Royal's hobbies include reading, speaking, hiking, traveling, and spending time with family. Family is most important in Royal's world and he's always seeking new adventures with them.

Kenda Sutton-El

Kenda Sutton-El is the Activist that started raising awareness and creating initiatives for Black Maternal Health In Virginia. Kenda is the Founding Executive Director of Birth In Color. Birth In Color is the leading organization that focuses on care of people of color and implementation of doulas into the workforce. Kenda holds a Bachelor’s in Health Science and is also a Doula Trainer, Diversity Equity Inclusion Consultant, Policy Analyst, amongst other things.

Kenda has participated in the Vice President Kamala Harris roundtable discussion on Reproductive Health and currently serves as the Chair of Virginia Doula Taskforce Chair, Chair of Greater Richmond Regional Maternal Child Health Taskforce, member of the Virginia Maternal and Data outcomes Taskforce, Pregnancy Services for Incarceration Workgroup.

In 2019, Kenda Sutton-EL helped establish “Black Maternal Health Week” and led the campaign for Doula Medicaid Reimbursement for the state of Virginia. Her passion for reproductive justice has led her to relentlessly pursue methods of improving maternal health for women of color. She firmly believes that until every woman is safe before, during, and after childbirth, we have not done our job as a society. In 2021, Kenda was the recipient of the “women of the year’ ACHI Magazine Award and Urban One Hometown Hero Award.

Morgan Taylor

Morgan Taylor is a Virginia Beach native and mother of eleven, six, and four-year-old children. Over the years, Morgan has developed a passion for sharing her experiences as a young, single, dating, to a now-married woman with children. Morgan said, “It has not always been easy, but one thing I have noticed is the need for a safe space. As a woman of color, I realize that we as Millennials tend to do things a bit differently from our previous generation.”

Morgan has created a platform for women all over the world to feel seen, heard, and empowered. Recently, she also partnered and created a talk show for women to hear from other moms all over the world. Morgan along with her co-host have been featured in Essence, Ebony, HuffPost, and more! Morgan said, “I am proud to be a part of such a thriving space and can only hope that this not only changes lives of women around the globe but the legacy I will one day leave behind.” (Photo: Joshua Maclin)

Pierre Greene

Pierre is a native of Chicago, IL. He is a graduate of Old Dominion University and currently resides in Richmond, VA with his wife and three sons. Pierre holds a Bachelor of Science in communications and Master of Divinity from Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University as well as an MBA from the University of Phoenix. With more than 15 years of financial experience, Pierre and his wife are also “homeschool parents,” supporting their children independently with their academic careers. He and his wife also founded Greener Pastures, a non-profit organization that empowers families to understand and advocate on behalf of their rights for exceptional education 504 and IEP plans. He is the current chair of the Henrico County Justice Board, an adjunct professor at Virginia Union University and a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He is also on the Board of The Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis and serves as their treasurer. He holds a Board position on the Commonwealth Community Trust and serves as the secretary and is the VP for the NAAIA, The Board for National African American Insurance Agents. (Photo: Illinois Mutual)

Dr. Nyah Hamlett, Ed.D

Dr. Nyah Hamlett began as Superintendent for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) on January 1, 2021. Following a year and a half of leading CHCCS through the pandemic, the graduation rate increased to a new CHCCS record, and 100% of schools met growth, with 12 of 20 schools exceeding growth. Dr. Hamlett's leadership calls for CHCCS to 'think (and act) differently'. Dr. Hamlett believes that every student in CHCCS deserves a high-quality, affirming education and the support to develop to their fullest potential.

Dr. Hamlett previously served as chief of staff for Loudoun County Public Schools and spent twelve years with Henrico County Public Schools, ultimately working for five years as assistant superintendent for instructional support. Under Dr. Hamlett’s leadership, HCPS won first place in the National School Boards Association’s 2017 Magna Awards for the district’s overhaul of the code of student conduct and its development of preventative behavioral support programs. Hamlett began her career as a special education teacher in the Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Dr. Hamlett received her bachelor's degree in speech-language pathology and audiology with a minor in special education from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. She went on to earn two master’s degrees in K-12 reading and educational leadership from Regent University in Virginia Beach, and a doctorate in educational policy, planning, and leadership from The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. Dr. Hamlett also earned an urban superintendent certification from the AASA Howard University Urban Superintendents’ Academy.

Dr. Hamlett and her husband live in Chapel Hill, NC with their three school-aged children. (Photo: Elizabeth Ashley & Co.)