Meet Members of the Board

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Abram Freeman - Acting Director of The Juneteenth Association of Louisiana and one of the founders of the SWLA Juneteenth Committee, which started Juneteenth celebrations in Lafayette and helped promote recognition to become a state holiday in Louisiana before it became a federal holiday.  Owner of A Freeman Insurance Agency, LLC and A Freeman Driving School.

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Jennifer Thorpe - Acting Secretary, Executive Director of Meaningful Minds United, Inc.

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Derek Alexander

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Connie Cooper

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Patricia S. Deal, a single mother from Alexandria, loves being of service to others by advocating and empowering them to get their needs met.  She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in the Field of Social Work and a Bachelor of Social Work degree from Northwestern State University. She began her professional career in 1984 as a substitute teacher, then a detention worker, and as a Human Service Worker in the Department of Children and Family Services in Alexandria. She also worked part-time as a Crisis Counselor and case manager, for the Family Counseling Agency and Volunteers of America.

 

Her Masters of Social Work was obtained from Grambling State University in August of 2009, while employed with then named Office of Community Services.  She was also employed at Hampton Inn & Suites as a Night Auditor for eight years.  Ms. Deal retired from the Office of Community Services as a Child Welfare Supervisor in December 2011.   After retiring, she worked as a Mental Health Professional with Phoenix Family Life Center from 2011 until 2022 and then as an Advanced Medical Support Specialist for the Alexandria Veteran Administration from December 2022 until September 2023.  Currently, she is very active in several ministries at Pleasant Green Baptist Church.  She is past president of Zeta Lambda Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc,  and has served on the Homeless Coalition Board and the Cenla Community Education Foundation.

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Sandra Franklin

 

Maria Giles

 

Tiffany Sanders

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Amanda P. White, is a Colfax, Grant Parish, Louisiana native who is deeply in love with the stories and songs of her ancestor’s struggles, triumphs and brilliance. Her love of story is employed in her work as Grant Parish DV Survivor Advocate for Domestic Abuse Resistance Team (DART), where she stands with and for survivors of domestic and dating violence as they reclaim their power, become acquainted with their authentic selves and find personal healing in sharing their stories and giving hope to others.  As an actor, singer, storyteller, and writer, she invokes the arts to promote family literacy, honor and preserve personal and collective history and make learning exciting.

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Jerry Williams is the President/General Manager of JWBP Broadcasting, LLC in Alexandria, LA.  He owns and operates two radio stations in Central Louisiana:  KMXH-FM MIX 93.9 & KBCE-FM 102.3 JACK FM.  Mr. Williams comes to the board with a successful track record in growing revenue, sales, advertising, and team-building leadership. He’s also a Southern University graduate with a B. S. in Business Management, 1978.

 

Mrs. Felicia M. Williams is a retired U. S. Mail Carrier and Notary Public from Abbeville, LA.  She has been in the customer service industry for over a decade and has since branched off to focus on serving her community.

 

Mrs. Williams has volunteered for multiple nonprofits and was the 2013 recipient of the United Way of Acadiana “Live United Award”.  She facilitates and IRS VITA Program, which prepares income tax returns for low to moderate income earners.  She is also a Commissioner-in-Charge for the Louisiana State Election Commission where she helps certify election commissioners.  Lastly, Mrs. Williams recruits teens and adults for the Louisiana Workforce Summer Youth Program and the Second Chance Program.  As an advocate who is passionate about promoting a happier, healthier, and sustainable lifestyle, Mrs. Williams believes in having responsibility and awareness, emphasizing that everyone has a duty to the community in which they live.  Mrs. Williams’ upbringing as the oldest child compels her to be involved in her community, drawing inspiration from her parents by doing her part to create equality, inclusion and diversity.  Mrs. Williams and her husband of 40 years, Mr. Michael Wiliams, Sr., have two children, Latoya (Eugene) and Michael, Jr. (Ishemia) and three grandchildren – Jaiden, Khari, and Omari.

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