Our Board

2011-14 Board Members

Ron Williams – President

A seasoned professional in the music industry and a dedicated, committed man in his community.  These are words that describe Sugar Bear, a man who is both locally and nationally recognized as a leader.  Sugar Bear has risen from the ranks and has dedicated his life works to what he believes has been his God sent duty. Sugar Bear has been in music industry since the tender age of 15 years old while dee-jaying in the streets of Brooklyn, NY.  Sugar Bear began his professional career while in College in Utica, NY, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications.  Williams; a father of three loving children – Jaleel, Jamilah and Jasmine

Edward Lawson – Vice President

Mr. Lawson is a Certified Mediator and Case Manager with Parent Help, Child Find of America’s Responsible Fatherhood project. Mr. Lawson’s chief focus is to re-energize the participation of fathers in the lives of their children. Mr. Lawson offers strong abilities, which could be applied in real estate and financial services, not-for-profit, operations management, community relations, and education. Founder and President of Pro Exec Inc. represented several professional athletes and marketing properties. Mr. Lawson served as a Law Clerk for a New Jersey State Court Justice. Mr. Lawson also served as a law guardian, representing children in parental termination proceedings and as a criminal public defender. Mr. Lawson achieved his Juris Doctorate from University of Virginia in 1991; Masters in Business Administration; Manhattan College and Bachelor of Science in Accounting/Finance; Manhattan College. Mr. Lawson was a two year co-captain and a 1st Team All-Academic performer. He was also a 1,000 point scorer and still holds the school’s all-time record for assists.

Secretary (Vacant)

Tracy Braswell – Treasurer

Meredith Henderson

Meredith L. Henderson earned her Master’s of Arts Degree in Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration from the University Center at Binghamton, Binghamton, New York.  She received her Bachelors of Arts Degree in Political Science from Union College, Schenectady, New York.  Ms. Henderson is employed as the Executive Assistant to the Superintendent of Schools of the City School District of Albany where she manages and governs educational policies. Previously, she was the Deputy Director of the Legislative Commission on Government Administration in the New York State Assembly. Her responsibilities entail drafting and writing legislation on various budget issues that affect New York State.

Ms. Henderson is a member of Delta Mu Omega Chapter in Albany, New York and is the current North Atlantic Regional Representative to the National Connection Committee.

John Harris

A human services professional with over fifteen years of field-tested experience both as an educator, manager and counselor working with at risk adolescents in educational and therapeutic treatment settings.  Advanced knowledge of computer based programs and systems used in educational environments. Mr. Harris has his Bachelor of Arts, State University of New York at Albany; Masters Degree (MSW) School of Social Welfare, State University of New York at Albany and is a Certified New York State Teacher Assistant. Currently he is the Home School Coordinator, Giffen Elementary School – Albany, New York.  Mr. Harris is a member of the YMCA Black and Latino Achievers Mentoring Program; United Way Family Support Network; Albany County Families United Partnership; Albany Chapter, National Black Child Development, Inc.; Albany Chapter NAACP and an Ordained Deacon of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church.

Dr. Janice Kelly

Dr. Janice Kelly has an earned doctorate degree from Columbia Teachers College in communication and education. Her research specialty is family communication, fatherhood and relational/interpersonal communication. Her research on A Comparison of Prime-Time Situation Comedy Fathers and Real Fathers on Involvement, Communication, and Affection has appeared in USA Today, Big Apple Parenting Magazine, The New York Post and other national and international publications as well as family-oriented conferences and journals. She serves as a consultant to both state and local family agencies and grassroots fatherhood initiative projects. She serves as a guest editor for the journal Fathering: Theory, Research, and Practice about men as Fathers. She is an assistant adjunct professor at St. John’s University.

Les Carter

Chaplain and Onondaga County Mentoring Project Coordinator, assigned to coordinate a “pilot” mentoring reentry initiatives for Ministerial, Family and Volunteer Services of the NYS Department of Correctional Services. Serve as a member of the Onondaga County Reentry Task Force steering committee and sub-committee on mentoring planning and development. Between 1999 and 2009 designed and implemented a system-wide, multi-phased, reentry training programs for counselors and peer mentors at 48 state facilities in New York as part of the transition from prison to community reentry program. Designed and conducted culturally sensitive staff training, (Train the Trainer) for program services staff in NYS DOCS Correctional Facilities. Since 2002, more than 2000 correction counselors, teachers, correctional officers and clergy have received intensive training in culturally competencies strategies for achieving restorative justice and reconciliation upon reentry.

Roxanne Wright

Roxanne Wright is a trainer, educator, and facilitator.  For the past 28 years, she worked for New York State Government.  In her first job, she developed community residential alternatives for the mentally retarded and developmentally disabled.  Her state career continued when she moved into the Office of Workforce Planning and Organizational Development.  It was there that she discovered her passion for training and facilitating.  Asked to do a rotational assignment at the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, she took on the role of co-leading the Public Sector Affiliate of the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) – a national organization dedicated to addressing issues of diversity and intergroup conflict.  Through her work with NCBI and subsequent programs, she has recognized the importance of doing healing work to allow people to access their intelligence and creativity – even in the face of oppression.

In addition, she does work with organizations and schools around many topics including: communication skills, workplace violence prevention, bullying, dealing with conflict, and organizational culture change. In June, Roxanne will be leaving her job with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations to start her own business.

Roxanne received her Bachelors Degree from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, one of the nation’s oldest historically Black colleges and universities, and has begun work on her Master’s Degree at the State University of New York at Albany.

Roxanne is the proud mother of two African American males and the grandmother of two.

Robert Pitre
President at Skyline Ranch/Pitre V Auto/Life Guide for America

Dr. Rev. Ronald L. Steward

4 non-officer Board Position (Vacant)