Welcome

Leadership . Equity . Activism . Policy

Black Women are one of the most powerful and consistent voting blocs in America today. According to the US Census, 55% of eligible black women voters cast their ballots in the last mid-term elections, six percentage points above the average. This has been a consistent trend over the past decades, according to research published by the independent Pew Research Center.

What We Do

Our Leadership

* = Founding Members

Janice Weaver

Director of Community Relations, City of Houston

  • Possesses a vast amount of community outreach experience and is heavily involved in making a difference in the City of Houston, Harris County, and state of Texas political arena
  • Plans and participates in City of Houston (and beyond) community meetings with citizens to keep them informed of City services and changes
  • Networks with social service agencies, communities, faith-based organizations, and businesses to promote cooperation, creative initiatives and involvement with the city
  • Develops community outreach projects to support and advocate City/ community initiatives
  • Houston Community College
  • Volunteerism – United Way, Aldine Youth Center, St. Monica Youth Sports Ministry, Acres Home Youth Association, Grove Community Outreach, For His Glory Ministries, Fr. Alphonsus Kidney Foundation, NAACP, LCLAA, A. Phillip Randolph Organization, LULAC Board Member for Houston Area Community Services (HACS), Gospel Music Heritage Committee, Precinct Judge #0698, Telephone Pioneers and the African American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Houston
  • President/CEO One Body Networking Donate Blood – Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center – Donor Code JW13

* Argentina M. James

President & CEO, HillDay Public Relations

  • Provides executive leadership and oversight to a fast-growing public relations firm that develops and implements strategies that incorporate marketing and advertising campaigns, corporate and brand identity programs, and stakeholder engagement that drive extraordinary results
  • Excellent community relationships, fundraising skills, and political savvy which have transformed community organizations
  • Texas Southern University – MA, Speech Communications
  • Texas Southern University – BA, Journalism
  • Volunteerism – The Ensemble Theatre; Houston Branch of NAACP; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; The Links, Incorporated; Young Women’s Preparatory Academy

* Sharon Murphy

Partner, McConnell & Jones LLP/McConnell Jones Lanier & Murphy LLP

  • Partner in the largest African American-owned CPA firm in the U.S.
  • Co-leads the firm’s Consulting practice and heads the firm’s Education practice
  • Serves a national clientele in both the public and private sectors in industry areas that include government, education, entertainment, finance, public utilities, and telecommunications
  • Areas of specialization include administration management support, organizational development, business process improvement and implementation assistance
  • Clark Atlanta University – MBA, Finance
  • Indiana University – BA, Communications
  • Volunteerism – Unity Bank Board of Directors; Ensemble Theatre – Board of Directors; Unity Bank – Board of Directors; American Leadership Forum – Former Board Chair; Women’s Home – Board of Directors; Houston Arts Alliance – Board of Directors; The Links, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. – Life Member

Tené Thomas

Partner, McConnell & Jones LLP

  • Partner in the largest African American-owned CPA firm in the U.S.
  • Certified Public Accountant
  • Leads the firm’s Tax Practice with more than 20 years of technical experience in tax compliance, planning, business management, and accounting services
  • Serves a myriad of industries including sports and entertainment, professional services, health care, real estate, manufacturing, and investment advisory services
  • Provides diverse and comprehensive tax services to notable small businesses, mid-size companies, and high net worth individuals that promote long-term business success
  • California Polytechnic University – BS, Business Administration
  • Volunteerism – Former Treasurer and Finance Chair for the National Kidney Foundation of Southeast Texas; Leadership Houston; Jack and Jill of America; Former weekly business contributor on CNN’s 650AM talk radio program “The Price of Business,” and periodic expert contributor in several articles for Accounting Today

* Duni Hebron

CEO, The Emerald Group and Partner, Strategic Turn Around Team

  • Distinguished corporate executive and business owner with extensive executive leadership experience within the services, human resources, marketing, business development and management, strategic planning and real estate industries
  • Serves as a partner and co-founder of Strategic Turn Around Team (STAT), a turnaround healthcare company, which manages health facilities in the areas of finance and administration, marketing, business development, compliance regulation and governmental relations
  • Partnered to form Al Hadir, LLC, an international firm that works with foreign countries on securing U.S. funding for various in-country projects. The company has worked on developing major agricultural projects in the Republic of Nigeria
  • Baker College – BBA, Business Administration and Management
  • Volunteerism – Unity Church of Christianity Board of Directors; UNICEF; Sisters of Sierra Leone and Saving Lives Through Alternate Options; Former board of directors with The Ensemble Theater and Julia C. Hester House

Dr. Angela Ravin-Anderson

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Dr. Janice Beal

President/CEO, Beal Consulting Associates

  • Serves as an expert mental health clinician, treating the emotional needs of children and adolescents. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Beal has published articles on teen pregnancy, self-esteem, violence and African American issues and presented research at more than 75 national and international conferences
  • Contracted as a mental health expert for the Steve Fund where she serves as the program director for “Well Being In Color” a peer mental health educational program, and support groups for students of color. This program is unique and will reach over six hundred students in Houston and New York City
  • Recently, served as a member of the Mayor of Houston’s task force for special needs and a consultant for Congresswoman Shelia Jackson Lee on youth mental health and domestic violence for COVID-19 victims
  • University of Texas – Postdoctoral education — School of Public Health and California School of Professional Psychology — Health Care Administration Certification
  • Texas Southern University – Ed.D. in Guidance and Counseling/ Psychology
  • Texas Southern University – MA in Clinical Psychology
  • University of St. Thomas – BA in Psychology
  • Volunteerism – Board Chair Texans YWCA; YWCA-Houston Board President; Depelchin Children’s Center Board The Links, Incorporated; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority

Martha Castex-Tatum

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Lashandra "Shaun" Boddy

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* Diedra Fontaine

Director, Alumni Relations, University of Houston College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

  • 30 years experience in Sales, Fundraising, Community Affairs and Auditing
  • Doctoral Candidate in Ethical Leadership Social Justice at St. Thomas University, Houston
  • Texas Southern University – MBA
  • University of North Texas – BA, Business Computer Information Systems
  • Volunteerism – The Ensemble Theatre Board Member; Dress for Success Houston, Holocaust Museum, Ivy Educational and Charitable Foundation of Houston; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter; Houston (TX) Chapter of The Links, Inc.; Jack and Jill of America, Inc. Houston Chapter; Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church – Deaconess; Women’s Guild, and Together for Good Ministries

Marvalette Hunter

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Adfanie Smith-Gray

BAD-DAB Inc., Chief Executive Officer

  • As a result of sound strategic planning and keen business acumen, The Spot Lounge and Bar led the state of Texas in sales per square foot for three consecutive years
  • Responsible for managing payroll, balancing and analyzing budgets, and forecasting economic trends to sustain the business’s competitive advantage within the industry
  • Recently finalized the closing of a shopping center development on the Emancipation Street corridor, which opened in spring 2021
  • Recent graduate of the prestigious Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program
  • Nonprofit and governmental professional experience includes Director of Fund Development and Public Relations at the Girl Scouts of South Texas, Business Consultant for the Harris County Department of Education, and Budget Analyst at NASA (Lockheed-Martin)
  • Texas Woman’s University – MBA
  • Sam Houston University – BBA, Accounting
  • Volunteerism – Greater Pearland Area (TX) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (former Chapter President); Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated; Jack and Jill of America; Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Cynthia Wilson

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