Mobilizing Young Activists

Wisdom O. Cole is the National Director of the NAACP Youth & College Division. In this role, he serves more than 700 youth councils, high school chapters, and college chapters actively involved in the fight for civil rights. Wisdom brings extensive experience in civil rights advocacy training institute, electoral action training, grassroots organizing, issues toolkits, and webinars at the local, state, and national level. He has managed national campaign efforts focused on building Black political power through youth leadership development, advocacy, and direct action organizing for the past 5 years with the NAACP, formerly as the National Campaigns & Training Manager.

In his time at the NAACP, he has worked on campaigns around the cancelation of student debt, removing police from schools, as well as increasing voter access for young Black people. He has been featured on Politico, NPR, VICE, NBC Washington News, Brooking Institute, and The Economist as an advocate for Black youth voter turnout through issue-based campaign organizing. In 2023, he was recognized in Politico's Recast Power List 2023, honoring those who are changing the world through race and politics.

Wisdom was previously a field and state conference organizer for the Afrikan Black Coalition (ABC), the largest Black collegiate organization in California. In 2014, he collaboratively organized the Afrikan Black Coalition conference that featured keynote speakers such as Marc Lamont Hill, Angela Davis, Bobby Seale, and Attallah Shabazz. For this effort, he received the Chancellor's Achievement Award for Diversity in recognition for outstanding contributions to furthering diversity, inclusion, and excellence at UC Santa Cruz.

Wisdom grew up in California where he earned a B. A. in Chemistry, with a minor in STEM Education, from UC Santa Cruz as well as a M. A. in Teaching from the University of San Francisco.

Derrick Lewis II serves as the Field Manager of the NAACP Youth & College Division. In this role, he serves and supports more than 700 NAACP Youth & College units actively involved in the fight for civil rights across the country. Derrick brings 8 years of experience in grassroots organizing and training on a state and local level as both a member, leader, and national staff. Derrick has increased unit capacity across the country with 212 newly chartered and reactivated NAACP units during his time in the Youth & College Division. He has also worked on increasing voter registration and turnout for Black youth and campaigns around key issue areas such as gun violence and police accountability. Derrick is committed to building Black political power through youth leadership development, advocacy, and direct action.

With his organizing efforts, Derrick has his own proclaimed day in Austin, Texas known as, "Derrick Lewis II Day". In 2019, he was recognized by the Greater Austin Black Chamber of Commerce as Advocate of the Year.

Derrick is from La Marque, Texas a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., and earned his B.A. in Kinesiology Human performance, with a minor in psychology from Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas.

Amari J. Fennoy is the National Training and Programs Manager Youth and College Division. In her role, she serves and supports 700 NAACP Youth & College units in the fight for human and civil rights. Amari joined the NAACP as a student leader with eight years of experience in grassroots organizing and training on state and regional levels.

As Training and Programs Manager, Amari has worked on campaigns to cancel student debt, increase voter access for Black Youth, and develop student resources to create and execute issue-based campaigns. She manages campaigns like the 50k and Beyond Campaign to cancel $1.8 trillion in student debt. In addition, she mobilized 2.5 million dollars of student debt to the doorstep of the U.S. Supreme Court by transporting 200+ students in 8 different states in her first six months on staff. Amari is committed to developing upward mobility for the Black community by developing training and programs that promote youth leadership development and advocacy.

Amari's leadership earned the National Membership Laydown Award 2018, the 2019 Chairman's Trophy for the highest membership increase from 2018-2019, and the 2019 Lucile Black Award for the highest total membership production. In addition, Amari was recognized for her efforts with honor for the 2019 Regions 5 Youth and College Organizer of the Year Award and the 2019 Reverend Dr. Amos Brown Activism Award. She represented the NAACP during the 2019 Women's March in Washington, D.C., and the 2023 Delta Days at the Nation's Capitol.

Amari is a native of East Saint Louis, IL. She earned a B.A. in Political Science from Spelman College and an M.Ed in Special Education from the University of Missouri- St. Louis. She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Incorporated.

Born in Brooklyn, NY Jimel Calliste attended High School for Civil Rights and Law on Thomas Jefferson Campus. Jimel is a young activist who has dedicated much of his life to defending the rights and improving the lives of the underserved. As President of the Bloomsburg University NAACP, he led the founding committee in chartering the collegiate chapter. He led critical campaigns for voting registration and diversity amongst campus students, faculty, and staff.

In 2019 he joined the NAACP's NextGen Program which provides comprehensive leadership and advocacy training for young adults on a mission to become the next generation of civil rights leaders. In 2020 he served as a Democracy fellow where he managed virtual organizers to phone bank and text-recruited volunteers to mobilize the indirect relational voter turnout (IRVT) program.

He has served as President of the Wilkes Barre NAACP, as well as the Advisor of the Pennsylvania NAACP State Conference Youth & College Division, serving as one of the youngest in history for both positions.

Jordan Walker is the Region 1 Youth Board Member of the National Board of Directors.

Gia Greenidge is the Region 2 Youth Board Member of the National Board of Directors. Greenidge is from Saint Albans, Queens, and has been a part of the NAACP since she was thirteen years old in the Jamaica Youth Council Unit 2810. Greenidge then went on to charter a chapter at SUNY Cortland Unit 29AW.  

Kyra Mitchell is a young emerging leader, civil-rights activist, scholar, and Saginaw, Michigan native. She is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University with her Bachelors of Business Administration, with a concentration in Accounting. She currently works at Boston Consulting Group as an associate.

She also currently serves as the Region 3 NAACP Youth Board member and President of the Michigan State Conference Youth and College Division. She previously served as the Chairman of the National Youth Work Committee for 2 consecutive terms. During her time at Eastern Michigan, she served as Vice-President of Eastern Michigan University's Black Student Union and the National Association of Black Accountants. She also served as the Director of Diversity and Community Outreach for Student Government.

Throughout her time in the NAACP, Kyra has worked with various units across her state and region to implement training, ensure units have the resources they need, and ultimately expand the NAACP's reach to communities that need it. She uses her platform in the NAACP to advocate for women's rights, criminal justice reform, Black political power, and many other areas. With this platform, she was able to work with the Michigan Department of Civil Rights and the Michigan Department of Education to create a racial equity program for township and city managers across the state of Michigan.

In 2019, Kyra received the Diversity and Inclusion Award from her school due to her efforts to change the culture on its predominantly white campus and educate minority students on the power they have. In 2020, she was recognized by her university with the Martin Luther King Student Award alongside their state Governor, Gretchen Whitmer for her work around campus and in the community to help fulfill Dr. Martin Luther King's dream.

Alexia R. Dukes is the Coordinator of Inclusive Business Solutions for Greater St. Louis Inc.  As coordinator Alexia prepares packets for the monthly meetings, processes information, and research for the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative and Diverse Business Accelerator. These roles cause her to interact with mid to high-level professionals on a weekly basis.

In 2016, Alexia attended the National Conference for Community and Justice also known as "Anytown" where she went through intense training on cultural diversity. Then in 2017, was hired as a Delegate Leader for the program, helping 40 participants between the ages of 15-17 process the training while also helping to teach the training.

She attends Harris-Stowe State University and majors in Psychology. Throughout her college career, she has received various awards such as Provost Honors 2019-2021, Alexia is a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success, CRU, and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Her extra-curricular activities outside of school include being President of the St. Louis County college of National Association of the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and was Miss NAACP 2018-2019. Alexia is part of the communications committee for Episcopal Church of All Saints and Ascension.

Rylan J. Pendleton is an Alabama native. He has been a member of the NAACP for 12 years and is a proud member of the Limestone County Youth Council in Athens, AL. Pendleton takes pride in helping uplift his community and being a leader within his state and region.

He is a proud graduate of Athens State University, where he achieved his BS in Human resources, as well as his education in the Leadership and Busines Analytics Master's Program. Pendleton is devoted to the work of the NAACP and continues to help lead the mission of the NAACP.

Shevann Steuben is a native of San Francisco, CA. She proudly serves as the president of the Texas NAACP Youth & College Division. She is an alumna of Baylor University with a bachelor's degree in corporate communication studies. Shevann is currently an M.B.A. candidate at Johns Hopkins University and will specialize in public and private sector leadership. Shevann reigns as Miss Texas Black International Ambassador 2022 with a platform focusing on voting rights, making sure voting is not A R.A.R.E. Opportunity.

The inception of Shevann's involvement within the NAACP began as a freshman at Baylor University where she became a member. In 2017 she was appointed Political Action Chair of Baylor NAACP and in 2018 was elected President of the Chapter. She served for two terms and led to chapter to become NAACP's 2018 and 2019 National College Chapter of the Year. Upon learning about the leadership opportunities within the organization she became an active participant of the Texas NAACP State Conference. After serving as the Youth State Treasurer in 2018, she was elected Youth State President in 2019. Her first effort as State President was supporting efforts towards Rodney Reed's stay of execution.

Aside from NAACP Shevann lead in many capacities on Baylor's campus such as Chairwoman of the Black Student Coalition (BSC), Chief of Staff to the Student Government External Vice President, Peer Leader for the First in Line Success Academy, Multicultural Affairs Intern, Academy for Leadership Development Intern, Secretary of the 41st Big XII Conference on Black Student Government, President Freshman Action Team. Shevann has been honored with a number of recognitions including the Torchbearer Award, Outstanding Student Assistant Award, Excellence in Student Involvement Award Senior Recipient, A.A. Marjorie Hyden Endowment Scholarship Recipient, Active Engagement Award Recipient, Emerging Leader Award.

Shevann is also a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a Spring 2019 initiate by way of the Rho Eta Chapter at Baylor University. In 2020, while being the youngest and newest member in the San Francisco alumnae chapter, she was appointed as the Corresponding Secretary. Shevann is currently a member of the Houston Alumnae chapter.

Shevann is continually inspired by the spirit of her peers, the wisdom of her elders, and the future of those who will follow after her. She is passionate about leadership development and also serves as the National Training and Leadership Development Director at Generation Vote. One of her passions is speaking to younger students. She has had the opportunity to speak at events such as "What Truth Sounds Like" at Texas A&M University-Commerce, "Civic Participation: How Youth Can Engage in the Political Process", at Vital Voices Global Partnership, "Let Our Voices Be Heard" for Top Ladies of Distinction. She has also led two webinars with the Youth & College Division: "Community Building Beyond the Pandemic" and "Black Women Lead".

Being a native of San Francisco, CA she noticed significant differences between her home state and her current home. The largest being voting rights and access, which is her advocacy passion lied. To lead in this space she reminds herself to be intentional and bold, and remember she is fearlessly enough.

Brianna Simone Reaves is a young black trailblazer on the rise; a next-generation community activist and scholar who lives fully in her today with the dream of changing our tomorrow.  Brianna is currently a student and the first Black Woman Student Government Association President at the University of Mary Washington located in Fredericksburg, VA, majoring in Sociology with a minor in Social Justice. Brianna is also an NAACP National Youth Board Member and the Virginia State Conference Youth and College Division President.

Carey Walls is the Region 3 Youth Representative for the National Youth Works Committee.

Carey is a December 2021 graduate of Purdue University, studying psychological sciences with a minor in human development and family studies. He also hails from the state of Indiana where he served as the Youth and College President of the Indiana NAACP State Conference.

Lilliana Rivera is the Region 4 Youth Representative for the National Youth Works Committee.

Jovante Mahone is the Region 5 Youth Representative for the National Youth Works Committee. He is a native of Hopkinsville, KY, and currently serves as the President of the NAACP Tennessee State Conference Youth and College Division. Mahone also serves on the NAACP National Youth Works Committee as secretary. He is the youngest of three boys and born to Keith and the late Tara Mahone, and strives to be an advocate and activist wherever he goes. 

Hailee Hall serves as the Dallas NAACP Youth Council's secretary and the Region 6 Youth Representative. She has also served as an NAACP Vote 4 Me Ambassador and Region 6 Youth Secretary during the 112th National Convention. Hailee is currently a senior at the School of Science and Engineering at Townview. She is a member of her school's National Honor Society and serves as secretary of Townview's Black Student Union.

Channing Hill is an aspiring lawyer pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Strategic, Legal, and Management Communication at Howard University in Washington, D.C.

Channing is not new to social justice and advocacy.
At only 20 years old, Channing has organized and led protests in public schools in her home state of Texas since her adolescence. Finding her voice in her NAACP Youth Council in Arlington, Texas, she now leads as the Howard University NAACP Chapter President and the Region 7 National Youth-Works Committee Representative.

In Fall 2021, Channing was one of eight student leaders in #BlackburnTakeover, a sit-in protest at Howard University that lasted 34 days, the longest student protest in Howard's History.

Channing's commitment to social justice is rooted in a firm belief in community and black radical traditions.

Mrs. Akosua Ali is the President of the NAACP Washington, DC Branch and a member of the National Board of Directors. At 35, Mrs. Ali is one of the youngest Presidents of an NAACP Branch throughout the nation. As President, Mrs. Ali works to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial discrimination in the District of Columbia. The strategic priorities for her administration include advocating for equal access to employment, financial literacy, health and wellness, equal access to high-quality education, and voter empowerment. She leads the implementation of programs administered by 20 standing committees, including Climate, Criminal Justice, Economic, Education, Finance, Fundraising, Health, Housing, International Affairs, Labor, Legal Redress, Membership, Political Action, Public Relations, Religious Affairs, Veteran Affairs, Women in NAACP (WIN), Young Adults, Youth Works, and the Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO). Akosua Ali is also a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors.

President Ali has led the NAACP in processing over 300 discrimination complaints, since 2010. In 2011, President Ali testified before DC City Council in support of the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive Designation Act of 2011, hosted the NAACP Region VII Conference, and conducted various programs including a Health Fair, Religious Leaders HIV/AIDS Discussion, Campus to Career Panel Discussion, Health Forum, Veterans Forum, Financial Management Workshop, Healthy Eating Nutrition Workshop and Get Out The Vote (GOTV) Civic Engagement Training.

During her tenure with the NAACP, Akosua Ali has served in numerous positions. From 2008 to 2010, she served as Second Vice President of the DC Branch. From 2006 to 2008, she served as Young Adults Chair and Assistant Secretary of the DC Branch. From 2001 to 2003, Akosua served as President of the Johnson & Wales University NAACP College Chapter. Her accomplishments include implementing a series of initiatives in celebration of the NAACP's 100th anniversary, including town hall forums, health symposiums, professional development workshops, HIV awareness trainings, voter registration drives, and education forums.

Mrs. Ali holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) and a Bachelor of Science from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Mrs. Ali is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a service sorority. Akosua was initiated into the Lambda Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. in 2003. Today, Akosua Ali is an active member of the Washington, DC Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Mrs. Ali is also a chartering member of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Blacks In Government (BIG) Chapter.

Akosua Ali is a native of Washington, DC. Mrs. Ali attended Ujamaa Shule and graduated from School Without Walls, Senior High School in Washington, DC. Akosua was born to parents Kofi Tyus and Shirley Suber-Tyus among four siblings, including Andre, Yao, Ama, and Aba Tyus. Akosua Ali is married to Mustafa Santiago Ali and they reside in Ward 7 of Washington, DC.

The former Johnnie Raye McMillian, received her Bachelor's Degree from Fayetteville University and a Masters of Education Degree from the University of Miami. After that she was certified by the State of Florida in areas of: Elementary Education, Educational Leadership, Guidance and Counseling, Social Studies, Mental Retardation, and Specific Learning Disabilities. She retired from the Miami-Dade County Public Schools after a 39 year successful career that took her from the classroom to an Educational/Placement Specialist, ESE; Interim ESE Director, Region IV; Interim Principal, Westview Elementary and Summer Principal, Floral Heights Elementary School. She also served as an Adjunct Professor at Miami-Dade College, Florida Memorial and Nova University. At the Miami Dade County Public School District level, she served as Director, Title I Program and District Director, Alternative Education Programs, where she was directly responsible for Juvenile Justice and Teen Parent Programs. She is the proud mother of three adult children, Ronald, Norman, II and Treska; and the loving grandmother of Amber, Chalice, Khari and Destinee.

Adora Obi Nweze is a devoted member of New Harvest Missionary Baptist Church, Miami, FL; member of Gamma Zeta Omega Chapter, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.; and serves as the  Associate Matron, Angels of Adora Chapter #99, Order of Eastern Star, PHA. Her NAACP affiliation includes being a Diamond Life member of the NAACP; President of the Florida State Conference NAACP, member of the NAACP National Board of Directors; member, NAACP Special Contribution Fund/Board of Trustees. She serves on the following National Board Committees: Chair, ACT-SO Committee; Chair, NAACP Education Committee; member, NAACP Advocacy and Policy; member, NAACP Memberships and Units; member, NAACP Convention Planning; member, NAACP Membership sub-committee; member, Environmental Justice/Climate Control Subcommittee; and member, Gulf Oil Taskforce.

She was appointed in 2010 as a member, National Advisory Council (NAC), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and as Chair, Affirmative Action Committee FL Democratic Party.  Previously held positions include: Appointed by former Governor Charlie Crist as Special Advisor for Minority Affairs; member, Search Committee for NAACP President/CEO 2007/2008; member, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Advisory Committee which developed a Post Katrina Report. Adora, has served as Chair of the National 50th Anniversary of Brown v. Board and was the President for the Miami-Dade Branch (11 years) and the Opa-Locka Branch (2 years); member, Federal Communications Commission, Special Committee on Post Katrina; Coordinator, Disaster Relief and Region V, Coordinator Women In NAACP (WIN) Committee.  She spearheaded lawsuits that were filed by the Florida State Conference to include: the One Florida Initiative, the Voting Irregularities of 2000 and Voter Disenfranchisement, the Department of Corrections, School Vouchers, Felony Disenfranchisement, and Affirmative Action. Recently, she has been an out spoken advocate in seeking Justice for the murder of Martin Lee Anderson.  Because of her strong belief in community, she has been successful in building NAACP partnerships with the Florida Departments of Education, Health, Corrections, Juvenile Justice, the Florida Bureau of Elderly Affairs, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.  She has implemented strategies and activities with the Department of Health/HIV/AIDS Division to bring about an awareness of the impact that HIV/AIDS has on the Black and Minority Communities throughout the State of Florida.

Adora has been on the forefront for many initiatives to include but not limited to: Successful fundraising efforts at the local, state, region and national levels; organized successful NAACP memberships Drives yielding hundreds of new regular and Life Members; Daisy Bates Education Summit; ACTSO Competitions; Criminal/Juvenile Justice, Religious Affairs, Health, Education, Environmental Justice, Legal Redress, Telecommunications, Economic Development, Veteran Affairs Activities. Adora is also an advocate for youth and increasing young adult participation in the NAACP. She has organized meetings that have resulted in increasing young adult participation with Branch, Youth Council and College Chapters throughout and raised financial support for youth involvement to attend State Conferences, Regional and National Conventions. Also, she organized a State Young Adult Committee.

Adora's community service is legendary. She is a much sought after speaker for workshops and conferences at the local, state, and national levels. In addition, she continues to be an inspiration and role model for those aspiring to be community leaders in the future. She is known as a challenger, motivator and orator, through her demonstration as President of the Florida State Conference NAACP. President Nweze believes that we must proactively seek to eradicate voter apathy in our communities through the dutiful and diligent dissemination of information affecting every aspect of our community. Education, Healthcare, Unemployment, Criminal and Juvenile Justice, as well as Housing are a few of the issues negatively impacting our communities daily that are addressed under her leadership.

The awards and recognitions from the local community as well as from the NAACP have been numerous. Listed below are a few of the recognitions:

• Kelly M. Alexander Sr. State Conference President's Award
• Dr. Benjamin Lawson Hooks, Keeper of the Flame Award
• Civil Rights Award, Florida Conference on Civil Rights
• Rutledge H. Pearson Leadership Award, Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches
• Adora Obi Nweze, Intergenerational Award, Youth and College Division, Florida State Conference
• Presidents Award, Florida State Conference of NAACP Branches
• Ida B. Wells Risk Taker Award, National Alliance of Black School Educators Sojourner Truth Award, Miami Chapter, National Association of Negro
• Business and Professional Women
• W.E.B. Dubois International Award, NAACP Regional Conference
• Medgar Wiley Evers Award, Region V NAACP
• Adams/Powell Civil Rights Award, Miami-Dade Branch NAACP
• Pioneer Award, Florida Democratic Black Caucas
• Humanitarian Award, Top Ladies of Distinction
• WMBM AM 1490 Community Service Award (Award is now named the Adora Obi Nweze Award for Community Service)
• Florida Education Association (FEA) President's Award
• Education Award, Imperial Court Daughters of Isis
• Outstanding Community Service, Gamma Zeta Omega Wish Foundation
• University of Miami/Minority Organ Tissue and Transplantation (MOTTEP) Outstanding Leadership Award
• March on Tallahassee/Coalition of Conscience, Leadership Award

Larnee Satchell is a Board Appointee for the National Youth Works Committee.

Terri Hughes is a Board Appointee for the National Youth Works Committee.

Kellye D. Cunningham has been involved in the NAACP for over 30 years, beginning her service as an elementary school student in the Louisville (KY) Youth Council.

She is a native of Louisville, KY, and a graduate of Clark Atlanta University and Kentucky State University. Her desire is that youth have the passion to continue to educate themselves on the importance of civil rights advocacy and its history. All youth have gifts and talents that the NAACP can help develop in the Youth and College Division. She believes in cultivating those gifts and giving youth positive strategies to be successful.

Kellye is currently the 3rd Vice President of the Louisville Branch of the NAACP. She wants her leadership in the NAACP to develop holistic relationships within the Youth & College Division and help them emerge into today's leaders through advocacy and civil rights. Besides being Region III Adult Representative for the National Youth Work Committee, she is also the State Advisor for Kentucky Youth & College.

Calon Mask-Oats is a native of Lubbock, TX. He proudly serves as the Region 6 Adult Rep on the National Youth Works Committee. Calon is a first-generation college graduate with dual bachelor's degrees in Mathematics & Political Science from Texas Southern University. He is currently an M.S Mathematics candidate at Texas Southern University and will specialize in ethnomathematics education. 

Calon Mask-Oats' leadership in the NAACP began as the Triple E Chair of the Texas Southern University Unit 6864-B in 2015. He went on to hold the positions of Assistant Treasurer, Treasurer, and 1st Vice President, before serving as President for two consecutive terms. Calon made significant contributions to the third ward community. He brought together other campus organizations, community partners, and local governmental agencies to help carry out the mission of the NAACP.

Aside from NAACP, Calon serves as the lead AP Statistics & Algebra II teacher and Department Chair for one of the local Houston charter school networks. Though by trade he teaches mathematics, he uses his work with the NAACP and minority groups to build culturally responsible students. He hopes that every student leaves his class a better person than they walked in.

Calon's commitment to the Youth & College division stems from his passion for educating and growing the next generation. He believes that strong leaders are cultivated over time with the right guidance. With his experience in activism and the classroom, Calon believes he is in a prime position to lead the charge.