The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is charged with reviewing grant proposals and making funding recommendations as well as identifying gaps and opportunities to create a more equitable and economically inclusive Central New York for the Black community.

Latoya Allen

Deputy Executive Director, Home HeadQuarters (HHQ)

Me’Shae Brooks-Rolling, CEPF®, M.P.A.

Executive Director, Upstate Minority Economic Alliance and Serial Entrepreneur

Rickey Brown

Founder and Principal, Diversify-NY, LLC
Headshot of Jalyn Clifford

JALYN CLIFFORD

Director of Human Resources, Syracuse Housing Authority

Cal Corriders

Community Development Officer, Pathfinder Bank

Shawni Davis

President/CEO of Luminary Electrical Contractor, LLC
Headshot Bishop Dewberry

BISHOP RONALD B. DEWBERRY

Senior Pastor and Founder, New Life Temple of Praise; CEO, Center of Hope International, Inc.

Lekia K. Hill

President & CEO of Lekia Tech LLC and Founder of Powerful Voices
Headshot Tanisha Jackson

TANISHA JACKSON, PH.D.

Executive Director, Community Folk Art Center; Professor, Syracuse University College of Arts & Sciences

Chris Montgomery

Director of Syracuse Build at CNY Works Inc.

MARK MUHAMMAD

Syracuse Representative, Nation of Islam; Citizen Diplomat, O.U.R. L.E.A.D.E.R.S.H.I.P. Collective

Cjala Surratt

Arts Sector Advocate, Business Owner

Black Equity & Excellence Stories

Men gardening
Blogs March 5, 2024

A safe space for Deaf New Americans to develop education, leadership, and life skills without limitation

Monu Chhetri, founder & CEO of Deaf New American Advocacy, Inc. explains how her participation ...

News Releases February 20, 2024

Community Foundation Announces Three New Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council Members

The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is charged with reviewing grant proposals and making ...

Artwork
Blogs December 27, 2023

Everson Museum Highlights Local Indigenous Artist

In July, the Everson hosted Frank Buffalo Hyde’s first solo exhibit in New York State, ...

Two people sit at a table with laptops talking.
News Releases December 4, 2023

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

State-of-the-art resources and one-on-one coaching are being offered to 17 organizations that are primarily serving ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

Men gardening
Blogs March 5, 2024

A safe space for Deaf New Americans to develop education, leadership, and life skills without limitation

Monu Chhetri, founder & CEO of Deaf New American Advocacy, Inc. explains how her participation ...

News Releases February 20, 2024

Community Foundation Announces Three New Black Equity & Excellence Fund Advisory Council Members

The Black Equity & Excellence Advisory Council is charged with reviewing grant proposals and making ...

Artwork
Blogs December 27, 2023

Everson Museum Highlights Local Indigenous Artist

In July, the Everson hosted Frank Buffalo Hyde’s first solo exhibit in New York State, ...

Two people sit at a table with laptops talking.
News Releases December 4, 2023

Community Foundation Bringing Training Platform to Organizations Serving Historically Excluded Communities

State-of-the-art resources and one-on-one coaching are being offered to 17 organizations that are primarily serving ...

collage of pictures of young girls doing art
News Releases October 30, 2023

More than $235,000 in Grants Awarded to Black-Led Organizations

Seventeen Black Equity & Excellence Fun grants, totaling $238,200, distributed to Black-led organizations.

Blogs October 8, 2023

Reflections: A Data-Driven Approach for Equity

Frank Ridzi tells us about a new racial equity section on CNY Vitals, our 'state ...

Blogs September 15, 2023

Reflections: Continued Learning for Equity/Reflexiones: Aprendizaje Continuo para la Equidad

Yeisha Núñez-Denson, tells us about her experience joining our efforts toward an equitable internal work ...

Blogs August 7, 2023

Reflections: Amplifying Voices for Equity

Juliet Maloff, senior communications officer, explains how we are shifting some of our storytelling to ...

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