Juan Pablo Chávez

Juan Pablo Chávez

Juan Pablo Chávez was born and raised in Mexico. When he was a teenager, he came to the United States in search of better opportunities. In 1992 he started to organize youth groups as a Catholic volunteer in the Archdiocese of Chicago. In 1998 he became a Professional Community Organizer with the Southwest Organizing Project in Chicago, a member of Industrial Areas Foundation through United Power for Action and Justice, a large faith-based community organization on the Southwest side of Chicago. In the Southwest Organizing Project he organized more than 175 marches with close to 20 churches in southwest Chicago. He also participated in a successful campaign for in-state tuition for undocumented students in Illinois. In 2005, he was invited by the DART network to work in the Pinellas and Hillsborough County in Florida, where he was part of the effort to pass an amendment to help low income families get affordable housing.

His vocation as an organizer was influenced at the early age of five by his who, by necessity, led a neighborhood group of families to fight their displacement and for low-income housing in a process of gentrification in Mexico. He has community organizing in his blood, fire in his belly, and faith and justice in his heart. Through this mission he has received a call to work with the immigrant community. Juan Pablo can be described as an insatiable fighter for social justice. He has deep respect for the dignity of the people he seeks to help, especially the youth, women and immigrants.

Dr. Robert Conners

Dr. Robert Conners

Director of Research
Florida Commission on Human Relations
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Dr. Conners directs agency research and assists in formulating policy for the Florida Commission on Human Relations. He holds a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology and Human Systems from Florida State University and has more than two decades' experience working for and consulting with numerous public and private sector institutions and agencies in matters ranging from institutional research to race relations. Shortly after earning his doctorate in the late eighties, Dr. Conners joined FSU's African American Studies faculty, conducting research in race conflict theory, race relations and multicultural education and curriculum development. During his tenure at FSU, he was principal investigator for a three-year, U. S. Department of Justice-sponsored project investigating racial disparities in Florida's juvenile justice system. From 2002 through 2007, Dr. Conners served as senior consultant for MGT of America, a Tallahassee-based government consulting firm, where he directed or participated in 19 disparity studies for state and local government entities, examining their utilization of minority and women-owned businesses. He is a published author and has delivered presentations on group conflict and race relations topics in dozens of professional and educational forums around the country. He remains an active member of several professional associations, including the Association for Conflict Resolution and the American Educational Research Association and also serves with the North Florida Regional Domestic Security Task Force as a consultant in bioterrorism response preparedness.

Sokoya Finch

Sokoya Finch

Founder and Executive Director
Florida Family Network, Inc. (FFN)

Sokoya Finch is founder and Executive Director of Florida Family Network, Inc. (FFN). FFN's mission is to advocate, educate, and promote self-sufficiency among families by strengthening the family foundation. Ms. Finch has been working with minorities and very low- to-moderate income families across the Southern Black Belt region; specifically in Florida, for more than 30 years. Her areas of focus in disparities have included poverty and wealth, health, education, and incarceration disparities.

Ms. Finch's efforts in combating persistent poverty in the Southeast Region of Florida, along with other community-based agencies, i.e., Historical Black Colleges & Universities, and 1890 land grant institutions, have led to specific federal legislative efforts Ms. Finch and FFN are currently a leading agency for advocacy efforts of Florida in building a statewide Asset Building Coalition (FABC) with an interdisciplinary approach to asset creation among communities of color and low to-moderate income families who are impacted by recent disasters and families inability to gain, maintain, accumulate and grow their assets. Ms. Finch works as an advocate, convener, supporter, and technical assistance provider in asset-building issues that are presently being development for the Southern Regional Asset Building Coalition; including the States of Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Ms. Finch has often used her many talents of advocating for systemic changes for the poverty stricken, low-income, working families in both rural and urban communities; she has also been the thread that has weaved through other services the common stitches in the social fabric of families healthy growth and stability; she has provided technical assistance to universities, community-based organizations, health care delivery agencies in organizational development, community-based participatory research, and developed strategic plans to dismantle poverty in the south. She was a major role-player, managing teams of community and health disparities experts in the development of the State of Florida's first health strategic plan for the state's racial and ethnic minorities. Ms. Finch brings grassroots health communication and experiential knowledge to risk communications, including patient and consumer perspectives, to her five-year appointment to the Food and Drug Administration Risk Communication Advisory Committee. On a county level, she sits on the Tallahassee Branch of NAACP's Health Committee, whose primary objective is racial health disparities and access to better healthcare services.

On behalf of FFN, Ms. Finch serves on the board of Florida Black Chamber of Commerce (FBCC). FBCC represents more than 5,000 members and 400 businesses across the State of Florida. Ms. Finch ensures that FFN's statewide outreach efforts intersect the basic components that strengthen the core of individuals and families. In the area of Education, Ms. Finch is a member of the Board of the George Washington Carver Humanitarian Institute. The Carver Humanitarian Institute is dedicated to advancing educational opportunities for disadvantaged communities and the introduction of technology as an equalizer. Ms. Finch's educational efforts reached the disenfranchised population -- incarcerated mothers. She has been teaching in state and federal prisons, and in public and private primary/adult education for over 15 years. She also serves as a national advocate on behalf of incarcerated mothers and the children and families left behind.

Ms. Finch is one of the founding members of the Black Belt Action Network (BBAN), a coalition comprised of community people, community activists, scholars and scholar-activists from the Black Belt/Delta South. BBAN has been working since 2004 through community-university partnerships to strengthen and extend the work of a region-wide and grassroots network that combats poverty.

Ms. Finch's credentials include a bachelor in Political Science/Journalism from Florida A & M University, masters in Education from The George Washington University and A.B.D in Education Policy from Florida State University. Ms. Finch is married and the mother of three adult children.

Carolyn Ford

Carolyn Ford

Founder and Executive Director
North Florida Educational Development Corporation.

Carolyn Ford is the founder and Executive Director of the North Florida Educational Development Corporation, based in Gretna, the chairperson of Florida Black Chambers of Commerce, and the former mayor of Quincy, Florida. She is a former teacher in Gadsden County and a former instructor at Florida State University. In addition, she has served as program supervisor at Apalachee Community Mental Health Services, Inc. At the North Florida Educational Development Corporation, Ms. Ford manages several community-based programs: the Jericho Organizing Project; the Retro-Fix Program, which employs youth and low-income workers while providing repair services to low-income homeowners, especially senior citizens; the Entrepreneurial Program for middle- and high-school students at W.S. Stevens School; and Home Buyers Clubs offering counseling and support for low-income residents seeking mortgages. North Florida Educational Corporation also is involved in housing programs through SouthSprings, the Rural Home Loan Partnership, Hamilton Places and the WellSpring Initiative.

Ms. Ford earned bachelor's and master's degrees at Florida A&M University and a specialist degree in Counseling and Human Systems at Florida State University.

Gena Gunn

Gena Gunn

Project Director & Director of Asset Building in States and Coalitions
Center for Social Development
George Warren Brown School of Social Work
Washington University in St. Louis

Gena Gunn serves as Project Director and Director of Asset Building in States and Coalitions at the Center for Social Development (CSD) at Washington University's Brown School.
Ms. Gunn has extensive project management, program development, and policy advocacy experience in the areas of asset-building, asset policy coalition development, and workforce development assistance for low-to-moderate-income-households and marginalized populations. She leads efforts to identify systemic barriers experienced by vulnerable populations and to advance effective solutions through coalition building, advocacy, and legislative change. Her work with CSD primarily involves policy research analysis and consultation with community-based asset-building programs, state and federal policymakers, and advocate groups. Ms. Gunn's program development and policy advocacy work focus on asset building, coalition development, and community economic development assistance for low- and moderate-income households and marginalized populations. Her research focuses on identifying and advancing asset-building policy strategies for state and regional coalitions.
Prior to joining CSD, Ms. Gunn developed, managed, and directed the first state Individual Development Account (IDA) Program in Missouri while working for East-West Gateway Coordinating Council and Council of Mayors organization in St. Louis, Missouri. She continues to counsel individual states regarding IDA policy and programs, and consults about other asset-building policies to non-profit organizations and the federal government. Ms. Gunn earned a bachelor's degree from the Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, IL and business management master's degree at Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

Furlow-Herrington

Melba Furlow-Herrington

MPA, PhD(candidate)
Northeast Florida Community Action Agency

As a teenager, Melba was appointed to Mayor Teen Volunteers by former Mayor, Tommy Hazouri. In 1987, Melba earned both the Silver and Silver Leadership Awards. They were both presented by former Governor Martinez's wife at the governor's mansion in Tallahassee, Florida. In 1991, Melba was recognized by former president George Bush, Sr. when she earned both, the Gold and Gold Leadership Awards. This award was recognized by the Veteran's of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, The Air Force, and several national organizations. Melba earned the Chamber of Commerce's/NAACP Tomorrow's Leader Award. In similarity, other notable accomplishments include being selected by Tot's N' Teens Theatre, Inc. to play a flute solo in conjunction with a spiritual dance honoring Rosa Parks at an SCLC Convention.

From college to now, Melba has participated in many organizations and programs. For example, she represented FAMU as a Model UN team member. She re-organized Lambda Alpha Epsilon, FAMU's criminal justice association. Further, she was selected to participate in the Black Executive Exchange Program, FAMU's SCLC, FAMU's NAACP (secretary), Hatchet Pre-Law Society (secretary), Lambda Alpha Epsilon (president), legislative intern to former State Representative Willeye Dennis and press intern to the late Governor Lawton Chiles. In 1992, she enlisted in United States Army Reserve as a combat medic and served as a Non-Commissioned Officer. Additionally, she was a Young and Striving Mentor, peer counselor (represented the school at a convention for peer counselors), held several pageant titles. , including the prestigious Ms. Black Florida USA. As Miss Black Florida USA, she earned both the Miss Black Florida and National Miss Black USA's Community Service Awards. She was featured in Positive Black Images for her contribution to society and Cambridge Who's Who in executive leadership.

Currently, Melba is a professor at the University of Phoenix and manages NFCAA's Individual Development Account (IDA) program. Additionally, Melba is a motivational speaker, consultant, business developer, and professional development trainer. Melba has participated with the following organizations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., World Affairs Council, American Society for Public Administrators, Girl Scouts USA (Lifetime Member), National Council of Negro Women (Lifetime Member), JCCI, Society for Psychology and the Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), American Cancer Society (Relay for Life), Professional Woman Network, and former corresponding secretary for Duval County's Juvenile Justice Council. . She published a book entitled, Voices of Soul. Likewise, Melba hosted a Christian radio talk show called Favor on Gospel 1400AM from 2006-2007. Recently, Melba was selected to participate in television personality, Iyanla Vanzant's, Spiritual Life Coaching Program.

Lastly, Melba is completing studies towards a Doctor of Philosophy in Public Policy and Administration. She earned Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Florida A&M University and Master of Science Administration in Public Administration from Central Michigan University. Further, she has completed course work towards a Master of Divinity at Luther Rice University, Master of Business Administration at Webster University, and Juris Doctorate Studies at both Florida Coastal and Humphrey's Law Schools. Melba also graduated from Volunteer Jacksonville's Blueprint for Leadership and JCCI's Board of Director's Training Program. Melba has served on several Board of Directors as well as chaired several committees at local, state, and national levels.

Eric M. Kelly

Eric M. Kelly

Regional Vice President, Palm Beach
Allegany Franciscan Ministries, Inc.

Eric M. Kelly is a graduate of Florida State University. At Allegany Franciscan Ministries he directs the foundation's grant-making and community engagement efforts in Palm Beach, Martin and St. Lucie Counties, with a focus on promoting culturally competent access to healthcare to improve the health status of persons in poor and marginalized communities.  Prior to joining Allegany Franciscan Ministries in 2003, Eric was Director of Community Investments at United Way of Palm Beach County.
Eric has directed and facilitated strategic planning and board development sessions for a number of local health and human services organizations. He is active in community and volunteer activities: he currently serves on a variety of community steering and advisory committees, is a member of the board of directors of the Area Agency on Aging Palm Beach/Treasure Coast and is a community volunteer at Jesus and You (J.A.Y.) Ministries, a residential program for men recovering from substance abuse. Eric lives in Palm Beach County with his wife and four children.

Karen Landry

Karen Landry

Executive Director
War on Poverty - Florida, Inc.

Karen L. Landry is President/Executive Director of the War on Poverty - Florida, Inc., a 501(c)(3) Florida nonprofit organization. Karen is a Principal with Organizational Development Resources, Inc. and Village Architects, Inc.

Karen's experience as a practitioner in the asset development and community development arena has provided a fresh perspective in community revitalization; implementing customized strategies "asset building blocks," Turning Points and Assets for Change Forums for building wealth in target communities in Florida. She has assisted residents and community leaders in processes to determine their strategic vision, build collaborative partnerships, and establish and implement strategic objectives.

Karen also has designed and implemented leadership development programs, performance management systems, management information systems, and enterprise training solutions. She has led and managed teams to assess the organizational climate, and employee and customer needs through surveys, interviews and focus groups.

Karen has lead, managed and delivered projects in:

• Community asset analysis
• Financial and Business literacy education
• Instructional design
• Workforce education (capacity and skill building workshops, technical and sales training, business simulation)
• Management information systems
• Customized learning interventions
• Management and leadership development
• Capture management, grant writing and proposal development, including GSA and NMTC

Karen is a graduate of Jacksonville University with a Bachelors degree in Business and Computer Information Systems. She is a Certified Instructional Designer and Competent Toastmaster. Karen currently serves on the Board of Directors for the City Kids Art Factory, Women of Color Cultural Foundation Auxiliary, and has served on the Florida League of Cities NMTC Fund LLC Advisory Board.

Dr. Carlton Robinson

Dr. Carlton Robinson

President, First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce
Independent Researcher/Consultant

Dr. Carlton Lamar Robinson is a native Floridian (St. Petersburg), veteran of the United States Army, and resident of Northeast Florida (Clay County) since 2000. During his nine-year tenure with a Fortune 50 financial services firm he worked in multiple communities in the areas of employment, business development, and underwriting. At the end of that tenure (2005) he focused on the final year of his doctoral studies in the area of management and workplace diversity. He balanced his studies with volunteer opportunities at the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, The First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, and The Jacksonville Urban League. Upon graduation (2007) he assumed a leadership positions at the First Coast African American Chamber of Commerce and the Clay County Chamber of Commerce.
Those experiences have led him to gain a better understanding of the business community throughout Northeast Florida and the potential impact of legislation on business activity. He is an advocate for business and education. He currently serves on boards that stimulate the local economy through access to capital and business development. He has also contributed to the region through the development of two local economic summits that produced supplier diversity and employment opportunities for participants.
In addition, Dr. Robinson has written extensively about entrepreneurial opportunities that may have a positive impact on the region relative to per capita income and small business development. His Diverse Business Enterprise Impact Model has been adopted by The Florida Black Chamber of Commerce in an effort to capture the capacity and utilization of small businesses; the model can be adapted for any subgroup. Some of his work has been presented at the White House on behalf of multiple Asset Building Agencies (March 2009). He recently (August 2009) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Benin (Nigeria) Chamber of Commerce to help promote international trade. His goal is to promote positive change and outcomes in business policy. He has served the community on educational boards and business development boards. He is a member of the International Academy of Management.

Fred Seamon

Fred Seamon

Senior Partner, MGT of American, Inc.

MGT of America, Inc., is a national, public sector, management consulting and research firm headquartered in Tallahassee, Florida, that specializes in helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of organizations in the public sector. Prior to joining MGT as a partner he was on the faculty of the School of Social Work, the Askew School of Public Administration and Policy and the Pepper Institute on Aging at Florida State University where he taught graduate courses and conducted research in several areas related to human services and organizational development. Over the past 25 years he has conducted consulting projects in over 40 states and 14 countries, many of which have involved capacity building, strategic planning, and organizational development.
Dr. Seamon started his professional career as a juvenile probation counselor and has a bachelor's in Sociology, a Master of Social Work, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration. He is also certified as a mediator by the Florida Supreme Court. Dr. Seamon has been affiliated with MGT for over 20 years and directs most of MGT's organizational development projects with government and the nonprofit sector. He provides a diverse range of expert consulting services to the nonprofit sector that include strategic planning, board development, organizational development, and building capacity and sustainability aimed at improving organizational structure, processes and operations.
Dr. Seamon serves on several nonprofit boards. He is past chairperson of the Florida Association for Volunteer Action in the Caribbean and the Americas (FAVACA) and serves on the boards of Florida Tax Watch, WorkForce Plus and the United Way of Florida.

Mark Scovera

Mark Scovera

President, Access Florida Finance Corporation.

Mark is currently the President of Access Florida Finance Corporation. Previously, Mark was the Sr. VP/Chief Financial Officer for the Florida Black Business Investment Board, Inc., a public private partner with the state. He has nineteen years experience in accounting and finance starting at Arthur Andersen LLP in the audit division, continuing on serving as the controller and Chief Financial Officer for various companies in the Detroit area.
Mark is a CPA in the State of Michigan and a member of the AICPA. He graduated in 1990 from the University of Detroit with a B.S. in Accounting. Mark is married with four children and lives in Tallahassee.

Toni Shamplain

Toni Shamplain

Manager, Downtown North CRA Panama City

Toni Shamplain, currently is the Downtown North Program Manager for the City of Panama Community Redevelopment Agency; the CEO of System Navigators Enterprises, Inc, ( a not for profit) has conducted many state and national workshops, seminars in cultural diversity, management information systems, community development, community redevelopment and community collaboration to list a few. She has earned a vast number of certificates in management, budgeting, community organization, program evaluation, etc. Toni is Vice President of the A.D. Harris Improvement Society; serves on the Advisory Board for the Florida Asset Building Coalition and a member of the Board for the Bay Environmental Study Team (BEST).

Shamplain's accomplishments and vast experiences include but are not limited to:

• The redesign of a residential substance abuse treatment program in Volusia County Florida, Reality House, currently serving 100 clients.
• An appointed gubernatorial leadership position, District Program Manager, carving out a new single state agency district, District 12 with the Department of Children and Families consisting of two counties, Volusia and Flagler, with 930 employees and a $600 million dollar budget.
• A collaborative partnership, networking 25 adult substance abuse treatment community based organizations in Metro Miami-Dade County Florida, via a wide area network (WAN) to demonstrate the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment.
• Additionally, Shamplain, serving as the Information Officer, spearheaded the development of the computer database network, Treatment And Referral System (TARS) within the large metropolitan area to track referrals, monitor and evaluate the utilization of residential beds while defining lengths of stays and outcome measures. She continued her efforts by linking with South Florida High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area (HIDTA) to further expand the development of this one of kind tool, for the state of Florida.
• A partnership with Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, where Shamplain studied and evaluated each system of care for strengths and weaknesses. Additionally Shamplain lead her design team in the implementation of the TARS network within the largest Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services provider in Broward County Florida, Broward County Department of Human Services, A.D.A.S.
• Shamplain has also served as Director of Substance Abuse Services for Department Children and Families, District 10, Broward County, Florida with a budget of 12 million dollars, where she introduced science based prevention to her contracted providers. Her strategy: to contractually fund and support Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Services that would be science- based, family focused and developmentally stage appropriate. Shamplain believes "models of care" range from birth to death.
• In the arena of Primary Health Care, within a large metropolitan area, Miami- Dade County, Liberty City, Shamplain designed and implemented a long term residential chemical dependency treatment program for crack addicted women and their children.
• Shamplain's other expertise includes but is not limited to Juvenile Delinquency, Criminal Justice, Primary Health Care, Secondary Education, Welfare to Work efforts, HIV/AIDS Prevention, Grant writing, etc. Additionally, Shamplain has worked extensively with Community Based Organizations (CBO) with specialization in working effectively with people of African and Caribbean ancestry.

Other professional experiences include testimony before United States Congressional Select Committee for Children and Families, TV guest, National CBS News, West 57 Street, Cocaine Addicted Women Residential Treatment; Guest lecturer, Georgetown University, University of Georgia , Visiting Professor for Historical Black Colleges and contributing author for the National Child Welfare League of America. International Consultant, County of Grenada; Recognized by Executive Office of White House, H.I.D.T.A. Shamplain has been featured in the L. A. Times and Stern Magazine in Germany.

Larry Williams

Larry Williams

Founder and Executive Director of Simeon Resource and Development Center for Men, Inc. (SRDCM)

Mr. Williams currently serves as Founder and Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit organization in Orlando, FL -- Simeon Resource and Development Center for Men, Inc. (SRDCM). SRDCM provides an array of services for males, 12 yrs. and up, in an effort to assist them in becoming productive citizens. Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director at Simeon, Mr. Williams served as the Director of the Office of Minority Health for the Orange County Health Department. He spent 25 years in public health, helping to identify and address factors that disproportionately impact racial and ethnic populations in Central Florida.

As an avocation, Mr. Williams is a classically trained actor. His prior performances include: Ibsen's "A Doll House"; Shakespeare's "Othello," "Hamlet," "MacBeth," and "Richard III"; "Driving Miss Daisy"; "A Raisin in the Sun"; and "The Elephant Man." He has written and produced several one-act plays and educational videos, including a script for an independent film. Mr. Williams has also authored a children's book dealing with race relations.

Dreamal I. Worthen, Ph.D

Dreamal I. Worthen, Ph.D

Professor - College of Engineering Sciences
Technology and Agriculture
Florida A&M University

Dreamal Worthen is a professor in the College of Engineering Sciences, Technology and Agriculture at Florida A & M University. One of Dr. Worthen's areas of concentration is in the field of Agricultural Research, an interdisciplinary field that focuses on multiple areas of agricultural and rural research. Dr. Worthen's research has focused on environmental justice, the elderly, poverty and health issues in rural communities of color. Her latest article on elderly health-related issues is published in a book chapter titled "Critical Issues in Rural Health". Dr. Worthen currently serves as a member of the University-wide Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) committee. The QEP's purpose is to improve freshman level student learning in the area of critical thinking.

Worthen is the former chair of the FAMU Faculty Senate, as well as a former member of the Board of Trustees. She is an emeritus member of the Board of Directors for Elder Care Services. She has also served on boards and conducted research looking at how social decisions and responses impact the environment.

Worthen received her undergraduate degree from FAMU and her master's degree in urban and regional planning and doctorate in adult education from Florida State University.

Feliciano Zayas

Feliciano Zayas

Feliciano Zayas brings to Florida Asset Building Coalition his experience of accounting and fiscal management.
Feliciano was born in San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico and grew up in the rural areas of the island. In the early years of childhood his parents were self supported thru the farming business. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration; Major in Accounting; University of Puerto Rico; and completed one year of post graduate studies in Financial Planning at City University; Bellevue, WA.
Feliciano has over 25 years of experience in Government accounting and financial management and more than 20 years as independent consultant, providing consulting services to small businesses and individuals. Feliciano has lived an extensive experience working with the less fortunate, he understands the struggles that most of families go thru since he has been there also, and is committed to work for the social justice causes for every human being. Currently, he is serving as Community Advocate for Voices for Justice in Brevard County, Florida.
He has well knowledge of computer's Accounting and Financial applications such as; Excel, Lotus, SAP, QuickBooks and Acuity Financials. Also he is fluent in English and Spanish Language.