Dr. Ray Owens

by | Aug 18, 2026

Dr. Ray Owens

Senior Pastor

Metropolitan Baptist Church

The Rev. Dr. Ray A. Owens is the Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Tulsa, OK. In addition to his parish work, Dr. Owens serves as the Affiliate Assistant Professor of Ethics and Black Church Studies at the Phillips Theological Seminary.

Dr. Owens serves on the Board of Directors for Tulsa Educare, George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Tulsa Community Foundation. Rev. Owens is also the founder of the Met Cares Foundation, a non-profit that works to create high-quality educational opportunities for African American students.

As a member of Teach For America’s 1990 corps, Ray Owens taught 1st grade in Lynwood, California. Dr. Owens earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin and the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an active member of both Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities.

 

Kode Ransom

Artist & Historian

 

Kode Ransom is an award-nominated spoken word artist, historian, filmmaker, and entrepreneur dedicated to preserving and sharing the legacy of Black Wall Street and the untold stories of Black America.

A native of North Tulsa and a descendant of the historic Greenwood District, Kode has spent more than fifteen years independently researching the history of Oklahoma's Black towns, the Tulsa Race Massacre, and the enduring resilience of the African American experience. Affectionately known as "Greenwood's Griot," he has become one of the leading voices in transforming history from dates and facts into living, breathing stories that inspire action.

As the founder and CEO of Greenwood Griot, Kode has created immersive experiences that blend history, poetry, multimedia, and storytelling, welcoming thousands of visitors from across the world to experience the legacy of Black Wall Street in a deeply personal way. His work has been featured in productions by OWN Network, PBS, and the Greenwood Art Project, and he has served as a cultural navigator, educator, and consultant for numerous organizations seeking to better understand Greenwood's history and significance.

Beyond his work as a historian, Kode is an accomplished poet, keynote speaker, hip-hop artist, actor, and community advocate. His presentations challenge audiences to examine history, identity, and collective responsibility while offering a blueprint for healing, economic empowerment, and community rebuilding.

Through his signature message, "Build With. Build For. Learn From." Kode encourages communities to honor the sacrifices of those who came before us and to become intentional architects of a better future.

Whether speaking on stages, leading tours through Greenwood, mentoring young people, or creating transformative cultural experiences, Kode Ransom's mission remains the same: to ensure that the stories of the past are not merely remembered, but used as tools to build a stronger, more united future.

Kode Ransom doesn't simply tell history. He invites people to walk inside it.

Dr. Ray Owens

Senior Pastor

Metropolitan Baptist Church

The Rev. Dr. Ray A. Owens is the Pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Tulsa, OK. In addition to his parish work, Dr. Owens serves as the Affiliate Assistant Professor of Ethics and Black Church Studies at the Phillips Theological Seminary.

Dr. Owens serves on the Board of Directors for Tulsa Educare, George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Tulsa Community Foundation. Rev. Owens is also the founder of the Met Cares Foundation, a non-profit that works to create high-quality educational opportunities for African American students.

As a member of Teach For America’s 1990 corps, Ray Owens taught 1st grade in Lynwood, California. Dr. Owens earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Texas at Austin and the Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from Princeton Theological Seminary. He is an active member of both Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities.

 

Adair Mosley

Executive Director

GroundBreak Coalition

Adair Mosley is a visionary leader reshaping the future of equity in Minnesota. As CEO of GroundBreak Coalition, he leads one of the nation's most ambitious mobilizations of capital and partnership—orchestrating $5.3 billion over 10 years to close wealth gaps through homeownership, entrepreneurship, and commercial real estate development. GroundBreak brings together 40+ corporate, civic, and philanthropic partners in a backbone coalition deploying both market-rate capital ($4.2 billion) and flexible non-market rate capital ($1.2 billion) to build a future where Black communities thrive—not just survive.

A strategist, builder, and truth-teller, Adair's work is rooted in justice and scaled by innovation. Previously, as CEO of the African American Leadership Forum and Pillsbury United Communities, where he launched Justice Built Communities, securing $5 million to prioritize Black-owned development. He led the $7 million capital campaign for North Market, a nationally recognized grocery and wellness model designed to address food access and health equity. He revitalized North News—a Black-led media outlet—ensuring authentic storytelling from within the community. He helped develop a pioneering policy solution that created a national billing code for community health work, strengthening sustainable investment in grassroots health equity.

Adair's influence extends across sectors. He sits on the boards of Walker Art Museum, Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Community Advisory Board, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and and GreenLight Fund National. His leadership has been recognized by Harvard's Young American Leaders Program and Twin Cities Business magazine, which named him one of "100 People to Know."

With a MSc in Cities from the London School of Economics, training from Stanford's d.school in Human-Centered Design, and credentials from the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, Adair brings a rare blend of grassroots insight and executive strategy to every room he enters.
Whether working alongside community visionaries and leaders or corporate executives, Adair leads with an unwavering belief: systems can—and must—be rebuilt for justice. He isn't interested in incremental change. He's here to reimagine what's possible and to construct a future that honors Black brilliance, ownership, and self-determination.

 

Adair Mosley

CEO

GroundBreak Coalition

Adair Mosley is a visionary leader reshaping the future of equity in Minnesota. As CEO of GroundBreak Coalition, he leads one of the nation's most ambitious mobilizations of capital and partnership—orchestrating $5.3 billion over 10 years to close wealth gaps through homeownership, entrepreneurship, and commercial real estate development. GroundBreak brings together 40+ corporate, civic, and philanthropic partners in a backbone coalition deploying both market-rate capital ($4.2 billion) and flexible non-market rate capital ($1.2 billion) to build a future where Black communities thrive—not just survive.

A strategist, builder, and truth-teller, Adair's work is rooted in justice and scaled by innovation. Previously, as CEO of the African American Leadership Forum and Pillsbury United Communities, where he launched Justice Built Communities, securing $5 million to prioritize Black-owned development. He led the $7 million capital campaign for North Market, a nationally recognized grocery and wellness model designed to address food access and health equity. He revitalized North News—a Black-led media outlet—ensuring authentic storytelling from within the community. He helped develop a pioneering policy solution that created a national billing code for community health work, strengthening sustainable investment in grassroots health equity.

Adair's influence extends across sectors. He sits on the boards of Walker Art Museum, Women's Foundation of Minnesota, Community Advisory Board, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, and and GreenLight Fund National. His leadership has been recognized by Harvard's Young American Leaders Program and Twin Cities Business magazine, which named him one of "100 People to Know."

With a MSc in Cities from the London School of Economics, training from Stanford's d.school in Human-Centered Design, and credentials from the University of Minnesota and University of Michigan, Adair brings a rare blend of grassroots insight and executive strategy to every room he enters.
Whether working alongside community visionaries and leaders or corporate executives, Adair leads with an unwavering belief: systems can—and must—be rebuilt for justice. He isn't interested in incremental change. He's here to reimagine what's possible and to construct a future that honors Black brilliance, ownership, and self-determination.

 

Dr. Tiffany Crutcher

Founder & Executive Director

Terence Crutcher Foundation

Dr. Tiffany Crutcher is a nationally recognized justice advocate, community leader, and social impact strategist dedicated to advancing equity, economic opportunity, and community transformation. As Founder and Executive Director of the Terence Crutcher Foundation, she leads initiatives focused on public safety, criminal justice reform, economic mobility, community healing, and the revitalization of historically marginalized communities. Widely regarded as one of Oklahoma’s most influential civic leaders, Dr. Crutcher has become a powerful voice for systems change and collective action across the nation.

A direct descendant of Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District, Dr. Crutcher is leading national efforts to preserve and protect Black Wall Street, including advocating for the federal designation of Greenwood as a National Monument. In 2021, she welcomed President Joseph R. Biden to Greenwood, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president formally recognized and commemorated the Tulsa Race Massacre. She has testified before the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and regularly engages policymakers on issues including police accountability, reparative justice, and economic equity.

In partnership with Bryan Stevenson and the Equal Justice Initiative, Dr. Crutcher founded the Tulsa Community Remembrance Coalition in 2018 to advance truth-telling and racial healing. Under her leadership, the coalition is developing Tulsa’s first comprehensive memorial dedicated to victims of lynching and racial terror in Oklahoma while preserving the history and legacy of Greenwood. She also serves as a Founding Board Member of Justice for Greenwood, Senior Advisor to Black Tech Street, and Advisor to Roc Nation’s United Justice Coalition.

Committed to rebuilding Black Wall Street for future generations, Dr. Crutcher and the Terence Crutcher Foundation acquired a 65,000-square-foot property on 5.8 acres at the northern gateway of Greenwood, creating a foundation for transformative economic development in North Tulsa. Her leadership spans numerous boards and national initiatives, including Oklahomans for Criminal Justice Reform, Historic Greenwood Main Street, Black Tech Street, the NFL Racial Equity & Social Justice Council, and Sisters of the Movement.

A graduate of Langston University and Alabama State University, Dr. Crutcher has also completed executive leadership programs through the James W. Wright Leadership Development Institute and Harvard Kennedy School. Her work has earned numerous honors, including recognition as a Root 100 honoree, Tulsan of the Year, Black Wall Street Times Person of the Year, Woman of the Year by the Women of Color Expo Tulsa, and Roc Nation’s Agent of Change & Advocacy Award.

Known for her authentic leadership and unwavering commitment to justice, Dr. Crutcher continues to inspire communities across the country to pursue purpose, equity, and transformational change. Often referred to as “America’s Sister,” she remains dedicated to ensuring that the legacy of Greenwood serves as a blueprint for empowerment and opportunity for generations to come.

 

Damali Wilson, CLA

Chief Operating Officer

World Won Development

Damali Wilson, CLA, is an accomplished entrepreneur, community development leader, media personality, and Certified Legal Assistant with more than two decades of experience serving the Tulsa community and beyond. As the Chief Operating Officer of World Won Development, she oversees the organization’s day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives, leading impactful programs that address education, housing, economic development, youth engagement, and community revitalization.

Since launching her consulting business in 2014, Wilson has established herself as a trusted leader in community engagement and development. Under her leadership, World Won Development has expanded its impact through initiatives including EduRec Youth & Family Fun Center, the 36th Street North Event Center, the Fitting Back In Prison Reintegration Program, and NYCU.FM Radio Station. She has successfully developed and managed community-centered programs such as the Expungement Expo, Back-to-School Bash, food distribution partnerships, and numerous economic empowerment initiatives that serve underserved populations throughout Tulsa.

Wilson has played a pivotal role in several transformative projects throughout the city. She partnered with Wells Fargo and Standpipe Hill Strategies to help aspiring homeowners achieve homeownership through first-time homebuyer education and assistance programs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she helped coordinate community response efforts and launched a virtual cooking competition for youth that attracted more than three million viewers worldwide. She also led community engagement efforts for major redevelopment projects, including Evans-Fintube and the Kirkpatrick Heights/Greenwood Master Plan. The success of these efforts contributed to the Kirkpatrick Heights Greenwood Master Plan receiving the American Planning Association’s 2023 National Planning Award for Advancing Diversity and Social Change in Honor of Paul Davidoff.

A respected voice in community affairs, Wilson has contributed to nationally recognized productions highlighting Tulsa’s history and resilience, including CNN’s Emmy Award-winning documentary Dreamland: The Burning of Black Wall Street, the History Channel’s Emmy-nominated Tulsa Burning: The 1921 Race Massacre, and OWN Network’s Rebuilding Black Wall Street.

Prior to entrepreneurship, Wilson built a distinguished career in the legal profession. A paralegal since 2001, she earned associate degrees in Legal Assistant Studies and Liberal Arts from Tulsa Community College, a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice from Northeastern State University, and the prestigious Certified Legal Assistant (CLA) designation from the National Association of Legal Assistants. Her professional excellence earned her recognition as the Eastern Oklahoma Rookie Paralegal of the Year and leadership opportunities with the Tulsa Association of Legal Assistants.

Throughout her career, Wilson has received numerous honors recognizing her commitment to service and leadership, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Trailblazer Award, the Lacy Park Unsung SHero Award, the Women of Color Expo Impact Woman of the Year Award, the ALCAM Community Action Motivators Award, the Black Wall Street Legacy Festival Black Media Award, the Supreme Excellence Award from the Teachers Appreciation Foundation, and recognition as a Stone Awards Honoree in Memphis, Tennessee.

As a media professional, Wilson co-hosts The Community Wake-Up with Charles and Damali, a daily morning radio show broadcast on KBOB 89.9 FM and NYCU.FM. Through the platform, she educates, informs, and inspires listeners by highlighting positive community developments, civic engagement opportunities, and stories of impact. She is also a sought-after emcee, moderator, panelist, and speaker, having hosted and participated in numerous events across Oklahoma and the United States.

Wilson’s commitment to service extends internationally. Through partnerships in Kamuli, Uganda, she has helped support the construction of a church, seven homes, and educational opportunities for more than 70 youth. She currently serves as a Commissioner on the City of Tulsa’s Beyond Apology Commission, is a board member of World Won for Christ, and is a proud member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated.

A native of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduate of Booker T. Washington High School, Damali Wilson remains dedicated to empowering communities, building sustainable opportunities, and creating pathways for future generations to thrive.

 

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes

Chief Executive Officer

Ashé Cultural Arts Center

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes is a mother, daughter, educator, organizer, author, event producer, performance artist, and community developer, and community servant. Most know her by her many pursuits, but the way this writer knows herself and the world around her, is through her exploration of the word. Embedded in the cultural soil of New Orleans and watered by the writings of her literary idols, Kalamu ya Salaam, Sonia Sanchez, Ayi Kwei Armah, and Toni Morrison, Asali has grown to bask in the sun of her literary heritage—from the sages who transformed pharaoh to God in Ancient Khemet to the Spy Boys who chant the way clear for Big Chiefs on Carnival Day. Ms. Ecclesiastes excitedly brings her deep roots in New Orleans’ indigenous culture to her work as the Chief Executive & Equity Officer of Efforts of Grace, Inc. and Ashé Cultural Arts Center.

As the next generation leader of a venerated institution founded by beloved community icons, Asali took co-founder Carol Bebelle’s words to heart when she replied to those who asked how the new hire would fill her shoes, “she doesn’t have to, she can fly!” And fly she has, over the past five years, doubling the organization’s staff, revenue, community investments, and real estate holdings.

Prior to joining Ashé, Ms. Ecclesiastes served as Director of Strategic Neighborhood Development for the New Orleans Business Alliance, where she designed equitable development strategies for high impact neighborhoods—empowering resident leaders and making bold commitments to address entrenched disparities. She became devoted to this mission as the Claiborne Corridor Program Manager for the City of New Orleans’ Mayor’s Office, where she advanced place-based projects and secured funding within six priority areas: economic opportunity, cultural preservation, affordable housing, transportation choice and access, environmental sustainability, and safe & healthy neighborhoods.

Before her brief life in government, Ms. Ecclesiastes worked as Congo Square Coordinator for N.O. Jazz & Heritage Festival, Artist Relations Director and Empowerment Seminars Author for Essence Music Festival, and Executive Producer of Tremé 200 Festival, N.O. Juneteenth Festival, Tremé/7th Ward Arts & Culture Festival, and Akoben Words-In-Action Festival. She has taught in New Orleans public schools, universities, and prisons, and continues to utilize her spoken and written word as a platform for societal change through art and social justice for all humanity. Asali has toured nationally with the critically acclaimed, “Swimming Upstream”, a play she co-wrote with a cohort of extraordinary NOLA women, exploring life in New Orleans following the post-Katrina flood and produced by author of the Vagina Monologues, V, formerly known as Eve Ensler.

The author of two TED Talks and chosen as one of the 300 most influential citizens for the City’s Tricentennial, Ms. Ecclesiastes is a Tulane University Mellon Fellow who counts among her honors President Obama’s Drum Major for Service Award, the New Orleans Mardi Gras Indian Council’s Queen’s Scribe Award, and Essence Magazine’s Excellence in Service Award.

Ms. Ecclesiastes is a graduate of McMain Magnet High School and Vanderbilt University, where she earned Bachelor of Science in English Literature and Secondary Education, with minors in Biology and African Diaspora Studies—a program she co-founded at Vandy with her sisters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

On her daily walk, Asali embraces the wisdom of Zimbabwean author Matshona Dhliwayo who proclaims, "To help people takes strength, to inspire people takes wisdom, to rule over them takes virtue, but to elevate them takes love. The real power of a leader is in the number of minds she can reach, hearts she can touch, souls she can move, and lives she can change." 

Vanessa Hall-Harper

City Councilor, District 1; Co-Founder

Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce

Vanessa Hall-Harper is a community leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for economic justice whose work is rooted in preserving and advancing the legacy of Greenwood, America's historic Black Wall Street. A lifelong resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, she has dedicated her career to creating pathways for economic opportunity, wealth creation, and community empowerment in North Tulsa.

Hall-Harper is the cofounder of the Black Wall Street Chamber of Commerce and has been a leading voice in efforts to revitalize the Greenwood District through entrepreneurship, business development, cultural preservation, and strategic investment. Her work focuses on supporting Black-owned businesses, expanding access to capital, and fostering sustainable economic growth that benefits longtime residents and future generations alike.

Hall-Harper holds a Master of Science in Management from Southern Nazarene University, where she graduated with a 3.9 GPA in 2013. She also earned a Certificate in Paralegal Studies from The University of Tulsa and received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science–Pre Law with honors from Jackson State University. Her educational background has strengthened her expertise in leadership, public policy, organizational management, and advocacy.

A current Tulsa City Councilor representing District 1, Hall-Harper has earned widespread respect for her principled leadership, commitment to transparency, and advocacy on issues affecting underserved communities. Throughout her public service, she has championed equitable development, public accountability, and policies designed to improve quality of life for Tulsa residents.

Hall-Harper has also been a prominent advocate for the survivors and descendants of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, working to advance conversations around restorative justice, economic repair, and the preservation of Greenwood's rich history. Her leadership has helped bring national attention to the ongoing need for meaningful investment and opportunity in historically marginalized communities.

Recognized for her ability to build partnerships across sectors, Hall-Harper continues to lead initiatives that honor Greenwood's entrepreneurial spirit while creating innovative opportunities for business ownership, workforce development, and community wealth building. Through her work, she remains committed to ensuring that the lessons and legacy of Greenwood and Black Wall Street inspire a new generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers.

Tyrance Billingsley II

Founder & Executive Director

Black Tech Street

Tyrance Billingsley II is a Tulsa-born and raised entrepreneur, technologist and ecosystem builder. Tyrance is the founder and executive director of Black Tech Street, an organization dedicated to rebirthing historic Black Wall Street as the nation's premiere black innovation economy rooted in the critical technology areas of cybersecurity, data analytics and responsible artificial intelligence. 

Under his leadership, Black Tech Street has, in just three years, brokered a citywide alliance with Microsoft to establish 21st-century Greenwood and, as a leader in cyber and AI, served on the Tulsa Tech Hub steering committee that secured both a federal Tech Hubs designation and funding from the Economic Development Administration, with an eight-figure award being allocated to Black Tech Street's work, and generated widespread community support for the vision of rebirthing Black Wall Street through technology. 

Tyrance has given a TEDx talk and been featured in publications like Forbes, Blavity, CNN Business and Black Enterprise. His thought leadership on AI and emerging technologies has led to him testifying before the United States Senate HELP committee on AI and the Future of Work, attending the historic signing of the AI Executive Order at the White House, addressing a caucus meeting on AI and civil rights, and hosting the White House National Cyber Director Harry Coker Jr. and his team in historic Greenwood.

Scot Spencer

Associate Director for Local Policy

Annie E. Casey Foundation

Scot Spencer is a nationally respected leader in racial equity, economic inclusion, and community development. He currently serves as Associate Director for Local Policy at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, where he leads national efforts to advance equitable systems, strengthen economic mobility, and improve outcomes for all children, youth, families, and communities across the United States.

Throughout his distinguished career, Spencer has worked at the intersection of philanthropy, public policy, civic leadership, and equitable economic development to help institutions address structural inequities and expand opportunity. For the last decade, he has worked with philanthropic and civic partners to expand economic inclusion policies and practices in the South. Prior to that, he led local initiatives in Baltimore that connected residents to regional economic growth, including the Baltimore Empowerment Zone, Bridges to Work, and the Sustainable Communities Initiative.

Spencer is widely recognized for his leadership in advancing strategies that connect racial equity to long-term economic vitality, community well-being, and institutional accountability. His work emphasizes the importance of data-informed strategy, resident voice, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained investment in historically marginalized communities.

A trusted advisor to philanthropic institutions, policymakers, and community leaders nationwide, Spencer has helped influence some of the country’s most significant conversations around equitable development, opportunity systems, and community-centered change.

As a member of the Greenwood Trust National Advisory Board, Spencer brings extraordinary expertise in racial equity, systems change, philanthropy, public policy, community development, and inclusive economic growth.

 

Phil Armstrong

At Large Member

Beyond Apology Commission & President and CEO, Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice

Phil Armstrong is a nationally respected community development leader and serves as President & CEO of the Oklahoma Center for Community & Justice (OCCJ). A lifelong advocate for bringing people together, he has been a leading voice in advancing mutual respect, interfaith collaboration, and youth leadership across communities. Guided by a youth forward and interfaith forward approach, Phil is dedicated to creating spaces where individuals can engage in meaningful dialogue, deepen understanding, and take action toward a more connected future.

In 2019, Phil joined the Tulsa Community Foundation as Project Director for the 1921 Tulsa Centennial Commission, where he led coordination of fundraising, educational initiatives, economic development efforts, and major construction projects—including the development of Greenwood Rising, the Pathway to Hope, and the Historic Greenwood Boundary Markers, all honoring the legacy of historic Black Wall Street. In July 2021, he was appointed Interim Executive Director, guiding Greenwood Rising through its formative phase and helping it welcome more than 60,000 visitors in its first year from across the nation and around the world.

In 2023, Phil assumed leadership of OCCJ, a statewide organization guided by the vision of “a community where all voices matter, faiths unite, and youth become leaders.”

A committed civic leader, Phil serves on several boards, including the Tulsa Regional Chamber, Arvest Bank (Tulsa Market), Tulsa Tech Board of Education, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Sherwin Miller Museum of Jewish Art Board, and the City of Tulsa Beyond Apology Commission, and the Greenwood Trust National Advisory Board. He is a past board chair of the Greenwood Cultural Center, a Leadership Tulsa graduate, a Rotary Club Paul Harris Fellow, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity, Iota Epsilon Boule.

 

Paul Johnson

Senior Vice President

Bank of Oklahoma

Paul Johnson serves as a Senior Vice President for BOK Financial’s Corporate Banking Department in Tulsa, OK. He is a relationship manager and primarily focuses on middle market to larger corporations. 

Aside from banking he is an avid investor. Over the last decade he has enjoyed investing and growing several companies in the e-commerce, transportation, and real estate space. 

He enjoys serving in the Tulsa and broad Oklahoma community. He currently serves as a trustee on the Oklahoma Nature Conservancy and Tulsa Performing Arts Center. He additional serves on the board of CommonGround Housing Partners and on the advisory board of the Tulsa Zoo.

 

Kimberlyn Leary Ph.D, MPA

Emma Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Policy and Management, Harvard Kennedy School, Faculty Director, Good Services Lab, Bloomberg Center for Cities

Dr. Kimberlyn Leary is a nationally recognized scholar, behavioral science expert, public policy leader, and strategist whose work sits at the intersection of equity, leadership, organizational transformation, and systems change. She serves as the Emma Bloomberg Lecturer in Public Policy and Management at the Harvard Kennedy School and holds faculty appointments at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She is also a Senior Advisor and Senior Fellow at New America and formerly served as Executive Vice President of the Urban Institute, where she helped oversee research, strategy, and program development focused on advancing equitable public policy and institutional innovation.  

Dr. Leary has advised both the Obama and Biden White Houses, including service with the White House Council on Women and Girls, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Domestic Policy Council, where she served as the Biden Administration’s first Senior Equity Fellow. Her work has focused on adaptive leadership, government innovation, cross-sector collaboration, behavioral health, and delivering equity at scale.  

A graduate of Amherst College, Dr. Leary earned a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Michigan and a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University. She has held fellowships with the Ford Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center.  

As a member of the Greenwood Trust National Advisory Board, Dr. Leary brings extraordinary expertise in behavioral science, public leadership, organizational transformation, racial equity, community healing, and systems-level change.

 

Janiece Evans-Page

Chief Executive Officer

Tides

Janiece Evans-Page is Chief Executive Officer of Tides, a philanthropic social justice organization dedicated to advancing social justice. She leads Tides’ work with doers and donors to center the leadership of changemakers from communities historically denied power, connecting them to operational and advisory services, capacity building, and resources to amplify their impact. Under her leadership, Tides has evolved its mission, vision, and strategic direction to center proximate leaders and their communities, awarding more than $2.4 billion in grants between 2022 and 2025. 

Before joining Tides in 2021, Janiece was the inaugural Chief Sustainability and Diversity Officer at Fossil Group and Head of Fossil Foundation, where she launched the company’s global philanthropy practice and led the development of its social impact investment portfolio and environmental sustainability framework. She was also the architect of Fossil Foundation’s signature initiative to empower youth through innovative partnerships with social entrepreneurs. Previously, she spent more than 20 years at Hewlett-Packard, where she served as vice president and general manager of HP’s Imaging and Printing Attach Organization, growing it into a $600M+ global enterprise, and launched HP’s global e-inclusion strategy across more than 20 countries. 

Janiece serves on the boards of Tides, Beneficial State Foundation, and Echoing Green, and on the boards of trustees of Southern New Hampshire University and St. Mary’s College. In 2024, she received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Golden Gate University. In 2025, she was named to The Nonprofit Times’ Power & Influence Top 50 and recognized as a Newsmaker 100 by the San Francisco Business Times. She holds a B.S. in Social Sciences/Organizational Behavior from the University of California, Berkeley, and an Executive M.B.A. from Golden Gate University. 

 

Joe Scantlebury

President & CEO

Living Cities

Joe Scantlebury is the President & CEO of Living Cities, a collaborative of leading philanthropic foundations and financial institutions advancing economic opportunity and income mobility for all people in U.S. cities. Under his leadership, Living Cities has become an action-forward innovator of inclusive capital solutions that further homeownership, business ownership, impact investment, and other key pathways to generational wealth. Living Cities supports visionary public, private, and civic city leaders striving to ensure that all people in U.S. cities are economically secure, building wealth, and living healthy, abundant, dignified, and connected lives. 

Joe holds a Bachelor of Science from Cornell University’s New York State School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law, a Master of Public Administration from NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, and an Honorary Doctorate from Livingstone College.

Maisha Simmons

Associate Vice Presiden, Equity and Culture

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Maisha Simmons is an accomplished leader in the fields of equity and social justice, currently serving as the AVP of Equity and Social Justice at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation since January 2020, where responsibilities include developing investment strategies aimed at improving health outcomes for children and families. With over a decade of experience at the Foundation, prior roles included Senior Program Officer, Program Officer, and Program Associate, focusing on vulnerable communities and initiatives like Forward Promise. Additional leadership roles include serving as a Board Member for the Council of New Jersey Grantmakers and ABFE, alongside experience as Director of Foundation Relations at the NAACP. Educational qualifications include a Master of Public Administration from Baruch College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Rutgers University.

Robert Raben

President and Founder

The Raben Group

Robert Raben works to inject humanity, common sense, equity, and justice into the fabric of American politics and culture. He is the president and founder of Raben, a mission-driven national public affairs and strategic communications firm committed to making connections, solving problems, and inspiring change across the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. Beyond his work, Robert has served on the boards of The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, NRDC, the UnidosUS Action Fund, President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, the Mississippi Center for Justice, and others.

Robert previously served as assistant attorney general under President Bill Clinton. After a unanimous confirmation vote by a Republican-controlled Senate, he oversaw Attorney General Janet Reno’s legislative initiatives and led responses to extensive Congressional oversight of the department. Robert was the first openly gay man to receive Senate confirmation and to lead a law enforcement agency. He also served as counsel to U.S. Rep. Barney Frank and Democratic counsel for two subcommittees of the House Judiciary Committee. The Miami native is a graduate of the Wharton School and New York University Law School. Robert is a proud dad and granddad, and Scorpio. 

William Buster

Executive Director

Ronda E. Stryker & William D. Johnston Foundation

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, William Buster is considered a leader in the field of philanthropy, known for his transformative influence on community development public health, and health equity across the United States. Through his work he has sought to help the field of philanthropy deepen its impact and improve its partnerships with the communities and organizations in which they invest and partner.

Buster currently serves as the Executive Director of the Stryker Johnston Foundation. The Stryker Johnston Foundation’s mission is to partner with organizations and groups to change the systems and structures in Kalamazoo County, Michigan that create intergenerational poverty that have been left out or left behind.

Buster has held several roles during his career. He was the founding CEO & president of the New Hanover Community Endowment. Prior to NHCE he held two successful appointments as the senior vice president at the Dogwood Health Trust in Asheville, NC and the Executive Vice President at the St. David’s Foundation in Austin TX. For both appointments he led the impact teams and had oversight of all grantmaking and program-related investment strategies. Over his career, Buster has directed over $600 million in grants, program-related investments, and mission-related investments towards improving lives and communities across this country but especially across the American South. He has dedicated his life’s work to improving the social determinants of health and quality of life particularly for children, youth, families and seniors.

Buster has received several accolades and achievements during his career. To name a few: He worked closely with the Obama White House in the development of the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative, advised the Ferguson/St. Louis Commission on its Racial Equity and Reconciliation Community Call to Action Plan, both during his time as a Program Director at the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. He was also an appointee by U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to the Minority Farmer Advisory Committee and served on several nonprofit boards. He is a proud founding member of the Wilmington 1898 Museum for Healing, Education, and Democracy. He is also a founding board member of the Whitney Plantation. He currently serves as the chair of the National Advisory Committee for the Forward Promise Initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Buster earned his bachelor’s degree from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, his Master of Arts Degree in policy and practice of development from the University of New Hampshire, and an executive education certificate in mastering negotiation from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Mayor Monroe Nichols

City of Tulsa

With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, William Buster is considered a leader in the field of philanthropy, known for his transformative influence on community development public health, and health equity across the United States. Through his work he has sought to help the field of philanthropy deepen its impact and improve its partnerships with the communities and organizations in which they invest and partner.

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Mayor Nichols - A Road To Repair Speech

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