Leadership, innovation and purpose: Meet The Sacramento Bee’s Top 25 Black Change Makers
The Sacramento Bee’s Equity Lab, in partnership with the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program, is debuting the Top 25 Black Change Makers, a roster of people who are transforming Sacramento and neighboring communities.
We aim to elevate a class of leaders characterized by their commitment to making the Sacramento region fairer and more just.
These individuals stand out as innovative problem-solvers. They find solutions for critical issues in our communities through their respective lines of work. They are dynamic leaders who infuse history and culture in the work they do. They focus on improving the lives and well-being of others.
They are change makers, up-and-coming leaders and talented high achievers with the potential to grow. Our list of Sacramento’s Top 25 Black Change Makers consists of individuals in the Sacramento area who have transformed communities through leadership, innovation, altruism and style.
The Equity Lab introduced the project last summer, asking readers for nominations. Our selection committee included Paul Willis, a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion consultant; Maya Wallace, a founding board member for Black Artist Foundry; Jose Bodipo-Memba, Director of Sustainable Communities for SMUD; Scott Syphax, the founder of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program; and Marcus D. Smith, Black Communities reporter for The Bee’s Equity Lab.
Here are The Sacramento Bee Equity Lab’s 2022 Top 25 Black Change Makers.
Stacey Ault
Life coach/Founder RAGE Project
Stacey Ault is the founder and CEO of the Race and Gender Equity (RAGE) Project as an assistant professor at California State University, Sacramento. The RAGE Project is fundamentally built on initiating and encouraging collective community transformation. Ault’s work is centered in healing justice, critical race theory and a human rights framework. Her organization harnesses the power of individual and collective transformation through healing, education, advocacy and research. Ault received her doctorate in International and Multicultural Education, with an emphasis in Human Rights Education from the University of San Francisco.
Julius Austin
Community Development/Advocate
Julius Austin is the Sacramento Promise Zone Coordinator for the Sacramento Promise Zone lead organization, Sacramento Housing and Redevelopment Agency (SHRA). He directs the daily operations of the Sacramento Promise Zone, a 10-year place-based federal initiative that was awarded to SHRA in 2015. Austin brings nearly two decades of experience in the nonprofit sector and education field. He has specialized in cross sector collaboration and place-based initiatives. He is a community builder who is passionate about work that allows him to empower underserved communities in the areas of education, health, fitness, economics, politics, housing, art and cultural expression, and sustainability.
Constance Carter
Real estate/entrepreneur
Constance Carter is a real estate entrepreneur and wealth activator. Carter is the CEO of Catalyst Real Estate Professionals, the largest African American owned real estate firm in California. Her firm helped thousands with credit and building their wealth portfolios. She is also the owner of The Co-Op Spot in Sacramento, a coworking and event facility. She’s a motivational speaker and an author. Her mission is to help close the wealth gap in the African American community, and she works tirelessly to educate people on steps they can take to create opportunities for themselves and their families.
Kawanaa Carter
Neurosurgeon
Kawanaa Carter is a neurosurgeon in Folsom who provides surgical treatments for a range of conditions, such as epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. Her practice provides state-of-the-art neurosurgical care for patients with disorders that are amenable to surgical intervention. She understands that each patient comes with a unique set of circumstances that are influenced by social and cultural experiences. Carter also leads the Del Paso Heights Community Vaccination Clinic, which aims to increase vaccine accessibility in vulnerable, underserved communities.
Ebony Chambers
Social worker
Ebony Chambers is the Chief Family and Youth Partnership Officer for Stanford Sierra Youth and Families. Chambers works in a field focused on at-risk youth, including navigating the child welfare system, foster care and group homes. She facilitates cultural competency training, family centered practices and intensive relative searches for families. Chambers creates pathways for families to be supported and kept together, or in some cases, reunited. She is also an instructor at the UC Davis Resource Center for Family Focused Practice and serves on the UC Davis Parent Advisory Council, the Mental Health Service Act Steering Committee (MHSA), and holds other community roles. She promotes healthy and active living through her holistic healing service, Healing Grace Studios.
Jackie Cole
Equity consultant
Jackie Cole is the principal at Veritable Good, a consulting company that leads efforts around community organizing, equity and inclusion, and environmental justice. She helps identify problems in Sacramento that have gone unnoticed in underrepresented communities. Cole is a voice for bridging gaps and bringing communities to the table. She collaborates with city and county leaders to ensure underserved communities in the Sacramento region are included in planning initiatives, making equitable places to live for everyone.
Roshaun Davis
Entrepreneur/business developer
Roshaun Davis is the co-founder of Unseen Heroes, an organization that provides event services and creates an experience for communities. Davis is a creative entrepreneur and community developer who has helped launch collaborative efforts with the goal of revamping neighborhoods and reversing gentrification through the cultivation of community, creativity and commerce. His organization is responsible for experiences such as NeighborGood Market, Be Well Sacramento, Display, The Nest, Good street food and design market, and Gather.
Khalil J. Ferguson
Entrepreneur
Khalil J. Ferguson is an activist, author and community leader in Sacramento. He is also the CEO of a nonprofit organization, The United CORE Alliance (UCA), which focuses on individuals and communities most affected by the War on Drugs. Through the UCA, Ferguson helps to create pathways for job placement in emerging markets, facilitate educational opportunities to increase economic mobility and organize legal support for individuals who were formerly incarcerated. The Richmond native attended California State University, Sacramento, majoring in economics and international relations.
Garrett Gatewood
Rancho Cordova Councilman
Garrett Gatewood became the first Black mayor of Rancho Cordova in 2021. He was vice mayor in 2020. He originally was appointed to serve on the Rancho Cordova City Council in 2017, becoming the first Black man to hold a council seat. Prior to serving in city government, Gatewood sat on the Board of Directors for the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce for three out of his five years with the Chamber. He is determined to set the standard for what it means to lead. Gatewood is the CEO of Business Computer Services of Sacramento, a private, Black-owned tech firm that provides IT support.
Jasper James
Activist
Jasper James is a community leader and activist who works to improve the lives of Black community members. James is the author of a project titled “The Black Bill of Rights” in partnership with the ACLU, which is focused on identifying actions that can be applied by communities on a local and national level to restore Black safety. It is being turned into a toolkit to be used nationwide. James is an active member of the ACLU Sacramento Chapter Board, Sacramento Stonewall Democratic Club (PAC), Sacramento Black Chamber of Commerce, March On and a newly formed committee reviewing police misconduct allegations in Sacramento.
April Jean
Leadership coach
April Jean is the owner of Pure Jeanius Consulting. Jean is the co-founder of Racial Justice Advocates, a women-led consulting effort centered around retooling comprehensive systems to improve outcomes for communities of color in the Sacramento region and beyond. Jean is also a professor at California State University, Sacramento. She is a racial justice activist, consultant and nonprofit leader whose 18-year career has been focused on the effects of race and racism on systems, institutions, organizations, communities and individuals.
Marinda Johnson-Sessoms
Television producer
Marinda Johnson-Sessoms is a leader in production at KVIE. Johnson-Sessoms has been a television producer at PBS KVIE for 16 years. She produces arts programming and cultural programming, and has been nominated for and won several Emmy Awards. She’s recognized for her tenacity and passion. Johnson-Sessoms is a voice and a storyteller. She looks for stories about individuals who may not otherwise be seen or heard. Many programs she produces are cultural programs featuring Black leaders and focusing on Black artists and Sacramento’s history in Black culture.
Garth Lewis
Educator
Garth Lewis has served as the Yolo County Superintendent of Schools since 2018. Lewis believes access to high-quality public education is a significant factor in improving life outcomes for all children, particularly those experiencing poverty. In his 23-year career, Lewis has served as a teacher, paraeducator, site and district administrator, and Assistant Superintendent of Instructional Services and Equity at the Yolo County Office of Education. He also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the California Association of African-American Superintendents and Administrators (CAASA).
Michael Lynch
Nonprofit leader
Michael Lynch, a Sacramento native, is the founder and CEO of Improve Your Tomorrow, an education nonprofit organization dedicated to the academic success and advancement of young men of color. He has run his nonprofit for nearly 10 years with the objective of closing the college opportunity gap for students of color. Lynch said his father is a major influence in his life because he always saw his dad helping others. He decided to do the same and dedicated his life to giving back and providing opportunities for underserved communities. Lynch is also a candidate for Sacramento City Council District 3.
Joanna Mack
Architect
Joanna Mack is a design professional. She is a senior designer and Director of Marketing Strategy at Mogavero Architects, where she has worked for seven years, since moving to Sacramento. Her passion lies in designing affordable housing and affordable communities. She coordinates building programming, design and construction project phases, in addition to connecting with city officials for plan reviews and ensuring projects are in compliance with design and quality assurance standards. She leads the firm’s internship program, and she advocates for more Black men and women to enter the profession. Mack has worked on projects across multiple architectural sectors including affordable housing, high-density residential, health care, hospitality, infill development and urban planning.
Alana Mathews
Former Deputy District Attorney
Alana Mathews has lived in Sacramento for 26 years. Originally from Gary, Ind., she came to Sacramento seeking a law degree after graduating from Spelman College. Mathews is a mother of three children and has served as Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento for eight years. She has been a mentor to women on parole and at-risk youth in south Sacramento. She offers free educational legal clinics with the Community Justice Collaborative. Mathews is currently a candidate for Sacramento District Attorney.
Faith J. McKinnie
Art curator
Faith J. McKinnie is an independent art curator and advocate in Sacramento. She has searched for ways to provide financial support and opportunities through the Black Artist Foundry. She has been able to challenge systemic barriers and elevate Black culture, providing resources for artists to sustain their creative endeavors. She also opened The Faith J. McKinnie Gallery, a commercial space, where she provides a place for underrepresented and marginalized artists of color and queer artists to have their creations showcased.
Porsche Middleton
Mayor of Citrus Heights
Porsche Middleton is the mayor of Citrus Heights, the first Black woman to hold the position. Middleton was elected to the Citrus Heights City Council in 2018, representing District 5. She is the only African American woman currently serving on a city council in Sacramento County. Middleton also serves in various roles with nonprofit organizations and has worked to improve her community by developing housing policies and projects at the state and local levels. She serves on several boards that provide resources and programming for Citrus Heights youth.
Nkiruka Catherine Ohaegbu
Public relations
Nkiruka Catherine Ohaegbu serves on the Local Government Affairs Team with Pacific Gas and Electric, where she advocates for equity in clean energy and sustainability and enhancing public affairs partnerships. Prior to joining PG&E, she served as a business loan specialist at the U.S. Small Business Administration, working with businesses recovering from economic loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohaegbu previously served as a gubernatorial appointee at the California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency, filling various roles and managing the development and implementation of a variety of special projects. She also served in several positions in the Office of former Gov. Jerry Brown, including special assistant to the governor and first lady.
Austyn Perry
Tax/finance specialist
Austyn Perry is chairwoman of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee for the Sacramento chapter of the Urban Land Institute. Perry is generating new programming for ULI’s membership and the broader Sacramento community, focusing on equitable development and bringing new voices into the industry. She is also the Vice President of Underwriting at Red Stone Equity Partners, a privately-owned real estate finance and investment company that specializes in affordable multi-family residential funds and the syndication of Historic Tax Credit real estate projects across the United States.
Ayesha Ransom-White
Business owner
Ayesha Ransom-White is a local entrepreneur and co-owner of The Pop-Up Shop, where she provides the opportunity for hundreds of local underserved entrepreneurs to have their products sold in malls, such as Arden Fair in Sacramento and Stonestown Mall in San Francisco. The Pop-Up Shop has provided a way for entrepreneurs, including young entrepreneurs, to keep their businesses thriving and growing in the midst of the pandemic. The space is for upcoming small Black businesses and other underserved, underfunded businesses.
Chinua Rhodes
School board member
Chinua Rhodes is a father of five and a native of south Sacramento. He’s the second Vice President on the Board of Education and Trustee for Area 5 of the Sacramento City Unified School District. He credits his father as an influence on his life; he taught Rhodes that collective efforts for change are possible. He has coordinated programs and grants organized around housing and youth justice initiatives to support Sacramento youth and families. Rhodes is also the Director of Community Engagement for Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s Office of Civic Engagement.
Deneva Shelton
Banker
Deneva Shelton, innovative and passionate, focuses on serving Black and Latino communities in the south Sacramento area. She serves as the Vice President, Community Manager for JP Morgan Chase in the Sacramento-Florin branch. Shelton is responsible for identifying the needs of the communities she represents. She develops solutions that combat systemic racism and economic barriers that prevent home ownership, entrepreneurship and wealth building. She seeks to create solutions that will lead to lasting results and close economic, educational and wealth gaps.
Dr. Beatrice Tetteh
Doctor
Dr. Beatrice Tetteh educates patients and their families to make good treatment decisions for a healthy future. She has a pediatrician practice in the Pocket/south Sacramento area, where she provides care for young people, from newborns to young adults. She believes a child in need of care is her top priority. Tetteh is responsible for researching information to assist patients and providing them with the best medical practices if a standard health plan cannot meet the needs of a patient. She says her practice is guided by her demand for empathy, justice and authenticity in herself.
Rukayatu ‘Ruky’ Tijani
Attorney
Rukayatu “Ruky” Tijani is a trademark attorney and the founder and CEO of Firm for the Culture, an intellectual property firm that provides trademark services, strategies and education in trademarking to social entrepreneurs. Her passion for the law, social entrepreneurship and creating sustainable change is what motivated her to start Firm for the Culture. Originally from Brooklyn, N.Y., Tijani has found a home in Sacramento. She loves this work because she said trademarks will be help create generational wealth in the country, and she wants more Black and African American entrepreneurs and business owners to be educated on the importance of owning their creations.
Organizations leading change
In addition to honoring this year’s 25 leaders in the region, The Bee’s Equity Lab has also identified five organizations that provide Sacramento communities with an abundance of resources, camaraderie and tools for advancement and growth in social spaces.
They are:
Last Supper Society
The Last Supper Society creates culinary experiences and community through curated dining moments with multiple food courses, interesting settings and guest fellowship. Last Supper Society co-founders, Byron Hughes and Ryan Royster are Sacramento natives who wanted to make dining an experience, combining fine dining with Black culture, and reimagine how people break bread together. They use food as a platform for effecting change, celebrating differences and sharing life experiences. Royster is a serial entrepreneur and producer. Hughes is an executive chef with fine-dining experience who has channeled his artistic lens through food for more than a decade.
Mahogany Urban Poetry Series
Mahogany Urban Poetry Series was established in August 1999 as a continuation of the urban poetry movement in Sacramento. Prior to Mahogany, venues such as the Blue Room, Aunties Cypher night, Mood Swings, The Sugah Shack and The Brown Sugar Cypher laid a foundation of culture in Sacramento. Founder Khiry Malik Moore had a vision of creating a space for poetry, expression, music and healing. Mahogany was that space. Mahogany Urban Poetry Series was co-founded by poets Ifamodupe, Cleo Cartel, Victor Patton, Angelo Williams, Sean King, Guy Ollison and DJ Supe. Mahogany is the longest running urban poetry venue in Northern California and the second-longest running poetry series in Sacramento.
Sacramento Sister Circle
The Sacramento Sister Circle is a network for Black women of Sacramento. Together, they engage in positive dialogue, share their rich stories, build strong relationships and create an open and safe space to become fulfilled leaders, mothers, allies, friends and women. Founded by Christi Ketchum and friends in 1999, it was relaunched in 2011, and the Sacramento Sister Circle and Facebook group became a network for Black women to come together to collectively build a network that creates and makes positive changes in people’s lives, homes and communities. They place value in their seven pillars: health and wellness, fun and joy, mentorship, financial independence, political engagement, Black “femicide” and studying “sheroes” of past, present and future.
Voice of the Youth
Voice of the Youth has been serving the community and mentoring youth since 2008. The nonprofit has been a resource for youth and adolescents as the next generation transitions into young adulthood. VOY founder Berry Accius emphasizes the philosophy of patience, passion and consistency. The organization’s services are a valuable resource for guiding youth on the road to stable and productive lives. It promotes the value of education and academic growth. It teaches interpersonal and communication skills to create healthy relationship dynamics. It empower mentees to transition from victim to victor by discovering how not to allow trials, tribulations or pride to become obstacles on the journey to success.
Yisrael Family Urban Farms
Yisrael Family Urban Farms was started by Judith and Chanowk Yisrael and their family. Together, their mission has been to “transform the hood for G.O.O.D,” an acronym for “growing our own destiny.” Located in South Oak Park, they use urban agriculture as a tool for community engagement, empowerment and employment. Their hope is to rebuild and restore South Oak Park to a healthier place, where all families have equitable access to the resources they need to thrive. They started with a few plants growing in their backyard and the project has blossomed into their vision of teaching communities about sustainability through becoming the resource for their own agricultural or produce needs.
This story was originally published February 9, 2022 at 5:00 AM.
