Carrie W. McHenry is a 1964 graduate of Southern University Baton Rouge. After graduation she moved to Missouri, returned to Louisiana two years later, worked at the New Orleans Urban League, and soon became actively involved in the rapidly evolving black political presence in the City.  As a board member and founding member of the Community Organization for Urban Politics (COUP), she worked with others on campaign strategy and supervised office operations.  COUP was one of the three major black political organizations that were catalysts for electing black public officials and for energizing black voter power not evident since Reconstruction.  Later while working with the City of New Orleans, she attended the University of New Orleans and received an M.S. in Urban Studies.  Carrie went on to direct the interdisciplinary urban studies programs at Xavier and Dillard Universities. In 1975 the Governor appointed her to the newly created Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities.  She continued her work at Dillard and on the Board until moving to Washington, DC in the summer of 1979.

She worked for the District of Columbia Department of Housing and Community Development as an Administrative Assistant and Acting Administrator of the Office of Administration and Management. She resigned in 1982 to pursue with her husband, Clyde, their business interest.  Two years later they incorporated a glass and glazing business and soon began construction projects in the Midwest and the eastern United States.  Carrie was active in the business as an Owner, Board Member, and Vice President.

She served for several years on the DC Apprenticeship Council and throughout her professional career participated in organizations devoted to expanding minority business opportunities. She retired in 2011.
Today she puts on her schedule the things she never had enough time to do.  She’s teaches AARP Smart Driver courses, practices yoga, devours a good book, and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Angelia D. Farnell, a Louisiana native and Army Veteran. She retired in 2018 as a Colonel with 30 years of active duty service as a Master Army Aviator/Intelligence Analysis. Angelia is a 1988 graduate of Southern University A&M College in Baton Rouge Louisiana where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science and was a distinguished military graduate of the School’s Reserve Officer Trainer Corps program.
 
She was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Army Aviation and received training and qualifications in both rotary and multi engine fixed wing aircraft and later received training in tactical intelligence. During her 30 year career, Colonel (retired) Farnell served in a variety of leadership positions during peacetime and wartime that included commanding at the company, battalion, and brigade levels. She also has extensive experience at the executive level, serving as Chief of Staff for the Army’s Office of the Chief of Public of Affairs in the Pentagon, Deputy Chief of Staff of the United States Forces Koreas, Combined Forces Command, United Nations Command (USFK/CFC/UNC), multiple tours as a principal staff officer on the Secretary of Defense Staff, and a tour as a Senior Fellow in the Stimpson Center Think Tank in Washington DC. Angelia also has extensive experience managing programs, projects, and people. She is a graduate of the US Army’s Senior Service College- Harvard University Kennedy School, National Security Fellow, US Army’s Command and General Staff College, and the Joint Forces Staff College. She holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Troy State University, Troy, Alabama.
 
Angelia currently works for Assured Consulting Solutions, as a Senior Manager, managing a project at the Defense Intelligence Agency. Helping others is her passion and when she and her husband Carl are not traveling in their spare time they are giving back to the community and helping others through various volunteer opportunities and non-profit organizations.

Rev. Stephens is a fourth generation Preacher from Plain Dealing, Louisiana. He serves as an associate minister at the New Shiloh Baptist Church of Baltimore Maryland with Rev. Dr. Harold A. Carter, Jr.
 
A civil rights and community activist, Rev Stephens, coordinated  “Ride for Pride”, organizing several buses from Maryland to march on the South Carolina State House to protest the Confederate Flag. Rev Stephens is the founder of the Clergy Legislative Breakfast, a forum that provides legislative updates about current issues and public policy to clergy leaders. He also, assisted with the book, The Black Mega-Church, by Dr. Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs.
 
As President of the New Shiloh Village Broad, over 10 million dollars in funds were obtained to build an 81 unit senior building. Rev. Stephens served as the liaison for the Mayor of Baltimore City for the National Baptist Convention when it was held in Baltimore. The convention provided over 50 million dollars in revenues for Baltimore City and State of Maryland. He also assisted with the National Urban League Conference and NAACP Convention when they were held in Baltimore City.
 
Rev. Stephens has volunteered with the Progressive National Baptist Convention and the National Baptist Convention on public policy and media issues. He is active with the United Baptist Missionary Convention of Maryland. Rev. Stephens works with all faith groups throughout the State of Maryland. Some have said if you want inroads into the faith community, “Get Rev. Stephens, he makes it happen."
 
For over thirty years, he has worked as a public relations consultant with Stephens and Associates providing outreach services to those seeking elected office, non- profits and private companies. He has helped with public relations, event planning, media relations, community outreach, relationship building, public awareness campaigns, education on public policy, grass-tops, grass- roots groups including community-based and faith- based groups. 
 
Rev. Stephens has held senior positions in local, state and federal agencies. He is currently the Community Outreach Director for United States Senator Benjamin Cardin where he works closely with the faith community, organizing events, citizen participation and engagement. Many say, Rev. Stephens keeps the Senator connected to the community by having a presence in the community.
 
A native of Plain Dealing, Louisiana, and Rev. Stephens attended Carrie Martin High School which was named after his Aunt, a pioneer in education. He later graduated from Plain Dealing High School after the schools were consolidated. Rev. Stephens is a graduate of Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He has a degree in Political Science. He has also attended The Determined Biblical & Theological Institute of Baltimore, Maryland.
 
He holds memberships in the inaugural class of the Associated Black Charities Leadership Program, New Shiloh Baptist Church, NAACP,  Phi Beta Sigma, Minister’s Conference of Baltimore & Vicinity, Southern University Alumni Federation, The Interdenominational Ministers Alliance, Visit Baltimore and The William E. Proudford Sickle Cell Fund.
 
Rev. Stephens is a recipient of many awards including the Fulwood’s Foundation award for community service, an Unsung Hero for Philanthropy, Community Award from the NAACP of Baltimore City, the Interfaith Leadership Award from the Central Maryland Ecumenical Council, the Made Man Award and the Master Series for Distinguished Clergy. These are just a few awards for his service within the community.
 
Rev. Stephens has been married for over thirty-seven years to Paula, a retired administrator from the State of Maryland and a Morgan State University graduate. Their two daughters are fourth generation graduates of Historic Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), Candice, a graduate of University of Maryland Eastern Shore and Brittany, a graduate of Lincoln University, Central State University. Brittany also have a leadership certificate in education from Harvard University. They have one grandson, Master Ashton Isaiah.