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Being a Southwest Fresno Native, LaTisha Harris has seen the good, the bad and ugly while actively working to improve her community. Been a pastor’s daughter and granddaughter, it was instilled in her at an early age, the importance of serving her community, while advocating for those in need.

After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, with an emphasis in Child Welfare from California State University, Fresno; LaTisha has served at various non-profits in the Central Valley- empowering and advocating for people of color in disadvantaged communities. From contract negotiations and enforcement for fair wages and benefits to organizing campaigns to fight for Environmental Justice, in communities of color that are oftentimes adversely impacted the most, LaTisha has seen first hand,  the disparities that communities of color face; but she refuses to give up the fight and will continue to be the voice for those that are often forgotten about. 

While working as a Program Manager for a local organization, LaTisha began to recognize the organizational infrastructure issues that minority businesses and organizations face inhibiting their success. Rather than focusing on the problem, she developed a solution and launched her own business, Divinely Created Administrative Consulting. Here she focuses on providing technical assistance to small businesses, organizations and churches, whether they are just starting out or want to grow to the next level. Although still in its infancy stages, she has been able to help businesses and organizations throughout California thrive.

Even though her business is growing, she has not quit her day job….yet! She currently works for a National Organization as a Frontline Community Organizer-representing the hardest-hit communities—Indigenous, African-American, Latino, Asian Pacific Islander, poor and working-class families,on the front lines of climate disaster and fossil-fuel extraction and pollution across this state.  It is her focus to build a sustainable community, energy democracy, job creation and affordable housing.

LaTisha actively serves at her local church as Administrator and Women’s Ministry Director. With all of her accomplishments, her greatest passion is being a mother to three gifted and talented blessings, her children- Jeremiah, Samarra and Deron.

LaTisha is committed to "finding the need and meeting it; finding the hurt and healing it." Her objective is to complete the God-ordained assignment on her life, while serving people and her community with a sincere and Christ-centered heart.

LaTisha Harris- 1-part entrepreneur + 1-part community activist/organizer +1 -part Mother = 100% Community Advocate and Servant 

If you would like to meet or celebrate with Latisha Harris, we are thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us at our All Black Affair - Black Magical Award event on February 29th @ Smugglers Banquet Hall at 7pm.

Purchase Tickets here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-black-affair-bmw-awards-tickets-92...

Keshia Thomas M.Ed 

President of Fresno Unified Board of Trustees’s Keshia Thomas is the proud mother of three sons and a daughter as well as two grandsons. She was elected by the voters in the Edison High Region. 

Trustee Thomas’s resume includes a Master’s degree in education, BS in education, teaching and administrative credential and a State License in Cosmetology. Her work history lists family construction business, cosmetologist, journeyman cashier, elementary, middle school and high school teacher and administrator, and businesswoman. She is currently an Executive Director of the Saints Rest EDC and a Program Director at Fresno Career Development Institute, Inc., a non-profit organization. 

President Thomas has dedicated her attention to be of service to her community with a focus on education. Her objective as a trustee on the school board is to do what she can to raise Fresno Unified School District to become a premier school district on the national stage. Her emphasis is ensuring that all children are lifted to equal standing with an emphasis on children of color, and that their parents are brought in to participate in their education. 

Prior to her election to the Fresno Unified School District Trustee Board, Trustee Thomas found time to give back to her community through working in her church, Fellowship Baptist Church, as Assistant Director of the Homeless Ministry and Assistant Director of the Children’s Church. 

Trustee Thomas also serves as a member of the following organizations: 

Dailey Charter School Board of Directors, Center for Advanced Research and Technology(CART) Board Member, Central Valley New Market Tax Credit Board Member, Women’s Democratic Club, National Women’s Political Caucus, West Fresno Democratic Club, Kennedy Club and Chair of the Youth and Young Adults committee of Black Women Organized for Political Action(BOWAPA) 

If you would like to meet or celebrate with Keshia Thomas, we are thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us at our All Black Affair - Black Magical Award event on February 29th @ Smugglers Banquet Hall at 7pm.

Purchase Tickets here
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-black-affair-bmw-awards-tickets-92...

Janice Sumler was born and raised in Fresno, CA attending Lincoln Elementary, Irwin, Jr High and graduating from Edison High School —Class of 1976. After graduating from Edison, Janice attended Fresno City College, transferring to Fresno State University majoring in Business Administration and Accounting.

Janice later became employed at the Dept. of Social Services in Eligibility/Out Reach Services and retired July, 2015 after 25 years of service.

Currently, Janice has continued in outreach services as Co-Founder of the Take A Stand Committee (2010). Take A Stand was created as an advocacy non-profit serving at-risk youth, engaging and implementing mentoring programs. Take A Stand hosts an annual Teen Summit for the youth entitled “Choices and Consequences”. Take A Stand also conducts monthly meetings engaging the community and providing many resources.

Janice is also the Director-Coordinator of the Fresno Juneteenth Committee organizing the annual celebration honoring the historical ending of slavery with the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation with over 5000 community residents attending.

This Year Juneteenth  >>>>>

Janice is an active member of the West Fresno Democratic Club, The Friends of Allensworth. She also serves on the Advisory Board of Fresno County Pre-Term Birth Initiative Committee. Janice is extremely passionate and steadfastly committed to our community. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters, Jessica and Shurron.

If you would like to meet or celebrate with Janice Sumler, we are thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us at our All Black Affair - Black Magical Award event on February 29th @ Smugglers Banquet Hall at  7pm. 

Purchase Tickets here 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-black-affair-bmw-awards-tickets-92581893937

LaTasha Jones was born in Los Angeles, CA in a crime infested community that bared street signs that
read, “One way in, no way out.” The many years of LAPD sirens and helicopters echoed throughout her
sleep many nights in fear of who would be killed and/or arrested. Cleary by the age of 6, LaTasha had
already internalized that the ongoing police and ambulance sirens were a sign of trouble and not a sign
of rescue. Rather than succumbing to the statistical predictions, LaTasha channeled much of her
childhood trauma by writing (unpublished) short stories entitled, Little Girl Lost and The Exit which
continues to be a passion of hers to date.

LaTasha have been providing services in human suffering for over 25 (twenty-five) years. More than 20
(twenty) years as a Social Worker Practitioner in Child Protective Services, Emergency Response Division. LaTasha has also worked and advocated as a social work clinician in one of California’s crime riddled,political correctional systems. LaTasha obtained an Associate Arts (AA) degree in Medical
Administration at San Joaquin Valley College. She then obtained a Bachelor’s of Arts (B.A) degree in
Social Work and a Masters in Social Work (M.S.W.) from California State University, Fresno. LaTasha
have also completed, Intensive Child Welfare Title IVE training and entrepreneur development training.

LaTasha have effectively integrated her passion for women & youth empowerment, community
advocacy and leadership development in founding two groups that she remains committed to. B.L.I.N.G
(Business Ladies Informational Networking Group) and SPOT (Sharing Positive Opportunities w/Teens);
which is a youth entrepreneurship nonprofit program for youth.

BLING is a platform for women in business or aspiring business leaders to develop, grow and/or expand
their business. LaTasha acts as the group’s facilitator and has assisted women in global marketing
strategies. LaTasha has earned quite a reputation for her business model to incorporate
“intergenerational training” which challenges women to mentor youth in every aspect of their business
development. Despite been really busy with her daily servitudes, LaTasha made time to launch
Talk2Tasha Services which serves overextended six figure professional women to tame their crazy
schedules and balance self-care and mental stamina.

She disrupts any stereo typical false imagery that nothing ‘Good comes from the Hood.’ She went from
Section 8 to 8 forms of income and has become a savvy real estate investor, and two-time best-seller
author and absolutely love teaching others how to so the same.

LaTasha credits her ability to undertake more than the norm by the strength and direction given to her
by her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who have blessed her with a supportive mother and husband of 23
years along with their three children who has unselfishly shared their parents with many “community
children” in need.

LATASHA JONES, MSW, ASW
www.talk2tasha.com

If you would like to meet and celebrate with Tasha, we are thrilled to invite you to celebrate with us at our All Black Affair – Black Magical Award event on February 29th at Smugglers Banquet at 7 pm.

Purchase Tickets here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/all-black-affair-bmw-awards-tickets-92...