Board Members
Veletta L. Bell
President
Veletta Bell is the Director of the Project Management Office at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business where she manages a team responsible for the successful implementation of technology projects. She holds an MBA from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management from Purdue University. Her project management certifications include the Project Management Professional (PMP) and the Project Management Institute Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP). She has technology experience in the private and public sectors having worked for Chicago Public Schools, Quaker Oats, Guinness UDV, Ryerson Metals, and R. R. Donnelley and Sons. In 2020-2021, Veletta served as president of the AKARAMA Foundation Inc., at 501(c3) whose purpose is to promote programs designed to strengthen the economic, educational, cultural, and health of individuals and families in Woodlawn and the surrounding Chicagoland Southside neighborhoods.
Patricia E. Phillips
Vice President
Patricia E. Phillips received her BA from Northwestern University and her MA in Administration and Supervision from Roosevelt University. Ms. Phillips began her 37-year tenure in education with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS) specializing in teaching reading and math. She served as department chair and assistant principal. Upon leaving CPS, Ms. Phillips joined several organizations in an effort to support teachers including the Illinois State Department of Education Reading Division, DePaul University, and the Teachers Emeritus Corp where she tutored at several schools.
Saundra O. Lightfoot, MPH
Treasurer and Freedom School Task Force
Saundra O. Lightfoot has over 33 years as a Healthcare Administrator. She began her career as Regional Director of Parents Too Soon, for The Ounce of Prevention Fund, monitoring the delivery of Mental Health services to Garfield Park residents. In 1997, she directed the Westside Healthy Start Program for the Access Community Health Network. In 2000, Ms. Lightfoot served as Director of the University of Chicago Comer Children’s Mobile Healthcare Unit, one of the first Chicago Mobile programs to provide free primary healthcare services to Chicago Public School students. In 2013, she served as Director for Healthcare Initiatives and Patient Navigation Services for the American Cancer Society, Chicago Region.
Dr. Jacqueline Carothers
Secretary and Freedom School Task Force
Dr. Jacqueline Carothers has served as a teacher, literacy specialist, administrator, principal, adjunct professor, and leadership coach. She currently serves as President of Carothers and Associates, Inc. a company specializing in leadership development and executive coaching. Dr. Carothers received her M. Ed. from DePaul University in Reading and Learning Disabilities and an Ed.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana in School Leadership. She is the co-author of The Intuitive Principal and an extensive number of leadership development training modules.
Regeta Slaughter
Freedom School Task Force
Regeta Slaughter, began her career with Chicago Public School (CPS), serving as a high school math teacher, assistant principal, and Director of Mathematics. She joined the University of Illinois at Chicago, teaching courses for select students and teachers. Ms. Slaughter was part of the UIC Metropolitan Chicago Math Initiative, providing coaching for teachers in the Big Shoulders Fund and math curriculum training for teachers around the country. Regeta was selected by the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics for the 2018 Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award and was the first African American woman and CPS teacher to receive the award. She graduated from Chicago State University with a degree in Secondary Mathematics Education and received a Master of Art Degree in Curriculum and Supervision.
Virginia Reynolds
Freedom School Task Force
Ms. Virginia Reynolds retired from the Department of Human Services, Division of Rehabilitation Services where she was employed for over two decades, as a rehabilitation professional. She is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and licensed clinical professional counselor. Her formal education was completed at North Carolina Central University where she received a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree.
Semaj Coleman
Board Member
Dr. Semaj Coleman currently serves as the Choir Director of the Karen Lee Gospel Choir, Praise Team, and Commissioned for Christ ensembles at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Chicago, Illinois. He is also the current Division Head of Fine and Applied Arts at Oak Park and River Forest High School. He is responsible for supporting various departments, including music, visual arts, theatre arts, family and consumer sciences, and business education. Dr. Coleman served in various leadership capacities, including principal, assistant principal, department chair, and lead teacher. He has served in several districts, including Chicago Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools. Dr. Coleman holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education from Eastern Michigan University, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from the American College of Education, and a Doctoral Degree in Educational Leadership from Chicago State University.
Rev. P. Devon Brown
Senior Pastor, St. Mark United Methodist Church
Patrick Devon Brown attained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehouse College and his Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 1995 Rev. Brown itinerated to Faith UMC in Chicago and in 2013 was appointed to St. Mark United Methodist Church where he currently serves as senior pastor. He has served as president of Chicago Black Methodists for Church Renewal (BMCR), and the Black United Methodist Pastor caucus of BMCR. Re. Brown is active in the community having served as President for the Alliance of Congregations Transforming the Southside, the Southeast Englewood Good Neighbors organization, the Sixth Ward Clergy Advisory Council, and the Greater Grand Crossing – Chatham Clergy Association.
Brenda McGlohon
Board Member
Brenda McGlohon is a graduate of North Carolina Central University (BS) and Atlanta University (MLS). She began her Chicago Public Library (CPL) career as a reference librarian at Woodson Regional Library. She was later promoted to Division Chief of General Information Services at the Harold Washington Library Center. Ms. McGlohon was appointed CPL’s Assistant Commissioner for Neighborhood Services where she oversaw the operation and budget of 76 branches, and two regional libraries and helped to open 16 new branches. She fostered the Library’s role in the community by working with the Census Bureau, Federal Communications Bureau, Board of Elections Commission, and Chicago Housing Authority to provide and deliver services at branch locations. On the statewide level, Ms. McGlohon was one of 40 librarians in Illinois selected to participate in Synergy: The Illinois Library Leadership Initiative and was later selected to serve as a mentor in the program. Ms. McGlohon retired in 2011.
Nelly Maynard
Board Member
Nelly Maynard is the Dean of Continuing Education & Nontraditional Degree programs at Chicago State University. She also serves as an Adjunct Professor of English Rhetoric and English As A Second Language programs at Columbia College. She served as a Workforce Training Facilitator at The Center where she designed group and individual training modules and courses for workplaces throughout Illinois. Her educational background includes Adult Education (ABD) from Northern Illinois University, a Master’s Degree in Inner City Studies from Northeastern Illinois University, a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor’s Degree in English from the University of Illinois.