Explore how strategic partnerships between HBCUs and the corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors not only elevate graduate opportunities but also enhance the schools’ resources, reputation, and community impact. Join us for a session that promises to inspire actionable collaboration and provide introductions to organizations like Self-Help, Spectrum, and others.
This session is sponsored by Self-Help.
Speaker: Carl S. Brown
Carl S. Brown, a Vice President at Self-Help, is at the forefront of leading Community Engagement, Partnerships, and Outreach. His work at Self-Help, a family of five nonprofit organizations headquartered in Durham, NC, has significantly impacted under-resourced communities. Since its founding in 1980, the organization has grown to include two credit unions, a loan fund, and a research and policy affiliate. It has provided more than $11 billion in financing to help more than 164,000 borrowers buy homes, start and grow businesses, and strengthen community resources. Brown’s initiatives have expanded and deepened Self-Help’s community relationships nationally, fostered partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), and, through technical assistance, preserved the legacy of African American financial institutions and organizations. His leadership in technical assistance programs will also deliver targeted partner support to prospective and existing borrowers, small business and nonprofit tenants in Self-Help owned buildings, and Self-Help MWBE suppliers.
Brown has also taken on the strategic role of Interim Director of Self-Help Climate Capital Community Engagement. The Climate Capital team aims to facilitate a clean energy financing network and deliver clean energy products, technologies, and services to low-wealth and underserved communities. This support is part of Self-Help’s coalition membership in Climate United, which will manage $6.97B from the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund.
Jerry Mitchell, Executive Director, Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce
Jerry Mitchell serves as President and CEO of the Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce (ASBCC). The ASBCC is focused on advancing the interests of its membership and chartered affiliates through advocacy, education, business and economic research, accessing competitive intelligence and forming strategic alliances to maximize opportunities for success. In this position he interacts with businesses across Alabama and oversees the ASBCC’s 7 affiliates. He consulted with more than thousand businesses/non-profits providing business development planning and technical assistance. Additionally, he assisted over 170 businesses in acquiring needed capital for start-up and expansion, securing amounts ranging from $25,000 to $1.5 million. Mr. Mitchell writes a weekly opinion column for Speakin’ Out News, a weekly news publication targeting the North Alabama’s African American community, focused on community issues and the challenging of cultural myths. From 2003 through 2016 he served as an adjunct professor for the Alabama A&M University School of Business. He currently is a weekly talk show. host of “Entrepreneurs Edge” on Mondays at 12 noon Central and 1pm Eastern, on Envision Radio (www.envision-radio.com).
In 2014 Mitchell was named to the Alabama Small Business Advisory Committee by Governor Robert Bentley and to the Huntsville Times’ Most Influential list. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for: the National Black Chamber of Commerce. He is the recipient of a number awards for community service and leadership from churches, business associations and service organizations, including the “Making A Difference” Award from the Ivy Foundation of AKA in 2014, Distinguished Service Award from the City of Huntsville and the Black Achievers Award in 2009, and the Community Service Award from the Huntsville/Madison Co. NAAACP in 2008.
Mitchell has bachelors in accounting from VSU, a masters degree in business management from Central Michigan University, and completed doctoral coursework at the University of Alabama.
Kenny Anderson, President, Maximum Life Enhancement
Kenny Anderson is a nationally certified counselor with over forty years of experience in the mental health profession. He is a graduate of Oakwood University (B.A., Psychology) and Alabama A&M University (M.S., Clinical Psychology). In 2013, Kenny was appointed Multicultural Affairs Officer for the City of Huntsville by Mayor Battle after spending 16 years at Calhoun Community College, most recently as Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences. The office transitioned to the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in August 2021. Kenny retired from the position of Director on October 1, 2024, and continues to provide business and educational consulting services.
Since 1990, Kenny has been the host/producer of a live, weekly radio talk show called “2nd Chance” every Sunday on Oakwood University’s radio station. He has established three endowed academic scholarships, the Jack & Annie Anderson 2nd Chance Endowed Scholarship (2013) at Calhoun Community College, the “212 Community Service Scholarship (2015) at Oakwood University and the “Mother Earnestine Fletcher Tibbs Memorial Scholarship” (2024) at Alabama A&M University. In 2018, Kenny launched Leadership Empowerment Enterprise, a 501©(3) focused on free personal development seminars, mentor training and philanthropy.
Kenneth is a community bridge builder committed to the work of creating alliances across multiple dimensions. Kenneth has written as a community columnist for the Huntsville Times and received numerous awards for over three decades of community service. He has professional affiliations with the National Board of Certified Counselors, 100 Black Men- Greater Huntsville Chapter, and American Psychological Association. He currently serves on the boards of Partnership for a Drug Free Community and Habitat for Humanity of the River Valley.
Freda Green, Senior Manager, Global Talent Acquisition, RTI International
Freda Green is a Senior Manager, Global Talent Acquisition at RTI International, where she leads the Internship and Early Career Talent Program while also playing a key role in advancing Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) initiatives as a member of the EDIB Leadership Council. She co-leads RTI’s HBCU Engagement program. With over a decade of experience in leading talent departments within the non-governmental and biotechnology sectors, Freda specializes in diversity recruiting strategy in her current position. She is deeply passionate about attracting talent and unlocking individuals’ potential.
Tamara Terry, RTI International
Tamara Terry is the Director of Academic Research Engagement and Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging Community Outreach Chair for RTI International. She is an experienced university collaborations leader with strong relationships in North Carolina and nationwide. She sits in RTI’s University Collaboration Office and is responsible for regional engagement with the UNC System and Duke University and leads the RTI University Scholars Program. As a proud North Carolina Central University alumna, she has the privilege of being the inaugural Relationship Manager for RTI’s strategic partnership with the university. Leaning on the success of the NCCU-RTI partnership, she co-directs the strategic framework to partner and engage with several other Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the nation to create mutually beneficial opportunities between the universities and RTI.
Moderated by Malaika Simmons, COO, NADPH
As a Human-Centered Design strategist and Design Thinking practitioner with a background in psychology, Simmons creates transformative experiences for teams and organizations. Her expertise focuses on fostering empathy, enhancing productivity, and driving innovation through engaging talks, workshops, and collaborative sessions. By integrating a deep understanding of human behavior with practical strategies, she helps teams and organizations achieve meaningful, sustainable outcomes.