Achieving Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Education

When you think of style and class; organization and structure; education and empowerment; equity and advocacy, Derrick Marcell Fleming, Jr., also known as “Derrick The Gent”, is the man to make it happen. As a former White House Staff Member under the Obama Administration, now currently serving as the Managing Director of Strategic Engagement for Chicago Scholars, a social entrepreneur (The JUST BE campaign.) and serving in other national and local community/education leadership capacities – Derrick leads with a heart to serve and a passion for youth, collective impact, and systems change. Derrick also brings electrifying energy to any atmosphere. With over 10 years of experience in the nonprofit and government sectors focusing on education, social impact, youth development, and mentorship; 8+ years of project management, coaching, and training experience; and 6+ years of program and people management experience.; Derrick brings a level of problem-solving skills that sets everyone at ease and makes solutions-focused work feel like fun.

José Reyes serves as the Executive Director of NPower Michigan. He is responsible for leading NPower’s strategic direction, overseeing its administrative management, and directing collaborative partnerships within the region.

Throughout his career José has worked at the nexus of education, government, non-profits, and the private sector creating collective impact strategies to improve the quality of life for individuals, families and communities.

José began his career as a change agent serving as Aide to the Vice Provost for Minority Affairs at the University of Michigan. While working at the University, José developed and implemented policy, programs, and research designed to promote greater access and achievement for underserved populations.

In the late 1990s José joined the Detroit Wayne County Mental Health Agency, one of the largest public-sector healthcare systems in the nation. During his tenure he helped to redefine the county’s service model, its quality management system, and pioneered the county’s first web-based customer care system.

José spent nearly a decade at Prism Solutions, serving as Director of Public Sector Solutions and Senior Consultant. Over the years, José has worked with a vast number of nonprofits and governmental agencies to sharpen strategy, refine operations, and build capacity.

In addition to his K-12 experience, Remon has served as an adjunct professor in the School Leadership Program at California State University, Dominguez Hill. He is also a military veteran who served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a BS degree from Paine College, a MA Degree from CSU Dominguez Hills, and is currently a doctoral candidate in Pepperdine University’s Organizational Leadership program.

Felecia H. Eaton is the Founder and CEO of FELECIA H EATON LLC, which is a the ultimate career progression business that focuses on the professional, life changing work it takes to land the job of your dreams and elevate your career to the highest level.

Felecia is a mother, counselor and friend to three sons ages 22, 20 and 15. She is currently working as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative with over 11 years experience. After being laid off in 2017 and taking a 60% pay cut to work for another company, she later tripled her salary within three years.

She teaches people how to identify their WHY, learn the Art of Networking, and how to Master the Job Interview. She is committed to helping others change their lives through real world career guidance.

Felecia Higgs Eaton is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, INC. and earned both her bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Felecia believes in the value of continued education, but also stands behind the non- traditional career path population.

Felecia’s mission is to instill in everyone who wants MORE out of life, that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!

Monique R. Hamilton currently serves as a Project Manager, Professional Learning Services Director, and Co-Chair for the Community Action for Respect and Equity (C.A.R.E.) Committee for Achieve3000. In addition to project management work, Hamilton works with her Co-Chair of the C.A.R.E. Committee to advance the internal and external understanding of the importance around the inclusion of equity, diversity and social justice in the development of the company as well as stakeholder partners.

Formerly, Hamilton served in a dual position as the Director of School Improvement for the Groveport Madison Local Schools and as the Superintendent of Groveport Madison’s Dropout Prevention School, Cruiser Academy. Groveport Madison is an urban-suburban district located in Groveport, Ohio who at the time of her employment, had a population of approximately 5800 students and over 400 teachers.

Darrell Wilson is a National Director of Strategic Partnerships for Achieve3000 and Chair, Partnerships subcommittee of C.A.R.E. In both roles, he works with civic leaders and various organizations to build strategic initiatives that accelerate literacy in communities. He recently formulated the Achieve3000 national partnership with EDU, Inc Common Application to 58 Historically Black Colleges. Throughout his career, he has been dedicated to creating support for students in need by connecting with major organizations such as the NFL, ESPN and Fox among others. In 2017, he was named National Geographic’s Consultant of the Year for Career Readiness. He has previously worked with National Urban League, La Raza, Kaufman Foundation and The Buffett Foundation to secure grants providing students access to college readiness and literacy materials.

Kevin Baird (MBA, ALEP) serves as SVP of Integrated Experiences. Kevin is a noted leader in college and career readiness content, strategies, and standards. He has participated in educational research on every continent save for Antarctica, consulted with governments to create college & career readiness initiatives, and has served as trainer and consultant for states and districts across North America. Mr. Baird has served as Chairman and Senior Faculty at the non-profit Center for College & Career Readiness. He creates graduate-level programs in College & Career Readiness for school administrators, and is a sought-after speaker around the world. An expert in the use of predictive analytics and artificial intelligence in education, he has helped to create a variety of K-12 and higher ed technologies. Mr. Baird has collaborated with Achieve3000 for more than 15 years and also contributes as a member of our Educator Leadership Council.

As principal consultant with HG Consulting Services, Henry provides project visioning and engagement, community economic development planning, and special project consulting. Henry’s clients include municipalities, universities, nonprofit organizations, for-profit corporations, and small businesses. His body of work has had local, regional and national impact. He is respected as a visionary in his field and has been credited by his peers as having a true sense for the longitudinal outcomes of activities in which he wishes to engage. Over his career, Henry has stewarded multi-millions to small business and community economic projects. He is currently serving as an expert advisor on matters relating to an equitable and inclusive economic recovery. Henry’s body of work has earned him local, regional, and national accolades including most recently being recognized as a 2020 Outstanding Diversity Champion by Columbus Business First for his working in championing the Columbus Small Business Agenda – a city-wide strategy for inclusive economic development targeting women and minority entrepreneurs. He was also recently honored with the Excellence in Business Award by the Ohio Black Expo. Henry is an alumnus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff where he also served in leadership for over 20+ years before relocating to join his wife, Dr. Pamela Golatt, in Columbus, Ohio. Henry’s work has been citied in peer-reviewed professional journals and he’s often included on national panels involving economic empowerment, entrepreneurship, education, and small business development.

Dr. Talisa Dixon is in her third year as the Superintendent and Chief Executive Officer of Columbus City Schools. She began her tenure in March 2019 after five years leading the Cleveland Heights-University Heights City School District in Northeast Ohio.

Dr. Dixon previously spent nine years as an administrator in Columbus City Schools from 2001-10. She served six years combined as the principal at Brookhaven High School and at Columbus Alternative High School.

She began her career in public education first as a social studies teacher and then as an assistant principal in Akron Public Schools. She was the Deputy Superintendent for the Saginaw Public School District in Michigan before accepting the superintendent post in Cleveland Heights-University Heights in 2014.

Since taking the reins of Ohio’s largest school district in 2019, Dr. Dixon has been a voice of leadership in Columbus, connecting with local civic, business, and non-profit partners on behalf of the 50,000 CCS students. She has served on the United Way board since 2019, as well as the I Know I Can board since April of 2021.

In 2019, Dr. Dixon was appointed as Superintendent In Residence at The Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology. The fellowship program brings Ohio superintendents from urban, rural, and suburban school districts to share knowledge with the college and develop active research agendas and shared learning that benefits school communities.

Dr. Dixon has been recognized both locally and nationally for her leadership in public education. She was named the 2017-2018 National Administrator of the Year by the American Heart Association. She was also among 25 women leaders from the non-profit community who were selected to participate in the 2018 American Association of School Administrators (AASA) National Women’s Leadership Consortium.

She is a member of the 10th class of the Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP), and out of 700 graduates, was selected as a recipient of the Educator Inspired to Lead Award. Dr. Dixon was honored as the 2018 Educator of the Year by the city of University Heights, and she has also been honored by Dress for Success Cleveland with the organization’s Walking in Success honors in 2015.

Dr. Dixon has also been recognized nationally for her work in promoting educational equity. In 2016, the U.S. Department of Education honored her and the Cleveland Heights-University Heights School District for fully reflecting America’s diversity at the highest levels of K-12 schools by equally including students of all backgrounds in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.

During her time in Northeast Ohio, Dr. Dixon served on the Cleveland Metro American Heart Association Board of Directors, the Governing Board and Executive Committee for MSAN (Minority Student Achievement Network), and the Board of Directors for the Positive Education Program (PEP) of Cleveland.

A native of Oxford, Mississippi, Dr. Dixon received her bachelor of arts degree in sociology from Mississippi Valley State University. She earned three masters of arts degrees (Sociology, Educational Administration, and Secondary Education) and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Administration from the University of Akron.

Dr. Dixon is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority.