Governor's Advisory Council on Black Empowerment

On February 27, 2023, Governor Maura T. Healey signed Executive Order No. 606 establishing the Governor’s Advisory Council on Black Empowerment and appointed more than 30 Black leaders from across the state to serve on it.

This Council will advise Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll on issues related to the economic prosperity and wellbeing of Massachusetts’ Black community, including education, health care, housing and workforce development. 

Listening sessions in Springfield, New Bedford, and Lowell/Lynn soon to be announced.

Chair: Tanisha Sullivan, President, NAACP Boston
Vice Chair: Anthony (Tony) Richards, II, VP, Equitable Business Development, Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency

Alfred Enchill, President, Berkshire Black Economic Council
Beth Chandler, President/CEO, YW Boston
Bithiah Carter, President, New England Blacks in Philanthropy
Che Anderson, Vice Chancellor for City & Community Relations of UMass Medical School
Deborah Enos, Senior Leader & Advisor on Healthcare
Denise Jordan, Executive Director, Springfield Housing Authority 
Dr. Aisha Miller, Vice President, Related Beal
Dr. Makeeba McCreary, President, New Commonwealth Racial Equity & Social Justice Fund
Dr. Moses Dixon, President/CEO, Central MA Agency on Aging, Inc.
Dr. Thea James, MD, Vice President of Mission, Associate CMO Boston Medical Center, Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine
Filaine Julce-Deronnette, Vice President, Health Systems 1199 SEIU
Fred Taylor, Business Agent, North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Worcester
Isa Woldeguiorguis, Executive Director, Center for Hope and Healing, Lowell
Jha D Amazi, Principal, MASS Design Group
John Borders IV, Director of Tourism, Sports & Entertainment, City of Boston
Karilyn Crockett, Professor of Urban History, Public Policy & Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Marcelina Pina-Christian, Executive Director, New Bedford Human Rights Commission
Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council
Monalisa Smith, Executive Director, Mothers for Justice & Equity
Nicole Obi, President, Black Economic Council of Massachusetts
Pamela Everhart , Senior Vice President, Head of Regional Public Affairs & Community Relations, Fidelity
Pratt Wiley, President/CEO, The Partnership, Inc.
Rep. Bud Williams, Chair, Black & Latino Caucus
Rev. Clyde Talley, Senior Pastor, Belmont AME Zion Church Worcester
Rev. Dr. Gregory G. Groover, President, Black Ministerial Alliance
Rev. Willie Bodrick II, Senior Pastor, Historic Twelfth Baptist Church
Shanique Spalding, Executive Director, MA Voter Table
Sharra Gaston, Co-Founder/Co-Executive Director, Boston HBCU Alumni Network, Inc.; Deputy Chief Equity & Strategy Officer, Boston Public Schools
Sheena Collier, Founder/CEO, Boston While Black
Sophia Hall, Deputy Litigation Director, Lawyers for Civil Rights
Trina Martin, Vice President of Community Engagement & External Affairs, Boston Medical Center