Executive Committee

PRESIDENT
Pastor, Fellowship Chapel

Reverend Dr. Wendell Anthony is a native of St. Louis, Missouri. He was educated in the Detroit Public School system. He graduated from Wayne State University with a B.A. in Political Science and Marygrove College with an M.A. in Pastoral Ministry. He attended the University of Detroit for advanced study in Black Theology. Rev. Anthony is a Certified Social Worker with the State of Michigan. On May 12, 2007, Rev. Anthony was the keynote speaker for the Graduation Class of Marygrove College at which time the Board of Trustees conferred upon Rev. Anthony the degree of Honorary Doctor of Arts.

He became the Pastor of Fellowship Chapel in December 1986 following the passing of Reverend James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Through the grace of God and the labor of his ministry, the church has experienced the greatest growth in its 53-year history. Through its James E. Wadsworth, Jr. Community Center, Fellowship Chapel has a full-time outreach ministry with programs ranging from health and wellness, youth mentoring and development and job training. Rev. Anthony is the developer of the Isuthu Institute (Coming into Manhood Rites of Passage Program) for boys ages 6-18, dealing with African American male responsibility. It is one of the oldest mentoring programs of its kind in the country. He also initiated its female counterpart, the Intonjane Institute (Coming into Womanhood Rites of Passage Program) for girls ages 6-18. Reverend Anthony has received numerous local and national awards.

Currently, Rev. Dr. Wendell Anthony is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors. In addition, he is serving his 14th term as President of the Detroit Branch NAACP, a position he has held for 27 years. The Detroit Branch NAACP is the largest branch in the country. It hosts the largest sit-down dinner in the nation, bringing at least 10,000 persons to gather every year to celebrate and commemorate the struggle for social justice, freedom, and equality. He is the founder of the Freedom Institute for Economic, Social Justice, and People Empowerment, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which also sponsors the annual Freedom Weekend in the city of Detroit. He is also the founder of the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, a grassroots community-oriented organization which supports issues and candidates often overlooked by those in the traditional political arena.

Reverend Anthony is the originator of the Take Your Souls to the Polls voter registration and mobilization program. This was initiated to bring about greater youth involvement in the electoral process. He is also the recipient of numerous awards and recognition, locally and nationally.

On June 5, 2005, Reverend Anthony led his congregation, community and business leaders, government officials, supporters and well-wishers in a procession to the new Fellowship Chapel called The Village, for its grand opening and inaugural worship service. The Village contains the new church and soon to be developed 140 units of multi-family homes and senior citizen residencies. This is a $60 million-dollar project which will result in the building of a new community.

In September 2005, Rev. Anthony married Monica G. Anthony. They are the proud parents of three adult daughters (Tolani, Maia and Theresa) and in 2011 a new addition was added, young Ms. Wendelaya Adiah Anthony.

1ST VICE PRESIDENT
Hopewell Church

Pastor K.C. Pierce II is an anointed preacher and teacher whose vision for God’s people enables him to build bridges, reach across denominations, generations, gender, race, culture and ethnicity, while changing lives and building communities.

He is the older of two children, born in a Christian and God-fearing home. His parents are Rev. Dr. Kenneth C. Pierce and Mrs. Ilean Pierce. He is a proud parent of three children. Pastor Pierce is a graduate of Murray Wright High School. Furthering his education at Baker College, Oakland Community College, and Ashland Theological Seminary.

Six years ago Pastor Pierce II was called to the Hopewell Church, Detroit, MI where he now serves as the Senior Pastor. He is founder and CEO of the Hopewell CDC Inc., a very active and vital help to the community, which encompass a weekly food giveaway program since the Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic. He is also the founder of My Brothers’ Keeper mentorship program for inner city young males (grades 5-8).

Pastor Pierce proudly serves as an active Executive Committee Member and Chair of Religious affairs of the NAACP, Detroit branch. He has work diligently on the Soles to the Polls campaign in helping to get millennials registered to vote.

He is an active member of the Council of Baptist Pastors of Detroit Vicinity, where he proudly serves on the Executive Board and Co-chair of Political and Social Justice Committee.

He also serves as Wayne County Sheriff Chaplin, Chaplain and activist for SEIU, activist for 1 Detroit, community partner for Focus Hope & Hope Village, and Clergy Partner for Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmore. Pastor Pierce II is the proud recipient of the African-American Leadership Award.

2ND VICE PRESIDENT
International Representative, UAW

Kevin Tolbert was appointed International Representative, July 16, 2006, based upon the recommendation of appointment from Vice-President Jimmy Settles. Currently, Kevin is working as an International Representative in the Independent Parts Supplier (IPS) Department. He is responsible for national contracts with Seating Suppliers.

In his most previous assignment, he served as the Assistant Director of Product Intelligence at the UAW-Ford National Programs Center (NPC). Kevin was responsible for leading a team that provides an analysis of the Auto industry and helped to educate the leadership and membership on future trends and economic conditions.

Earlier in his career, he served as the Executive Director of the UAW-Ford National Programs Center, Kevin led the $10 million remodeling of the sixty-year-old building updating the conference rooms, and modernizing the offices and common workspaces.

3RD VICE PRESIDENT
Chief Executive Officer of BFDI Educational Services, Inc

Alice serves as the CEO of BFDI Educational Services, Inc. She also serves as the President of BFDI Training Institute Board of Directors. For 26 years, Alice served as the CEO of Black Family Development, Inc, from which she retired on June 30, 2020. During this time, she established two (2) subsidiaries focused on education, improving academic results, building relationships, and repairing harm. The two subsidiaries established were BFDI Educational Services, Inc. and BFDI Training Institute. BFDI Educational Services, Inc. is now a 501c3, and the BFDI Training Institute is an L3C.

Alice is a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class of XXV, and in 2010, she completed the Harvard Business School Strategic Perspective in Nonprofit Management.

Alice served for 10 years as an Adjunct Professor in the Wayne State University School of Social Work; and now serves as Chair of the Wayne State University School of Social Work Board of Visitors. She serves on many Boards, and is Third Vice President of Detroit Branch NAACP; Vice President of Detroit Future City; Vice President of Authority Health; Board Secretary and Program Chair of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation; Chair of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship Advisory Board; Chair of Great Start Collaborative-Wayne; Chair of Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families; and, Chair of the NABSW Endowment. She serves on Boards which have a focus on education, workforce development, health, diversity, equity and inclusion; racism; racial, social and economic justice; and other quality of life issues, including the revitalization of neighborhoods in the City of Detroit.

SECRETARY

Khalilah V. Spencer serves as Honigman LLP’s Inclusion, Equity and Social Responsibility Partner. As well as serving as an ex-officio member of the firm’s Board of Directors, she chairs the firm’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee, leads the firm’s women and minority community and recruitment outreach activities, and advises on the internal women and minority focused programs. Additionally, Khalilah is responsible for development and implementation of firm’s pro bono and social responsibility programs.

In addition to her firm leadership roles, Khalilah continues to practice law as a member of the firm’s Litigation Department. Recognized as a Super Lawyer-Rising Star, she has significant and successful experience as a first and second chair in several jury trials and arbitrations involving a wide variety of complex commercial, environmental tort and employment matters. She primarily represents public and private companies in various industries including automotive, financial services, telecommunications, and real estate. She also has significant pro bono experience in civil rights advocacy related to public education, voting rights, and election protection.

She has also held leadership positions in several civil rights organizations, and she currently serves as the Legal Redress Chair for the Michigan State Conference NAACP, and secretary for the Detroit Branch NAACP. She also serves on the Lawyers Committee for the ACLU of Michigan and as President of Promote the Vote, the organization responsible for the ballot initiative campaign behind Proposal 3, which was approved by Michigan voters in 2018.

TREASURER
Director, Civil Rights Department, UAW International

LaKeisha G. Becton, MBA, a Director, in the Civil Rights Department with the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Workers of America (UAW). She serves as a Research Specialist in the International Union, UAW Research Department. In this role, she provides research expertise of various industries, financial analysis, collective bargaining assistance and other technical support to members. LaKeisha believes strongly in workers’ rights, civil rights and social justice, which is shown not only through her profession but also her longtime involvement with the Detroit Branch of the NAACP where she serves as the Treasurer.

Prior to joining the International Union, UAW, LaKeisha was the Inventory Reporting Coordinator for Automotive Component Holdings, a Ford Motor Company business. She also spent time in various accounting roles with Visteon Corporation and Ford Motor Company. LaKeisha earned a Master of Business Administration, MBA and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Finance from Eastern Michigan University.