Tea Time Speaker Series Presents: A Panel On African American Leadership In North Central Massachusetts

Mount Wachusett Community College’s Tea Time Speaker Series will celebrate Black History Month with a luncheon and a panel discussion on African American Leadership in North Central Massachusetts on Monday, Feb. 26 from 12 to 2 p.m.

“Please join us as we celebrate the leadership of African Americans in North Central Massachusetts,” said Sharmese Gunn who organizes the speaker series. “Listen as these leaders discuss their path to leadership, overcoming race relations, and their perspective on how organizations can attract and retain people of color.”

Following a light luncheon, the panel discussion will begin at 12:30 p.m. The discussion will explore many issues, including diversity in the workplace and whether executive teams reflect the communities they serve.

“Leadership from people of color can add a level of depth and diversity that can address those marginalized populations who don’t always have a voice at the table,” said Panelist Angele Goss.

The panel will be made up of:

• Leona Early, Vice President of Community Programs at Montachusett Opportunity Council Inc.
• Angele B. Goss, M.Ed., Director of Upward Bound Math Science & North Central Mass Talent Search, past Massachusetts Educational Opportunity Association (MEOA) President.
• Dana Heath, President of Central Mass Flag Football and Gardner Biddy Basketball, Assistant Coach of Gardner High School Football.
• Lamont Hicks, Senior Officer Specialist Federal Bureau of Prisons, President and Founder of the Future Hoops and AAU Basketball Program, Board Member and Head Coach of Gardner Boys Travel Basketball.
• Kathy Lewis, President of The Tiana Angelique Notice Memorial Foundation.
• Donata Martin, CEO Boys & Girls Club of Fitchburg Leominster and Gardner Clubhouses, Mount Wachusett Community College Board of Trustee.
• Candace Shivers, National Education Association (N.E.A) Board of Directors, President of Mount Wachusett Community College Professional Association, Associate Professor of Sociology and Human Services at Mount Wachusett Community College.

The moderator will be Irene Hernandez, Project Coordinator at Fitchburg Community Connections Coalition, who is a Mount Wachusett Community College alumna.

The Tea Time Speaker Series fosters conversation among the college community and surrounding community on social and cultural issues and awareness. The Tea Time Speaker Series is sponsored by Gateway to College, Mount Wachusett Community College’s Leading for Change Diversity Consortium, The North Central Massachusetts Minority Coalition/Three Pyramids, Inc, and The MWCC Humanities Project that has been made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The event will take place at MWCC’s Gardner campus in the multipurpose room. The event is open to the public and registration is available at mwcc.edu/teatime.