PLEDGE TO SERVE SPEAKERS
FROSWA' BOOKER-DREW, Ph.D.
"Untapped Resources: Social Capital in the Divine Nine"
Froswa' is a nonprofit management consultant, author, speaker, trainer, and college professor. Well-known throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as a connector, she is the founder of Soulstice Consultancy and a co-founder of the HERitage Giving Circle. Froswa' is the co-host of the web talk show, "Social Issues Time" and author of "Rules of Engagement: Making Connections Last". She also appeared on the Eddie Francis Podcast Show to discuss social capital in the Divine Nine and HBCU communities.
The Shreveport, La. native serves as the director of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances for the State Fair of Texas. She is also a member of the Texas Nonprofit Council. In 2008, Froswa' participated in the documentary “Friendly Captivity”, a film that followed seven women from Dallas to India in 2008.
Froswa’ was initiated into Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in Tyler, Tex., Gamma Omicron Omega chapter. She is an alumna of the University of Texas at Arlington and earned her master's in Humanities from Oklahoma City University. Froswa's Ph.D. is in Leadership and Change from Antioch University where her dissertation was "From Bonding to Bridging: Using the Immunity to Change Process to Build Social Capital and Create Change".
NAKIA DOUGLAS
"Where Lives Are Transformed: The Divine Nine in Education"
Nakia is an educator who is widely respected throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex as a transformative leader. He is the executive director of TRiO and Precollegiate Programs at the University of North Texas at Dallas. Prior to joining UNTD, he was a key figure in the Dallas Independent School District for 13 years which included serving as the founding principal of the Barack Obama Male Leadership Academy.
A proud native of Dallas, Nakia's work has been recognized with honors such as: the 2015 DISD Magnet Principal of the Year, the 2015 Simmons Young Leaders in Education Award, the 2015 Phi Delta Kappa Trailblazer Award, and a 2016 SMU Luminary Award. Nakia has also been honored as a KERA American Graduate Champion and a DISD Exemplary Principal.
The Lincoln High School alumnus and TRiO product was initiated in to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Livingstone College, Gamma Mu chapter. He earned his master's in Education from Houston Baptist University.
Photo: University of North Texas at Dallas
EDDIE FRANCIS
"Branded: Identity and Value in the Divine Nine"
Eddie is a mass media veteran and speaker. He is also a talent acquisition professional for an award-winning global recruitment firm. Eddie is a board member of the Purposeful Philanthropy Foundation, board chair of Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders, and creator of the Black Greek Success Initiative. Since 2003, he has presented the Black Greek Success Program to help Divine Nine collegians sharpen their leadership skills.
Having entered mass media at 18-years-old, Eddie's most noted professional achievement is leading the public relations effort to defeat the 2011 State of Louisiana proposal that threatened to close Southern University at New Orleans. As a result, he became a regular contributor to "The HBCU Nation Radio Show" on WRVS-FM (Elizabeth City, N.C.) and SiriusXM 142. He is the producer and host of the "Eddie Francis Podcast Show".
Eddie was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. at Loyola University New Orleans, Rho Epsilon chapter. The New Orleans native has been an alumni chapter president and campus advisor. He is pursuing his master's in Strategic Leadership from Tennessee State University.
HALIMA LEAK FRANCIS, Ph.D.
"Beyond Service Hours: The True Power of Philanthropy in the Divine Nine"
Halima is a charitable giving consultant, college professor, and the founder of the Purposeful Philanthropy Foundation, the sponsor of "Pledge to Serve". She is also a co-founder of the HERitage Giving Circle and a board member for Inspiring Tomorrow's Leaders. She has written about charitable giving for The Huffington Post and Black Enterprise, and publishes the "Write to Bear Alms" blog. Halima hosts a segment of the same name on the "Eddie Francis Podcast Show".
With a proven track record in the development of comprehensive and sustainable fundraising programs, Halima has worked at Barnard College of Columbia University, the New York University School of Law, and the City University of New York. She is also responsible for founding the first Center for Fundraising and Philanthropy at a historically black college or university and consults with the Texas Muslim Women's Foundation.
A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Halima was initiated into Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. at Hampton University, Rho Alpha chapter. From there, she earned her master’s in Educational Sociology and Ph.D. in Higher Education at NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education. Her dissertation was "Making Bricks Without Straw: The Kresge HBCU Initiative and Fundraising and Historically Black Colleges and Universities".