Core and Auxiliary Members

  Lonnie Hannon III

Hannon specializes in neighborhood development, social capital, demograhic trends, and national social policy.  His other passions include teaching, community development, and history.  He currently serves as an assistant professor of Sociology at Tuskegee University.

  Curtis L. Ballard

Curtis L. Ballard earned his high school diploma from Carol W. Hayes High School in 1982 as a product of the Birmingham City School system. Curtis was able to earn dual Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Sociology and one in African American Studies in 2005. Curtis was awarded the UAB Study Abroad Scholarship that gave him the opportunity to study in the West African country of Ghana in the summer of 2004. Curtis was also the recipient of the Smitherman Award for excellent academic students in the African American Studies Program. In 2004 Curtis was selected as a Ronald E. McNair Scholar, in which his 2005 summer research project was entitled The Significance of Race in State and Federal Drug Sentencing mentored by Dr. Jeffrey E. Hall. Curtis is anticipating entering UAB Graduate School in the fall of 2006. He wishes to further is education and earn his Ph.D in Medical Sociology. With his Ph.D he plans to become a university professor, join the lecture circuit and write text books in his field.

  Edward J. Fields, Jr.

Interest: Reading, movies, calligraphy, poetry, chess

Fields discovered the need to broaden the worldview of young African American males through his involvement in numerous programs as a teenager. Through his work with the Boy Scouts of America, Brothers of Umoja and a high school rites of passage program, Fields found discipline, wisdom and a zeal for education. He is a voracious reader of books on business, leadership, and descriptive tales of African American excellence. Fields will ensure that PROPEL participants identify their existing leadership skills and better define their life goals.

Fields is currently the Vice President of Business Development for the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce

  Raymond Goolsby, Jr.

Interests: Sports, reading, and debate

Mr. Goolsby is intellectual, aggressive and energetic with a dynamic personality. He has experience in counseling and training youth and adults with disabilities as they transition into the workforce. Mr. Goolsby plans to continue to use his counseling skills to encourage PROPEL participants to work, study and even play harder. He will also increase the awareness of civic engagement in the political system as a means to improve the conditions of the African American community.

Mr. Goolsby currently serves as a Workforce Development Advisor for the Personnel Board of Jefferson County.

  Damian C. Gilbert

Interests: Sports, Reading, Music

Watching his mother struggle with finances at a very young age, Damian vowed that he would never allow his family to struggle based on a sheer lack of understanding finances. Through this personal commitment, Damian became very adept at math and eventually went on to college to major in finance. Damian has very strong commitment to his family and the community in which he lives. This commitment has led him to making PROPEL a purposeful conduit in which he is able to educate the African American community on financial and family matters.

Damian is currently the Branch Manager at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage.

   Kim Hannon, Administrative Assistant

Advisors

  Naya McMillan

Field Agents

  Tanisha Carrington

  Angela Jones

Karen Henry

Spiritual Advisors

• Brother James Ephraim
• Brother Cedrick Hinson