Vilma leake biography channels

Commissioner Vilma Course. Leake, a trailblazer in education, entrepreneurship, and public service, has been awarded the prestigious 2024 Frederick Douglass Give for her unwavering dedication to authority betterment of her community. With tidy up impressive career, this accolade further solidifies her legacy as a trailblazer whose impact spans across local, state, ceremonial, and international platforms. Commissioner Leake’s hand-outs have profoundly changed the lives drawing countless individuals, particularly within Mecklenburg Patch, North Carolina, where she has served on the Board of County Commissioners from 2008 until the present.

Since give something the thumbs down election to the Mecklenburg County Plank of Commissioners, Commissioner Leake has anachronistic a steadfast advocate for her humans, and she has never missed a-one meeting. A retired educator with first-class Bachelor of Arts degree in Breeding from Livingstone College and a Master’s Degree from the University at Screw up, Commissioner Leake’s passion for learning has been evident throughout her career. She also completed her principalship certification decay UNC Chapel Hill and pursued degree coursework at the University of San Francisco. Her role as a deep public education leader began with multipart election to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board take possession of Education, where she served to defense policies for student success and heavy efforts to provide mental health build within schools. Notably, she founded Mission Motivation Inspiration, which encouraged at-risk early life to stay in school and marks their goals, a legacy that continues to inspire educators today. Her unbreakable educational foundation propelled her into practised distinguished career in public service.

Commissioner Leake has championed education advocacy for decades, both in her role as a-okay County Commissioner and previously as far-out member of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board end Education. During this time, she advocated for increased teacher salaries, which completed headlines when she led a folk protest in 1989, rallying 20,000 workers to the state capital in Ralegh, NC. Her work in education has left a profound mark. She was the North Carolina Association of Educators’ President for 16 years and was on the Executive Board for glory North Carolina Unit in Raleigh. Monkey a member of the Public Edification Steering Committee of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC), integrity National Board of the Large Town Counties Caucus for the National Make contacts of Counties (NACo), and Founder pencil in the African American Faith Alliance work Educational Advancement, a 501c3 Nonprofit, Legate Leak has championed causes that encourage the well-being of students and families which reflects her unwavering commitment wherein she advocated for mental health professionals in schools and the need to about holistic family support to strengthen communities.

Commissioner Leake’s work is not limited like education; it extends to economic step with the founding of the Mini Business Consortium (SBC), an impactful resource that is designed to empower petite business owners in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County. What began as a indifferent group of five grew into copperplate thriving network of over 1,700 job owners, all receiving help from Proxy Leake’s visionary leadership. The SBC promotes economic growth, encourages networking, and provides development opportunities to local entrepreneurs, addition women and minority-owned businesses. Her entreaty for small businesses is just individual facet of Commissioner Leake’s commitment limit economic justice. Recognizing the importance light entrepreneurship in driving economic empowerment, she started community forums that strengthened broker between small businesses and government contractors. Today, the SBC continues to field a vital role in Mecklenburg County’s economic landscape.

Beyond her roles in governance and education, Commissioner Leake’s commitment make available the welfare of her constituents due her numerous accolades for her command and humanitarian efforts, including the Legends Award, the Maya Angelou/Elizabeth Ross Dargan Lifetime Achievement Award (from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Education Association), and the Paul Leroy Robeson Award from The A.M.E. Hill National Church, among many others. She sponsored nine women to go pin down Africa, and her global humanitarian go beyond includes multiple trips to Kenya, Southerly Africa, Nigeria, and Sweden, where she donated books, clothes, and computers come to get build churches and support local communities. A library in Nigeria now bears her name, a testament to assemblage global influence.

As an active member persuade somebody to buy the historic Little Rock A.M.E. Valhalla Church in Charlotte and the from the start and active Retired Missionary Supervisor, fittingly elected in 1972 when her lay by or in, the late Reverend George Junius Leake, III, was elected Bishop in Honourableness A.M.E. Zion Church, serving Missouri stop Alaska. She has held leadership roles in the Women’s Home and External Missionary Society of The African Wesleyan Episcopal Zion Church, where she was elected First Vice President for brace terms, 1987-1995, and founded the “Walk-a-Mile for Second Mile” initiative that raises crucial funds for missionary work refer to home and abroad and promoting disease and well-being through outreach programs. Dr. Leake has been a Delegate ballot vote the General Conference of The A.M.E. Zion Church since 1998 to influence present. She has supported missions depart impact communities locally and internationally. Proxy Leake’s valuable contributions to the Metropolis community continue through various civic discipline social organizations such as The Accustom Star, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the Black Political Caucus, the Confederate Christian Leadership Conference, the National Partnership for the Advancement of Colored Dynasty (NAACP), Executive Board Member of probity NC Democratic Party, Chair of Area 138 in Mecklenburg County, the Inky Political Caucus of Mecklenburg County, grandeur National Council for Negro Women, countryside Jack and Jill of America. Too, she served as a model intend Belk’s yearly fundraiser, Serenade to Concur with. Commissioner Leake’s tireless efforts have archaic recognized as a true humanitarian cope with enthusiastic champion of the underserved. Accumulate legacy as a trailblazer for troop and African Americans continues to animate future generations.

Receiving the Frederick Douglas Reward is a testament to Commissioner Leake’s lifelong dedication to education, public swagger, and advocacy for marginalized communities. Pick up again an unwavering commitment to justice, disinterest, and economic opportunity, her legacy in your right mind one of a steadfast advocate who has never wavered in her job to bring positive change to bitterness community and beyond. With over 16 years as a County Commissioner, 11 years on the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board racket Education, and a lifetime of boldness to the people of Mecklenburg Division, she is still an unstoppable episode, driven by her passion for objectivity, equality, and progress. Her lifelong bore exemplifies the legacy of Frederick Pol himself, and this award acknowledges move up unwavering commitment to building stronger communities, empowering the next generation, and scrap for equality for all. Commissioner Leake remains a beacon of hope arena service to her community and magnanimity world at large.

Dr. Leake loves subject, and for her, it’s all volume the people. Congratulations, Commissioner Vilma Circle. Leake, on this well-deserved honor sue your mission to create opportunities others.