Miss Black Iowa USA exists only because of the tireless commitment of a small group of civic-minded volunteers. These individuals bring talent and expertise in marketing, finance, the arts, communications, fund-raising, and education.

Debra A. Carr
Miss Black Iowa USA Founder

Debra founded and directed the first Miss Black Iowa U.S.A. Pageant in 1987.  She served as Executive Director for the Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant from 1988 – 1993 and has served on the National Board of Advisors.  She has also served as a Judge for a number of pageants throughout the country.  During the 2007 Miss Black U.S.A. Pageant, which was held in the Gambia, West Africa, Debra served as Director of Operations.     
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Lori A. Young
Communications & Graphic Design Consultant

Lori A. Young became involved with the Miss Black Iowa USA Scholarship Pageant over 20 years ago, when it first began.  She has served on the Advisory board and modeled with LeChic Fashion Ensemble, a major fundraising arm of the Miss Black Iowa USA pageant in the late 80s.

After a long hiatus, Lori is back serving the pageant in the areas of communications, marketing, and graphic design.  Her gifts for design and writing enable her to develop materials and communications that positively build the Miss Black Iowa USA brand.   

In May 2007 she served as the Assistant Director of Operations at the national 2007 Miss Black USA pageant in The Gambia, Africa.  In that role, she helped manage 6 chaperones and the activities, schedules, and needs of 36 contestants. 

A graduate of Grand View College, Lori works for Principal Financial Group as Communications Strategist in the Retirement & Investor Services business unit.  She also currently leads the African-American/Black Employee Diversity Group at The Principal.  Lori has also illustrated Hope Through The Nightmare, a children’s book.

Veola Perry
Fund Development & Special Services Coordinator

Veola Perry, originally from Memphis, TN is a former teacher with the Des Moines Public Schools. She holds a BA degree from LeMoyne-Owen College (Memphis) and a MST degree from Drake University.

Active in the Des Moines community through various civic/service organizations, currently Veola is a Friend to The Forest Ave Library and the Des Moines Human Rights Commission. Some of her volunteer services include The American Red Cross (2005), the Alzheimer’s Assoc, the Evelyn Davis Early Learning Academy, and Senator Barack Obama (Des Moines' office).

A chartered member of local dance company - Gateway Dance Theatre, Inc., Veola was selected as billboard dancer for 2005 I'll Make Me A World In Iowa African American celebration. A lover of the arts, Veola will, on occasion, do "spoken word" for "Say What Poetry" ( House of Bricks) and Fresh Breath Productions. She loves to stay active and fit through yoga and Tai Chi (WuShu/Chinese Martial Arts).

Veola has one daughter, Vivette I. Perry. Together they have shared the dance and "spoken word" stages. Veola sends up praises to the Lord God who made a way for her path to cross that of Debra Carr's. That meeting led Veola to the opportunity for Veola to travel to the Gambia with the 2007 Miss Black USA Scholarship Pageant delegation where she served as Assistant Director of Operations.

Stacie Mitchell-Kolokolo
Recruitment Specialist

Originally from Stamps, Arkansas, Stacie is a familiar face and entrepreneur in the Des Moines community. She has spent over ten years as an entrepreneur and community leader in the area. She served as a community educator, speaker, trainer, and facilitator on credit repair, identity theft, homeownership, entrepreneurship, self empowerment and program development. Her publications consist of The Study Skills, in The Black Students Guide to High School Success and copyright of Do-It-Yourself Credit Repair Kit. Stacie is dedicated to assisting individual and communities achieve social, emotional, economic, political, and spiritual empowerment through education and strategic planning.

Stacie is pursuing her second Masters degree from Drake University in secondary education with endorsements in business and talented and gifted. She currently holds a 4.0 grade point average. She is a volunteer in the Des Moines Public Schools and serves on the advisory board and youth leadership team at Miracle Life Family Church.

Stacie is the Miss Black Iowa USA Recruitment Director. She enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, learning about African history and art, and watching action films.

Ursula Bruce
Recruitment & Outreach

I am 43 years old, born and raised in Waterloo Iowa. I attended East High school and graduated in 1985. I joined the US Navy in 1988 and was honorably discharged in 1991. I enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2006 and did a year, honorably discharging in 2007. I attended Hawkeye Community College where I received my Associates degree in General Studies in 2006 and went on to a 4yr college where i received my Bachelors of Social Science degree in Sociology from Upper Iowa University in March of 2010.

I have been married for 13yrs, i am a mother of two children, a 19 year old daughter and 16 yr old son. I have participated in several pageants in the past, the Miss Teen Iowa Pageant in 1984, the Miss Black Iowa Pageant in 1985, and the Mrs. Iowa Pageant in 2003, where i received several awards from each one. Each experience has been rewarding and beneficial in my life because i took from it skills and knowledge that I never knew and experienced before.