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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. |
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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.
[read
more] |
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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 University, Lori is the Marketing &
Compliance Manager for the Targeted Small
Business Program at the Iowa Dept of Economic
Development.
Lori is active in her church,
considers herself a civic servant, and serves on
the Board of Directors for The Edge Academy and
Multi-Cultural Exhibits and Educational
Programming (MEEP). Lori has also illustrated
"Hope
Through The Nightmare", a children’s book. |
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JoAnn
Hughes
Choreographer & Asst. Producer
JoAnn Hughes has been serving with the Miss
Black Iowa USA organization since the very
beginning. She is an important part of the small
team of strong Black women trying to bring
positive change to the lives of young, Black
women in Iowa.
After graduating Valley High School, JoAnn went
on to study at Des Moines Area Community
College. At Drake University, she received
certification in Non-Profit Leadership &
Administration. She also studied modeling and
acting with Nancy Bounds Modeling and Finishing
School and John Casablanca.
A performing artist at heart, JoAnn has
performed and taught with the Gateway Dance
Theatre
for over 23 years. In addition, Ms.
Hughes helped perform the LeChic Fashion
Ensemble in 1986. As organizer, instructor and
model, LeChic Fashion Ensemble put on local and
statewide productions for over 10 years.
With over 20 years of choreography experience,
JoAnn has shared her choreography talent with
the Des Moines Playhouse, the Drama Workshop,
Gateway Dance Theatre, Tyrone Anderson and Fire
Lip-sync group, and Central Iowa Repertory
Theater.
Currently, JoAnn works tirelessly as Chairperson
of Concerned Citizens for Justice and is
Director of the Charles Lamont Lovelady Trust
Scholarship Fund. |
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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. |
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Ursula
Bruce
Recruitment & Outreach
Mrs. Ursual Bruce is
43 years old, born and raised in Waterloo Iowa.
After attending East High school and graduating
in 1985, she joined the US Navy in 1988 and was
honorably discharged in 1991. From there, Ursula
enlisted in the Army National Guard in 2006 and
did a year, being honorably discharged in 2007.
Ursula attended Hawkeye Community College where
she received her Associates degree in General
Studies in 2006 and went on to a 4yr college
where she received a Bachelors of Social Science
degree in Sociology from Upper Iowa University
in March of 2010.
Married for 13yrs, she is the mother of two
children, a 19 year old daughter and 16 yr old
son. Her pageant experience is extensive. She
has 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, earning several awards
from each one. Ursula says, "Each experience has
been rewarding and beneficial in my life because
I grew and learned skills and knowledge that I
never knew nor had experienced before." |
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Janis
R. Caldwell
Princess Program Director
Janis was born in the great state of Missouri
and raised in Des Moines Iowa. She recently
retired from teaching in the Des Moines Public
School System. She holds an Associate of Arts
degree from Des Moines Area Community College, a
Bachelor of Science degree form Drake University
and a Master of Education degree from the
University of Southern Mississippi.
She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta
Sorority and currently volunteering with the
Miss Black USA Pageant's Little Princess program
where her goal is to shape and create the future
Miss Black USA candidates.
She is a wife of 31 years, a mother of three, a
grandmother of 10, and a mentor to many. Janis
gives all credit to God who gave her the skills
and knowledge to give back to others. |
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Patricia
Palmer
Judges Coordinator / Finance
Pat Palmer joined the Miss
Black Iowa USA staff in 2006 and has contributed
her amazing talents with finance and budgeting
to the organization. Her attention to detail and
gift for managing our precious
few dollars has been extremely helpful. She also
serves as our Judges coordinator.
Pat is currently the Chief Financial Officer of
Oakridge Neighborhood and Oakridge Neighborhood
Services. In her spare time and when not working
with Miss Black Iowa USA, Pat serves as the
Treasurer of St. Paul A.M.E. Church in Des
Moines and on the Board of Directors of the
Richard Allen Community Development Corporation.
She is also the past President of the Indiana
Small Business Incubator Association (IBIA) and
also currently volunteers with Junior
Achievement. |
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