Denese Adams
Vice-President
Lashinda T. Stair
Tamika Merchant
Our programs, tailored to fit various age groups, focus on writing, life skills training, social enrichment, and community service. While most of G3's work is concentrated on the development of girls, some of our events are open to all youth until capacity is reached. We are proud of the overwhelming support G3 receives from parents, college mentors, board members, local dignitaries, businesses, and other empowerment groups, which enables us to better serve leaders of the future.
President and Founder
LaWanda Dickens
A writer and educator with 23 years of collegiate-level teaching experience, Dickens completed course work for the Ph.D. in Composition Studies at Wayne State University. Dickens also has a Master of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in English/Journalism from Jackson State University, in Jackson, Mississippi. Outside of her classroom work, she has a history of extensive contributions to youth development, having coordinated and directed summer youth employment programs in Tallahassee, Florida and Detroit. Her youth outreach involvement consists of resume and cover letter workshops, creative writing seminars, workplace orientations, worksite supervision, and character-building programs. She also devoted nearly a decade of volunteer service to Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan as a Troop Leader, mentoring girls and organizing projects and events designed to foster leadership. Motivated by her two daughters, Jasmine and Natalie, as well as her love for working with girls, she established G3 to counteract the inevitable challenges that girls face so they will be better prepared for life.
Board of Directors
Stair is an 18-year veteran of the Detroit Police Department. In March 2014, under the leadership of Chief James E. Craig, she made history, becoming the first DPD member appointed to the rank of First Assistant Chief of Police. The mother of two holds a Master of Science in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Public Administration from Eastern Michigan University and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology, from Wayne State University. A graduate of the Eastern Michigan University School of Police Staff and Command, she is skilled in numerous specialized training areas including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; Michigan Department of Civil Rights on Investigating Complaints of Harassment and Discrimination; the U.S. Department of Justice Community Policing and Problem Solving; and the U.S. Department of Justice Empowerment Zone Processing. She is sought out by other police agencies throughout the country to assist with their promotional examination processes. Stair is a member of Wayne State’s Alumni Association; the Liberal Arts and Sciences Association; the Eastern Michigan University Black Alumni Association; the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives; the Crime Prevention Association of Michigan and the International Association of Chiefs of Police. She is the recipient of the Board of Police Commissioners Resolution for Outstanding Leadership 2010 and various other awards, citations and letters of commendation.
Secretary
Shivali Amin
Amin’s expertise in outreach and community advocacy is shaped by her experience in Troy Beaumont Hospital’s emergency room as well as her involvement with Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan at the Coleman A. Young Community Center on Detroit’s east side. Devoted to encouraging youth to reach their highest potential, Amin has influenced the lives of local girls for years, educating them on issues such as hunger, bullying, and sexism and inspiring them to take action. A graduate of Oakland University, she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Health Sciences with a concentration in Pre-Professional Health. Her career focus is improving the health and well-being of mothers, infants, and children.
Treasurer
Kamala Bell
Bell has over twenty years of experience in the banking industry, serving in various capacities such as Senior Personal Banker; Assistant Manager; Customer Service Representative in Commercial Real Estate; Teller Supervisor and Teller. Committed to helping girls excel and strive for the best regardless of their circumstances, Bell is pursuing a degree in social work at Marygrove College. Inspired by her 18-year-old daughter, Akira, she volunteered for Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan as a Troop Leader for ten years and Henry Ford Academy School for Creative Studies’ Athletic Booster Club. She has also been very active with Junior Achievement (the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs). In addition, she is a regular volunteer for Detroit’s Annual African World Festival, for which she assists with financial operations.
Darci E. McConnell
Adams has over 20 years of Human Resources experience. She is a Human Resources Business Partner at Ford Motor Company focusing on employee and leadership development. During her professional career she has focused on organizational outreach and diversity. Adams has her Bachelors of Science degree from Georgetown University and MBA from Wayne State University with a Senior Professional in Human Recourses certification. A firm believer in community service, she has been involved in a mentoring program for African-American male youth by providing them with role models, teaching them about the legal system, helping them with team building skills, and exposing them to a variety of career choices. Adams has also coordinated volunteer opportunities with the Neighborhood Service Organization including resources for the disabled and homeless populations.
McConnell, President and CEO of McConnell Communications, Inc., has more than 20 years of experience in communications strategy, crisis management, media relations, relationship building, marketing, advertising and political consulting. McConnell spent 14 years as a reporter for newspaper outlets across the state as well as in Washington, DC. She holds a bachelor's degree in English and Communication from the University of Michigan and has served as an adjunct journalism professor at Wayne State University. She is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and past president of the Detroit Chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists. Her executive education includes completion of programs at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business, Harvard's Program on Negotiation and the New Organizing Institute. In addition, McConnell was in the first group to complete Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Detroit program. Her personal passion is making a difference in the lives of young people, through mentoring programs and opportunities.
Merchant is an educator with 16 years of experience in Detroit Public Schools. Providing Specialized Instructional Services to individuals with special needs, her devotion to Osborn High School students extends beyond the classroom. As the Head Cheer Coach of both the varsity and junior varsity teams, she mentors girls and encourages them to strive for greatness in school as well as in their communities. In addition to her work with DPS, Merchant provides resources to young people in Detroit as a Program Associate with City Connect Detroit’s youth employment initiative known as Grow Detroit’s Young Talent (GDYT). Merchant is instrumental in forming partnerships with businesses, nonprofits and community leaders to secure funding for work opportunities. She also coordinates workplace readiness workshops and other personal development seminars to help GDYT’s participants understand how to capitalize on their experiences.
Orange is a Restorative Justice Counselor at Henry Ford Academy (HFA) School for Creative Studies, she assists the Counseling and Social Work Departments and works directly with the Middle School Dean of Students on retention development. Orange advises middle school students who are readmitted after suspension by reinforcing policy and facilitating productive peer interaction. Outside of her work at HFA, she is an activist for young people. For eleven years, she volunteered as a Troop Leader with Girls Scouts of Southeastern Michigan. In addition, she is a former president of the Local School Community Organization (LSCO) at Chrysler Elementary. As the mother of two daughters, Cassia and Jaida, much of her youth involvement stems from a desire to build a stronger community that promotes a culture of productive living for young Detroiters.
Rachel Orange
