Founder/Executive Director SAAB (Student African American Brotherhood) |
resides in
Toledo, Ohio and
serves as
Special
Assistant to the
President at The
University of
Toledo. He founded
SAAB
in the
fall of 1990 on
the campus of
Georgia
Southwestern
State University
responding to
the needs of
African American
males at the
university.
Dr. Bledsoe is the Executive Director of the SAAB National Headquarters to enhance funding and staffing needs that affect the mission of the organization. He is very active in the arena of higher education and is highly recognized by several professional associations for his research, publications, presentations and scholarly work. He has been a keynote presenter and seminar leader for a large diversity of colleges, universities, church and fraternal organizations along with other groups. He was invited to Oxford, England to serve as a participant to discuss his work with African American men at the Oxford University Roundtable Institute, which is sponsored by the British Council. Through his consulting firm, “2 Care Unlimited”, he is deemed as one of the most exciting and dynamic motivational presenters by the thousands who have had the privilege of hearing him speak. Read Full Bio |
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Mr. Kirk Nugent |
For almost ten years Kirk Nugent has served as a catalyst for change, challenging preconceived notions about success and self-actualization. Kirk started public speaking in poetry venues where he displayed a keen understanding of social and political issues delivered with his signature brand of infectious wit and frenetic energy. Early audiences crowned him "The People’s Poet," and the stage was set for Kirk to widen his speaking base to include college campuses, key note addresses for Fortune 500 companies, church ministries and empowerment workshops. He has spoken at venues across the United States, Canada, Europe and the Caribbean. Kirk continues to impact the lives of people from around the world with public speaking engagements, and live appearances, as well as with his book, The Unpopular Truth and CD’s The Unpopular Truth, and I want to Testify, as well as with his highly anticipated guide to self-actualization, Ripple. Kirk celebrates his Jamaican heritage which has fostered in him the global perspective of "Out of Many One People. " This perspective is a relentless endorsement of the idea that no matter where you are in the world, the innate right to chase your dreams unites all individuals. This is the philosophy which guides Kirk’s speaking engagements, and inspired Les Brown to proclaim, "Kirk is a poignant speaker who challenges us to step out in faith towards our dreams." |
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Willis K. Bright, Jr. is the Director of Youth Programs, Lilly Endowment—Indianapolis, Indiana. He works with local, state and national organizations that are building youth development opportunities, especially for children and youth in poor communities, in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, and for ethnic minorities. He formerly served as a program director in the Community Development Division, responsible for grantmaking in youth and neighborhood revitalization. He joined the Endowment in March, 1987. Before joining the Endowment, he was Manager, Issues and Research, Honeywell, Corporate and Community Responsibility Department. He also has been an assistant professor at the Center for Youth Development and Research, School of Social Work and the Adolescent Health Program at the University of Minnesota. Active in philanthropy, Willis has served as a board member for the Association of Black Foundation Executives (ABFE), an officer for Indiana Blacks in Philanthropy (IBIP) and serves on committees for ABFE and Grantmakers for Children, Youth and Families. In 2006, the ABFE Board of Directors selected Willis as the James A. Joseph Lecturer, in honor of its co-founder, distinguished philanthropic leader and past president of the Council on Foundations; in 2009, he was the recipient of the Susan Hazlett Award for Excellence in Grantmaking from the Indiana Grantmakers Alliance. The award recognized the mentoring he has done with young professionals in the field and his genuine relationship with his grantees. He also serves on the University of Kentucky College of Social Work Advisory Council and has been inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame. His community service includes serving on the United Way of Central Indiana’s Human Services Committee, the Beautillion Militaire Committee for the 100 Black Men, co-chair of the Social Action Committee, Alpha Eta Boule, and is Chairman of the Stewardship and Investment Committees at Immanuel Presbyterian Church where he is an elder. He is a frequent presenter on proposal preparation, youth and philanthropy to students, community groups and conferences. Willis has been married for more than 30 years, has two married sons and is the grandfather of two active grandsons. |
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