Nancy Lee Cochran is President of Cochran & Associates, a fund-raising and public relations firm. She has served as a leader of divorce recovery workshops in western PA for more than 10 years. Mrs. Cochran is an elder at Memorial Park Presbyterian Church and is the former moderator of Pittsburgh Presbytery, which includes 160 churches and 50,000 individuals in Allegheny County.
Dr. Mitchel Nickols & Quandra Nickols
Dr. Nickols has won five national awards as producer and host of his television program, A Nickols Worth, which is still seen in many markets around the country. He currently serves on many boards including the F.B.I. Adopt A School Program and Vice Chair of Cornerstone Television. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh, a master s and bachelor s degree, and additional studies at Slippery Rock University, Penn State University, and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. His professional background has included being a classroom teacher, Reading Specialist, and adjunct professor at the Community College of Allegheny County, and Geneva College. Having taught both undergraduate and graduate level courses, he worked in a variety of departments, such as Sociology, Philosophy, History, Community Ministry, Organizational Development, and Leadership Studies. Dr. Nickols is also a curriculum and grant writer. Having served on several boards of directors, Dr. Nickols currently serves with the F.B.I. Adopt A School Program, Alle-Kiski Hope Center, PCCD and Weed and Seed, Vice Chair of Cornerstone Television, and Balanced and Restorative Justice (BARJ) for Westmoreland County.
He is passionate about helping adults achieve their dreams, especially young people. Thus, Mitchel partners with the Westmoreland County Juvenile Probation in providing community service, speaks at the State Correctional Facility and Westmoreland County Prison in Greensburg. He has lengthy experience with adults who have been incarcerated and many of their children, especially at-risk children.
As founding president and pastor of the Bibleway Christian Fellowship, Inc., and the Eden Center, and president of Friends of EDEN, Inc., Dr. Nickols is continuously looking for community partners to enrich the lives of the people in the region.
Rev. Quandra Nickols, Pastor Q, is the co-pastor of the Bibleway Christian Fellowship Church, New Kensington PA, with her husband, Rev. Dr. Mitchel Nickols where she is a Sunday school teacher and administrative assistant. Although she received her ministerial licensure in 1998 and was ordained in 2000, Pastor Q accepted the call to gospel ministry at 18 years old. She has been used by God to minister at women s workshops, marriage seminars, in the deliverance and intercessory prayer ministries, and singing the gospel. Pastor Q is also a licensed Realtor.
Dr. and Mrs. Nickols have been married for 31 years and are the parents of 2 children.
Dr. Howard B. Slaughter, Jr. Howard is the Director of Fannie Mae s Pittsburgh Community Business Center. He is responsible for overseeing a $2 billion investment plan (HousePittsburgh), which covers a six county area. He is also responsible for establishing affordable housing partnerships that will result in more than 24,000 low and moderate-income families becoming homeowners over a five-year period and works for the largest non-bank financial services corporation in the world, and the largest source of home mortgage financing in the country. Prior to joining Fannie Mae, Howard was the Director of Preservation Services for the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, where he was responsible for community and neighborhood restoration programs, developed unique lending banking partnerships, advocacy, partial fundraising responsibility and directing the restoration of religious properties. He managed and lent $2.8 million from the preservation loan fund, which provided gap financing to local community-based organizations and community development corporations engaged in historic preservation and economic development.
Howard is referenced in the following books: Cities Back from the Edge by Roberta Gratz, a renowned national publicist; A Legacy in Bricks and Mortar, African-American Landmarks in Allegheny County published by Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation and Changing Places, Rebuilding Community in the Age of Sprawl by Richard Moe and Carter Wilkie. Mr. Moe is President of the National Trust for Historic Preservation and Mr. Wilkie is a former Clinton White House speechwriter. Howard also wrote an article, "The Integration of Economic Development and Historic Preservation," which was published nationally in the spring 1997 Forum magazine, published by The Journal of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
His other career accomplishments include: Vice President of Dollar Bank s Community Development Department where he was responsible for ensuring the bank met the needs of low- to-moderate income residents. He led Dollar Bank in achieving its first outstanding CRA rating from the Office of Thrift Supervision in 1992. Howard has also served in various capacities with Equibank; he managed Wilkinsburg and Braddock branch offices; was a Consumer Lender; Business Development Officer; and Assistant Vice President for Community Re-investment. Prior to entering banking, Howard enjoyed a successful military career during his four years in the United States Navy and five years in the United States Army Reserves, where he received an Honorable Discharge from each branch. His impressive military career led to his selection to serve at the Pentagon, Washington, DC, in the Defense Intelligence Agency, where he was an Assistant to the production control officers, who prepared intelligence notes for the Secretary of Defense, Harold Brown, during the Carter Administration, which required a TOP SECRET clearance. During this time he also received a letter of laudatory recognition for his work on the China-Vietnam Intelligence Task Force.
He holds an Associates in Science Degree in Financial Services with emphasis on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate, a Bachelor of Arts Degree with a focus on Business and Communications, a Master's Degree in Public Management from the H. John Heinz, III School of Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University, an MBA Degree from Point Park University and a Doctor of Science Degree in Information Systems and Communication from Robert Morris University. In December 2000, Howard was named Outstanding Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School Alum. He is a graduate of Leadership Pittsburgh in 1993 and also completed the Governing for Nonprofit Excellence Program, Harvard University Graduate School of Business Administration in November 1997. Howard is a Fannie Mae Foundation Fellow and completed the John F. Kennedy School of Government Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government, Harvard University, June 1998. Howard also received the Ambassadors for Peace Award from the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace in November 2001. He also received the Black Trailblazers Renaissance Publications award in 2004.
PRESENT AFFILIATIONS: Boards of the Urban League of Pittsburgh and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (appointed by Governor Ed Rendell). He was also appointed to the Minority Business Enterprise/Women Business Enterprise committee of Allegheny County, by Chief County Executive, Dan Onorato. Howard formally taught as an Adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, teaching Diversity in Public Service.
Mrs. Janet Slaughter is a Financial Center Manager for Sky Bank. She is responsible for business development, as well as the management of retail and commercial product offerings, including trust services. Janet has held several positions throughout her career, including Client Service Associate. She has over thirty years of banking experience and previously worked for Dollar Bank as a Bank Supervisor and Three Rivers Bank; managing over $75MM in assets throughout her career. Mrs. Slaughter attended Seton Hill University and is a Licensed Real Estate Agent and sold real estate as a Coldwell Banker agent. She has served as a Sunday school teacher, a parent/student advocate and a instructor for three years with the Financial Literacy Program at Robert Morris University.
Rev. Terry L. Mann is the Director of TWOgether Pittsburgh Prior to beginning in this position; he was the Organizing Pastor of Fountain Park Church in Cranberry Township Terry served as the Executive Pastor at Memorial Park Church in Allison Park, PA from 1994 until 2003. His duties were varied, including administrative duties and ministries to single adults. Before moving to Pittsburgh he served churches in Chattanooga, TN and Dalton, GA. Terry is known for his compassion and concern, blended with an upbeat and down to earth presentation style. His gifts include leadership, teaching, writing and being a forward thinking visionary.
Terry holds a Master of Divinity Degree from Temple Baptist Theological Seminary in Chattanooga, TN as well as a Doctor of Ministry degree from Northern Theological Seminary in Chicago. Terry has been married for 30 years to his wife Kay. Terry and Kay are the parents of three children and four grandchildren. Their oldest daughter Alyssa, a Westminster College graduate, is employed by the Coalition for Christian Outreach. She is married to John Creasy, associate Pastor and Worship Leader of The Open Door in Highland Park / East Liberty. They have one daughter Téah Jane born August 8, 2005. Their son Richard is a graduate of the University of Tennessee with a major in broadcasting. He is employed as a computer technician at an Internet education firm in Knoxville, TN. He is married to Priscilla and they are the parents of Gideon Lee born May 1, 2005 and Elliotte Marie born August 31, 2006. Lori Beth, the youngest daughter, lives in the city of Pittsburgh. She is the mother of their other grandson, Gavin James born October 2, 2002.
Renee P. Aldrich is a Professional Community Health Educator for the American Cancer Society; a public speaker the owner and operator of At Your Service Business Solutions , a Virtual administrative Assistant Business; and through her other enterprise The Write Word as well as membership in the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, is a free lance writer for the New Pittsburgh Courier and is a frequent contributor to local magazines and newsletters.As a public Speaker, Ms. Aldrich has addressed men and women s groups, schools, churches, and other organizations throughout the entire area on matters of health and well being. She is on the Board for Neighborhood Housing Services, works in her community as part of the group working to revitalize the Uptown community by developing a new Board of Directors, and participates in mentoring activities at Womanspace East, Inc. a shelter for homeless women also located in the Uptown Community.
Mrs. Aldrich is a member of Macedonia Baptist Church located in Pittsburgh s Hill District where she is a member of the Pastor s Shepard staff working in the Office and on the Production of The Macedonian the church newsletter.
An avid lover and supporter of the arts, Ms. Aldrich has been an Ambassador for the City Theatre of Pittsburgh, has written for Talking Drum a newsletter published by the University of Pittsburgh Kuntu Theater, and has performed in spoken word performances also put on by the Kuntu Theater, and she was the understudy for the starring role of a play called Killing Me Softly as part of the Kuntu theater 26th season. Currently, Ms. Aldrich is working on two projects, a two act play entitled Unmasked , and a collection of prose and essays highlighting the neighborhood of her youth and the impact this community had on her and the other neighborhood children, entitled The Soho Chronicles .
She is also the creator of Softer Side Seminars, A project designed to guide and direct young girls and women in re-learning how to love, honor, respect and celebrate who it is they are.
Mrs. Aldrich was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA and is the mother of two children; a son Elliott who is a music teacher and performer in Anaheim, CA and a daughter Karen, employed by Highmark in Pittsburgh. She says, My participation in the development of my two children into well balanced, productive members of society is what I consider to be my highest charge from God, and the most worthy of any thing I have or could ultimately accomplish.
Larry E. Davis, MA, MSW, Ph.D. is the Dean of the School of Social Work at the University of Pittsburgh, where he is the Donald M. Henderson Professor and also the Director of the Center on Race and Social Problems.
Dr. Davis professional interests include interracial group dynamics, the impact of race, gender, and class on interpersonal interactions, African American family formation, and youth.
Dr. Davis is co-editor of the Encyclopedia of Social Work, 20th Edition. He has received research funding from sources such as the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, and National Institute of Mental Health. Some of his publications include Too Many Blacks, Too Many Whites: Seeking a Racial Balance: Predicting Positive Academic Intentions Among African American Males and Females. Assessment of Practitioner Cross-Racial Treatment Experiences; Essential Components of Groupwork with Black Americans. He has written, edited, or co-authored four books: Race, Gender and Class: Guidelines for Practice with Individuals, Families and Groups (co-authored with Enola Proctor), Ethnic Issues in Adolescent Mental Health (Co-edited with Arlene Stiffman), Black and Single: Finding and Choosing a Partner who is Right for You (3rd edition 2004), and Working with African American Males: A Guide to Practice. He is a frequent lecturer and has given such talks as The State of Black Singles in America at the Smithsonian. Lecture Series in Washington D.C.
Dr. Davis is a member of the National Association of Social Workers, National Association of Black Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education, and the National Association of Black Psychologists.
