Thank You for Your Service!

Gregory Melancon

Gregory Von Melancon, born and raised in Fresno, CA. Melancon attended Columbia and George Washington Carver Elementary schools, Irwin Junior High, and was an honor student at Edison High School.

Melancon's collegiate career included Fresno City College and California State University, Fresno, where he continued to be involved in various community events and fundraisers.

It was in 2004 when Melancon volunteered for the African-American Museum for one year, and after a short healing hiatus, he became the executive director in 2011. Melancon has also been the event coordinator for the annual Trailblazers event from 2011 to 2020.

His input into the annual event has been monumental-he created the Shining Star and Passing the Torch awards to help honor those, although younger, who are continuing in the footsteps of the Trailblazers.

Due to his new residence in Los Angeles, Melancon continued his position at the African-American Museum as the curator and historian from 2014 to 2018, bringing such exhibits and events as the Red Tails, the Jazz and Blues Exhibit, The Afro Awards which highlights the accomplishments of women throughout the Valley, the Foot to Fork: The History of Soul Food exhibit by artist Charla Franklin and many more.

Melancon has always been a dedicated worker, receiving the Barack Obama National Volunteers Award of America for over 600 hours of volunteer services in one year he completed at the African-American Museum.

With so much love and appreciation, we honor you and thank you for your service, Gregory Melancon!

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Weextendcongratulationstothe renownedAfricanAmerican Historical&CulturalMuseumof theSanJoaquinValleyforthis event,celebrating“BlackHistory Month,”andtothisevening’s distinguishedandhighly deservinghonorees!

Board Chair, Lynnette Brown

Ms. Lynnette Brown is the only child of Leroy (rest in heaven) and Carolyn Brown. She proudly represents the Brown’s family and showcases the love and commitment they have for the community of Fresno Lynnette has a passion for mentoring students stressing the importance of education, life skills, setting future goals, and supporting victims of Domestic Violence.

In 2008, Lynnette started her career in higher education at California State University, Fresno. There she was an Administrative Support Coordinator II, President of Black Faculty & Staff Association, first African American Chapter 309 President of CSU Employees Union, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Designee, advisor for Black Students United, and several other committees throughout her tenure until 2021. She then transitioned to Fresno Unified School District.

Lynnette is currently a Project Manager with Fresno Unified School District, department of Career Technical Education (CTE). She is a member of The National Society of Leadership & Success, and member of The Fresno Metro Black Chamber of Commerce.

Lynnette is a mother of three; LaBronze, David Jr., and Priyah; G-Mama of 4; Ezekiel, Julian, Kyree, and Isaiah (arriving in May) Lynnette holds a Bachelors in Business Administration, Masters in Business Administration, Masters in Higher Education Administration Leadership/Adult Education & Training, and a certificate in Project Management, which she received from the University of Phoenix.

Board Vice-Chair, Henry Ellard Jr.

Henry Ellard Jr is a fashion designer and creative director. He has worked in the fashion industry for over 15 years, and has worked with brands such Gucci, Christian Dior, and Cartier. In addition to his work in fashion, he created Better Living Art Club, which is a kids art studio and art expression program for underprivileged youth.

Board Secretary, Brittany Jacob

Brittany Jacob is a Reporter & Anchor for the Disney-owned local station in Fresno, California, ABC30 Action News. Before joining the ABC30 Action News team in September 2020, she was the Evening Weekend Anchor, Bureau Chief, and Reporter for CBS in a Missouri market. While at KFVS-TV, the station was awarded the 2020 Edward R. Murrow Award for “Overall Excellence".

Brittany has a passion for people. She meets no stranger. Brittany loves theatre, cooking, traveling domestically and abroad, and experiencing new cultures and foods. When Brittany is not working, she enjoys exploring California, especially the wonderful wineries, and spending time with friends and family

Brittany is a proud graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC. She grew up in Houston, Texas. She is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) and a member of the San Joaquin Valley Alumnae Chapter (SJVA) of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Board Treasurer, Sabrina Kelley

Sabrina Kelley, MPH, is the Vice President of External Relations at Community Vision Capital and Consulting. She is an advocacy strategist and community relations expert and brings more than a decade of experience in strategic partnership development, philanthropy, equitable/asset-based community development, and communications to her role as treasurer of the board of the African American Historical and Cultural Museum of the San Joaquin Valley.

She serves on the Board of Directors for United Way Fresno-Madera, Fresno Metro Ministry, and the Southwest Fresno Development Corporation. She also serves under three mayoral appointments: Board of Commissioners for the Fresno Housing Authority, the City of Fresno’s Transformative Climate Communities Operations and Oversight Committee, and Mayor Dyers’ One Fresno Advisory Committee, which focuses on building diversity, equity, and inclusion in the City.

Sabrina is Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Interdisciplinary Research Leaders Fellow. She is an alumna of California State University, Fresno, holds a Master of Public Health, a B.A. in Journalism, and a B.A. in English Arts and Letters.

Board Member, Charles Francis

Charles Francis is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc Charles has a master's degree in urban and regional planning and worked with the city of Fresno in the Planning Department. After that, he went over into employment and training area and ran the Fresno City College Training Institute for 20 years.

Charles Francis was born in Kingston, Jamaica and served our country in the United States Navy from 1960-1964. Charles has served as a Board Member of the Central Valley YMCA and has been a member of the Men's West Fresno Tennis Foundation.

Board Member, Del R. Hornbuckle

Del R. Hornbuckle is the current Dean of Library Services at California State University, Fresno. However, she has been recently appointed as the new Executive Director of University Libraries at Howard University in Washington, DC. She is the former Library Director at Lasell College (now University) in Newton, Massachusetts. She also served as Director of Information Services at Harvard Business School’s Baker Library-Bloomberg Center

She completed her undergraduate degree at Texas A&M University (Political Science and a minor in Economics) and earned her Masters in Library & Information Science from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY. Her current research interests include legacy practices in academic libraries and higher education and organizational development in academic libraries.

A bibliophile and cinephile since childhood, she is also her family’s unofficial genealogist, an advocate of public libraries and a lover and designer of miniatures (houses and furniture); a global traveler, a fur mom and loves spending time with her rescue wild bunch and her wife, Tonya.

Board Member, Dr. Lataria Hall

Dr. L a first-generation scholar/practitioner from the Central Valley with over 16 years as a professional in higher education. Dr. Hall currently serves as the Vice President of Student Services at Fresno City College

Dr. Hall also serves as the Past President of the California Chief Student Services Officer Association (CSSO), where she contributes to policy changes and new procedures that work to equitize students’ rights.

Dr. Hall holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Social Work and a Master of Science (MS) in Rehabilitation from California State University, Fresno. She completed her post graduate work at Northcentral University, where she earned a Doctorate degree in Education with an emphasis in Exceptional Learning.

Board Member, Dr. Carolyn Drake

Carol Drake was born in Orville, Ohio She received her nursing diploma from Idabelle Firestone Nursing School in Akron, Ohio. She received her BSN and MSN from CSUF and her doctorate of Organizational Leadership from USC. In California she has worked at UMC as Med. Surg nurse, a Public Health Nurse for the County of Fresno and a nursing instructor and Nursing Director /Dean of Health Sciences at Fresno City College.

She recognized a need to increase more underrepresented students into the program and she along with other concerned Registered Nurses formed the Central Valley Black Nurses Association (CVBNA). She was also one of the Charter Members of Delta Sigma Theta Inc a community service organization. Dr Drake has received many accolades and awards over the years. She received the Rosa Park Award from CSUF, Top Ten Professional Women, Nurse of the year in Nursing Administration, Wall of Honor for State Center Community College District SCCCD,as well as Wall of Honor in Nursing from CSUF, and Trailblazer Award from the African American.

Although retired she is active in community organizations. She currently is the Director of the Phlebotomy program at The AGape College of Business and Science She is president of Health Education Association, a health education consulting group.

CommunityVisionCapital& ConsultingcongratulatestheAfrican AmericanHistoricalandCultural MuseumoftheSanJoaquinValley for37yearsofservicetothe community.Wehonorandsupport JackKelley'svisiontotellthestoryof thecontributionsofAfrican Americanstothecultureandhistory oftheSanJoaquinValley.