Commission Members and Mission
Councilmember Priscilla Tyson established the Commission on Black Girls to study and assess the quality of life of Black Girls in Central Ohio. The Commission will develop and implement recommendations to ensure opportunities, successful futures, and the achievement of a high quality of life for Black Girls in Columbus. Focusing on girls ages 11-22, the Commission will first participate in fact-finding and education to learn more about the current quality of life for Black girls in Columbus. Meetings of the Commission will be held monthly for the first six months and quarterly thereafter. In addition, the Commission will hold listening sessions with members of the community. The Commission will exist until December 31, 2020, unless, prior to that date, City Council enacts legislation to make the Commission permanent.
Commission Co-Chairs
- Dr. Frederic Bertley, COSI
- Fran Frazier, Rise Sister Rise
Commission Members
- Rev. Dr. Timothy Ahrens, First Congregational Church
- Linda Brown, The Links Incorporated – Columbus Chapter
- Crystal D. Causey, Coalition of 100 Black Women
- Clytemnestra L. Clarke, First Church of God
- LaShanda Coleman, National Pan-Hellenic Council of Columbus
- Dr. Lisa Courtice, United Way of Central Ohio
- Mary Cusick
- Dr. Kevin L. Dixon, Franklin Co. ADAMH Board
- Hon. Elizabeth Gill, Juvenile and Domestic Relations Division, Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
- Alesia Gillison, Columbus City Schools
- Tom Grote, Grote & Turner
- Mia Hairston, Nationwide Insurance
- Kim Hooper, Walmart
- LC Johnson, YWCA
- Attorney DeShauna Lee, Nationwide Children’s Hospital
- Dr. Mysheika Roberts, City of Columbus
- Toshia Safford, Center for Healthy Families
- Chip Spinning, Franklin Co. Children’s Services
- Ben Tyson, Easton Town Center
- Paiden Williams, Rise Sister Rise
- Attorney Michael Corey, Humans Service Chamber of Franklin County
- Dr. Wendy Smooth, The Ohio State University