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Debbie Johnson is a proud resident of Glendora, Mississippi, and a dedicated community leader with a deep passion for helping others build better lives. For more than a decade, she has served with Partners in Development (PID), where she currently works as a supervisor. PID empowers individuals living in extreme poverty through its Whole Life Transformation model—providing tools, education, and opportunities for lasting change in communities across Haiti, Guatemala, Peru, and the Mississippi Delta.​

In her role, Debbie has been instrumental in advancing programs that promote education, equity, and wellness. She has helped expand educational opportunities for both children and adults, supported driver’s license training and homeownership initiatives, and strengthened care programs for the elderly. Since the launch of PID’s housing and financial literacy programs in 2015, Debbie has played a key role in helping families achieve home ownership and improve their financial stability.​

Deeply committed to the people of Glendora and the surrounding Delta communities, Debbie approaches every project with compassion, integrity, and a belief in the power of collective progress. Her dedication to service and community uplift makes her an invaluable member of the museum’s Board of Directors.​ a short description.

Jennifer French is a public relations executive with an extensive career in the areas of higher education, policy, economic development, k-12 education and development and nonprofit services. She’s also a freelance writer with a focus on small business development and policy in several areas.​

Recently retired after nearly two decades leading the public relations and marketing of Georgia State University’s Andrew Young School of Policy Studies , she helped faculty and staff promote the college as it rose from its founding to rank 16th among the nation’s best graduate schools in public affairs by U.S. News & World Report (2025), marking its fifth consecutive year among the nation’s top 20 colleges.​

French began her career at the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay. She contributed to the success of organizations that made considerable impacts during key periods of the redevelopment and growth of downtown and metropolitan Atlanta, through her research work at Central Atlanta Progress and the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. ​

She continues to volunteer with nonprofits that make an impact in areas that are close to her heart, particularly those working to improve policy and services surrounding faith and social justice, the environment and small business development.  French holds a B.A. in Communications from Auburn University. 

Bernard Muhammad is a devoted husband, father of four, and accomplished professional with over 35 years of experience in accounting and finance. A successful entrepreneur for more than three decades, he has consistently demonstrated his ability to be a trailblazer—pursuing ambitious goals while guiding and supporting others along the way.​

Since 1997, Bernard has played a key role in establishing and supporting multiple scholarship foundations that have awarded thousands of dollars to college-bound high school students. His commitment to service extends further, as he actively serves on the boards of several nonprofit organizations. Recognized for his leadership and impact, Bernard has received numerous honors, including Omega Man of the Year, Family Trailblazers, and Outstanding Young Men in America. ​

Known for his passion for helping those in need, Bernard brings exceptional skills in organization, planning, and execution, leaving behind a proven track record of success, service, and dedication.​

Paul Ortiz is Professor of Labor History at Cornell University and an affiliate faculty member of Cornell's Latino Studies Program.  He joined Cornell in 2024 after serving as director of the Samuel Proctor Oral History Program and professor of history at the University of Florida. After receiving his doctorate in history at Duke University in 2000, Ortiz taught in the Department of Community Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz between 2001-2008. He is the author or co-author of several books including, Emancipation Betrayed: The Hidden History of Black Organizing and White Violence in Florida from Reconstruction to the Bloody Election of 1920 (University of California Press). Ortiz’s An African American and Latinx History of the United States, was identified by Fortune Magazine in 2020 as one of the “10 books on American history that actually reflect the United States.”​

A third-generation U.S. military veteran, Paul is a PEN-award winning writer. He was a historical consultant and featured narrator for John Leguizamo’s American Historia: The Untold History of Latinos docuseries that aired on PBS during Hispanic Heritage Month in 2024. Paul was also a consultant and narrator for Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s The Black Church: This is Our Story. This Is Our Song, which premiered on PBS in 2021. Ortiz wrote the epilogue for the 4th edition of Who Built America? Working People and the Nation's History. He is currently writing A Social Movement History of the United States for Beacon Press. Dr. Ortiz was Brooklyn College’s 2023-2024 Robert L. Hess Humanities Scholar-in-Residence. He was the National Archives and Records Administration Distinguished Scholar in Latinx History in 2022-2023.​

Rev. Anthony M. Hawkins is a dedicated community servant, minister, and public official whose life and work reflect a deep commitment to service, leadership, and faith. He is the son of the late Rev. Dr. Andrew L. Hawkins and Mrs. Mary M. Hawkins of the Sharkey Road Community in Tallahatchie County, Mississippi.

Rev. Hawkins received his early education in the West Tallahatchie School District. He continued his academic pursuits at East Mississippi Community College (EMCC), earning a Funeral Service Degree in 2004, and later attended Coahoma Community College in 2008. He served in the U.S. Army from 1987-1995. In addition to his public and ministry work, he is a skilled barber and stylist, serving members of his community through his profession.

Since 1999, Rev. Hawkins has served as Office Manager for the historic Benevolent Aid and Burial Society in Glendora, Mississippi. Founded in 1910, the organization has provided vital burial assistance and community support for generations, and Rev. Hawkins has played an important role in continuing its legacy of service.

His dedication to public service also extends to local government. In November 2015, he was appointed as the District 2 Veteran Service Officer for Tallahatchie County, where he works closely with veterans and their families to ensure they receive the benefits and support they have earned through their service.

In November 2023, Rev. Hawkins made history when he was elected as the first Black CMEI/Coroner of Tallahatchie County, marking a significant milestone in the county’s history and further demonstrating the trust and confidence his community places in his leadership.

Mark Swiggum devoted 32 years to education as a teacher and administrator in the Eden Prairie Public School System, where he also served as lead negotiator for the teachers’ union for three decades, representing more than 700 educators.​

Since retiring in 2010, Mark and his wife, Leslie, have led 41 Civil Rights educational tours, guiding over 500 participants through historic sites across Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. His passion for sharing civil rights history and helping others experience its legacy firsthand has made a lasting impact on others.  Mark is deeply familiar with the ETHIC Museum and the community of Glendora, having brought numerous groups to visit over the years. His longstanding engagement with the museum and commitment to its mission make him a strong addition to the Board of Directors.​

He holds degrees from St. Olaf College (B.A.), the University of Minnesota (B.S.), Mankato State University (M.A. in Special Education), and Luther Theological Seminary (M.A. in Theology). Mark and Leslie have been married for 50 years and are the proud parents of two daughters and grandparents of five.​