Kristina Jackson Ware
President – president@dakotacenter.org
Brandon Smith
Vice President – vicepresident@dakotacenter.org
Adriene S. Phillps
Treasurer – treasurer@dakotacenter.org
Ms. Phillps recently joined the Dakota Center Board in March 2023. Currently, she is the Finance Director at Miami Valley Housing Opportunities. Ms. Phillips received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Her previous experience was a Medicare Auditor auditing hospitals, skilled nursing facilities and rehab sites. Ms. Phillps responsibilities included Full Charge Bookkeeping, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, General Ledger Accounting, Financial Statements, Account Reconciliation, Financial Analysis, System Conversion with softwares of Athena, Raintree, Netsuite Oracle and Brightree; Auditing, Budget Preparation, Forecasting, Fixed Assets, 401(k), Payroll, Grant Proposals and Grant Management. We are blessed to have her excellent financial capability here at the Center.
Sharon Barrett-Mitchell
Secretary – secretary@dakotacenter.org
Sharon Barrett-Mitchell, a native Daytonian, graduate of Dunbar High School, Sawyer Business College, Ohio Paralegal Institute, and the Dayton Baptist School of Religion, Ms. Mitchell attended the Charity Baptist Bible Seminary, Beavercreek, OH, and Trinity College of the Bible Theological Seminary, Newburg, Indiana. Ms. Mitchell retired from the City of Dayton with 25 years of service, and is the former Executive Director of the Dakota Center, Inc., located in the MacFarlane neighborhood, Dayton, Ohio. A former President of the MacFarlane Neighborhood Association, Ms. Mitchell received the Dayton African American Cultural Festival ‘Elder Recognition Award’, August 2013. A Council Member on Governor Ted Strickland’s, ‘Broadband Council’ 2009-10, Ms. Mitchell received the 2009 Michelle Obama Role Model of Excellence Award presented by the Black Graduate Student Association of Wright State University.
Jyllian Bradshaw
Member at Large
Jyllian began her career as a high school teacher in Orlando, FL. She taught Language Arts and Ethics while coaching girls’ soccer and flag football. It was during this time that her love of children, education, and education policy prompted her to obtain her law degree and license. She now practices education-focused labor and employment law in Dayton, OH with Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur. Above all, she is an educator who thrives on creating a nurturing and love-of-learning environment for young people of all ages.
Rev. James Fitz, S.M.
Member at Large
Thomas Graham
Member at Large
Mr. Graham is retired and is a man of many experiences. He finds development, membership, program (especially music) his main interests. His background as a long standing community member brings insights that help provide context to any discussion. He is a friend of Mr. Smith, another Center board member, and is looking forward to moving us forward as a leading and premier collaborator in the inner West Side of Dayton OH.
Derrick Duckworth
Member at Large
Derrick Duckworth
Multicultural Outreach Coordinator
937.903.3677
lifeconnection.org
Open Position
Open Position
Debbie Watts-Robinson
Member at Large
Brian Roberts, Esq.
Legal Counsel
In memoriam Gerald Vonderbrink, Chairman, 1965-2023