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About Us

The Community Projects of HdG, Inc., HdG Colored School Foundation is a nonprofit organization run by a dedicated group of volunteers committed to preserving the rich history of the HdG Colored School. We are looking for committed volunteers to add to our ranks. If you are interested in joining our cause, fill out the "Contact Us" form and tell us how you would like to help.

Our Team

Ms. Patricia D. Cole

President

Occupation: Federal Government Employee and Retired Army Colonel

Professional Experience: A transformational leader with over 34 years of Federal Service. Exceptional managerial ability and experience at various senior-level positions. Expert knowledge and experience of administering and fostering teamwork, workforce engagement and inclusiveness.

Education: Aberdeen High School Class of 1977, BS Degree Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

Havre de Grace Colored School (HdGCS) Affiliation: Father, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate the HdG Colored High School, Class of 1949.

Memberships & Affiliations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., NAACP Life Member, Hosanna School Museum Board Member, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington DC; Morgan State University Life Member; 2018 NAACP Community Service Award, 2019 Allen Hillard Legum Humanitarian Award recipient, and 2019 Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.Iota Nu Chapter Citizen of the Year award recipient.

Mrs. Carol (Pitt) Bruce

Vice President

Occupation: Retired Federal Civil Service as the Director of Resource Management for the Ordnance Center and School, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD

Professional Experience: More than 30 years of senior-level personnel management skills as a Department of the Army Civilian. Duties and responsibilities included managing an organizational budget of more than $42M

Education: HdG Consolidated Class of 1959; BS Degree and MBA, Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD

HdGCS Affiliation: Mother, Ms. Elizabeth Joyner-Sawyer, was a graduate of HdG Colored High School, Class of 1940

Memberships & Affiliations: Diamond Life Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for 30 years and selected to represent the chapter as a delegate to the Regional and National Conventions; Charter Member of the Susquehanna Chapter of Blacks In Government (BIG) and elected to various offices at the local, regional and the national level of BIG, Life Member of National Blacks in Government, Inc., and Life Member of the NAACP

Ms. Brittany Powell

Secretary

Occupation: Museum Educator, The Delaware Contemporary Museum

Professional Experience: Over 11 years of museum education experience focused on programming for PK-12 teachers and students including training, interpretation, and evaluation

Education: HdG High School, Bank Street College of Education, MS Leadership in Museum Education Maryland Institute College of Art, BFA Painting/Art History minor

Memberships and Affiliations: American Alliance of Museums; Association of Academic Museums and Galleries, Baltimore Emerging Museum Professionals Network Co-Chair, March 2017- March 2018 Institute of Museum and Library Services Peer Grant Reviewer, Maryland Art Education Association – Museum Divisi

Mrs. June Conley

Treasurer

Occupation: Federal Government Employee

& Retired Military

Professional Experience: Servers as Lead Budget and Management Program Analyst for a Federal government agency with more than 21 years of executive level experience. Duties include the day-to-day management of the formulation, programming, execution on more than $38.5M in operations and maintenance resources. Specialized certifications include: Level I “K” Business – Financial Management (3/22/2013), Level II “K” Business – Financial Management Certification (8/29/2013), Contracting Officers Representative Course (06/24/2007), and Information Assurance Security Officer Certification Course (05/30/2007)

Education: University of Maryland University College, Master’s Degree, Business Administration; Troy State University, Bachelor of Science, Criminal Justice; and Pierce College, Associate in General Studies, Technology

Memberships and Affiliations: Order of Eastern Stars

Dr. Iris Leigh Barnes

Board Member

Occupation: Curator of the Lillie Carol Civil Rights Museum, Baltimore, MD

Professional Experience: More than 30 years of experience as a museum curator

Education: Aberdeen High School Class of 78, BS Degree Temple University, Master’s Degree Morgan State University, Doctorate Degree Morgan State University

HdGCS Affiliation: Brothers attended HdG Consolidated, Class of 1961

Memberships & Affiliations: Appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the MD Commission on African American History and Cultural, Executive Director, Hosanna School Museum, and board member to the Harford County Preservation Committee

Mrs. Turshandah Cole

Board Member

Occupation: Government Employee & Retired Military

Professional Experience: 30 years of executive and leadership experience as a former military and a current Department of the Army Civilian. Duties include the day-to-day management and accountability of logistical resources at various military installations around the county.

Education: Biloxi High School Class of 87, Biloxi, MS; BS and Master’s Candidate, University of Maryland, University College

HdGCS Affiliation: Father-in-law, Mr. Bernard J. Cole, was a graduate the HdG Colored High School, Class of 1949.

Memberships & Affiliations: Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Order of the Eastern Stars

Ms. Cheryl Coleman

Board Member

Occupation: Retired Federal employee

Professional Experience: More than 44 years of management experience as a Department of the Army Civilian

Education: Graduate of HdG High School; Harford Community College, Associate of Arts Degree, and University of Maryland University College, Bachelor of Science Degree

Memberships & Affiliations: Federally Employed Women Lifetime Member and 10-year member of the City of HdG Street Traffic and Safety

Mr. Emil Cromwell

Board Member

Occupation: Retired Educator from Catholic Charities of Baltimore, Maryland, MD

Professional Experience: More than 54 years of management and training experience as an educator and motivational speaking trainer/coach

Education: HdG Consolidated School in 1961, BS Degree Maryland State College (University of Maryland-Eastern Shore), Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from City College of New York, post-graduate studies at Coppin State College and Morgan State University

HdGCS Affiliation: Father, Mr. Horace Elkins Cromwell, was in the first graduating class HdGCS, the Class of 1932, and grandfather, Mr. Abel Francis Cromwell, served as the grammar school principal for more than 30 years

Memberships & Affiliations: Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., University Maryland Eastern Shore Life Member

Mr. Lawrence Diggs

Board Member

Occupation: Twenty-year retiree of New York State government as an administrator, employed serving as the Bureau Director for the New York State Department of Civil Service and the Civil Service Commission

Professional Experience: Directly responsible for diversity planning and management for all New York State agencies. Principal recruiter for civil service unformed forces in state, county, and local jurisdictions. During his employment of twenty-eight years, he has served as a New York State Correction Officer; Grants Management Administrator for the New York State Department of Labor; Facility Administrator with the New York State Department of Mental Health at Kirby Forensic Center, New York City, NY; and Assistant to Governor George Pataki for Community Affairs, among other official assignments

Education: Fordham University and The City University of New York-City College. Pursuing an advanced degree program in the Social Sciences with the University of Maryland University College

Memberships & Affiliations: Caucus of African-American Leaders and member Sergeant Albert B. Hilton Memorial Foundation

Mrs. Janice (Moorehead) Grant

Board Member

Occupation: Retired educator-elementary, secondary, college, and alternative education

Professional Experience: Served as a tutor and adult educator in many states and countries. Domestic and international experience began as a Peace Corps volunteer in West Africa. Duties included teaching local nationals to read and write and establishing TV and radio connectivity. Served as a missionary in Africa, Europe, Asia, and the United States and taught locals sewing and provided instruction regarding establishing a small business. From 1955 to present, served as a civil rights activists in Maryland, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama and organized successful marches, sit-ins, and voter-registration drives. Served as the Harford County NAACP President and was instrumental for the desegregation of Harford County public schools. Currently serves as a minister to inmates in Harford and Baltimore County and provides tutoring to youth and adults.

Education: HdGCS class of 1951, BS Degree Bowie State University, Bowie, MD; MA Degree University of California at Los Angeles UCLA; MS Degree Texas Southern University, Houston, TX; MA Degree University of Liberia, Monrovia, West Africa Ministry of Biblical Studies and Ministry, ordained minister. GWWM of School of Biblical Studies and Ministries

HdGCS Affiliation: HdGCS student, Class of 1951, and HdG Consolidated teacher

Memberships & Affiliations: Member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, and former President of the Harford County NAACP.

Mr. Phillip Hunter, Esq.

Board Member

Occupation: Retired Government Employee

Professional Experience: More than 40 years serving as an attorney and legal advisor to the federal government and private organizations.

Education: R.B. Hudson High School, Selma, AL, Class of 1965; BS Degree Tennessee State University, Nashville, TN; and Doctor of Jurisprudence Degree, University of Kentucky College of Law, Lexington, KY.

Memberships & Affiliations: Member-Aberdeen Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc., member of Harford County Department of Social Services Advisory Board, member (Judge Advocate) Sergeant Albert B. Hilton memorial Foundation, Bel Air, Ames Church—Lay Speaker, Liturgist, United Methodist Men, member of 3 choirs, Adult Sunday School Teacher; member of Kentucky Bar Association, Life Member- Post 55, American Legion (renamed Sgt. Albert B. Hilton Post); member-Caucus of African-American Leaders, Harford County; Subscribing Life member—NAACP; Member—Fun Group of Havre De Grace; Vice-President, West Valley Oaks Homeowners Association, Bel Air, Md. Special Recognition: Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian medal Congress can bestow for his role in the marches for freedom from Selma to Montgomery, AL and his heroism during “Bloody Sunday,” that culminated in passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Mr. Robert "Bobby" Parker

Board Member

Occupation: Professional photographer, retired factory employee and Vietnam Veteran

Professional Experience: More than 60 years experience as a trained photographer with demonstrated newspaper and print media marketing expertise.

Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1962, and photography school, New York.

Memberships & Affiliations: Purple Heart recipient, Havre de Grace High School Hall of Fame, Negro League Baseball Association Member, member of the NAACP and St. James A.M.E. Church

Ms. Lenora Robinson

Board Member

Occupation: Harford County Government, Community Resource Liaison official

Professional Experience: A community ombudsman and a 30-year owner and entrepreneur of “The Eleganza Company,” which provides classes on charm, etiquette, self-development, impromptu speaking and modeling techniques to young men and womenrandson.

Education: HdG Consolidated School, class of 1965- College; BA Degree & MBA (Bowie State & Strayer University); and Flair Modeling School, class of 1989

Memberships & Affiliations: NAACP/ Harford County, Black Youth In Action (BYA) and President of BYA Adults, United Negro College Fund Soroptimist International, St. Patrick Advisory Committee, St. Patrick Lector (35yrs) and Wedding Consultant (10 yrs.), African American Catholic Ministries, Phoenix Festival Theater Advisory Committee, Who’s in Executive Women 1996, Harford Cable Network Advisory Board, Greater Washington Society of Anesthesiology, the New Democratic Club, Harford County Government Children’s Council, Harford County Citizens Review Panel (Certified Case Reviewer) Achievement Counts/Harford/ Cecil County, Life member of Harford County NAACP, 10 yr. member of Zeta Phi Beta Omicron Chi Zeta Chapter of Harford County, Executive Board Member of The Havre de Grace Colored School Foundation

Mrs. Thurl (Cromwell) Snell

Board Member

Occupation: Retired Social Work Administrator

Professional Experience: Extensive counseling and mediation experience and training

Education: HdG Consolidated School, Class of 1960, BA Degree Morgan State College, Baltimore, MD., and MSW, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN

HdGCS Affiliation: Father, Mr. Horace Elkins Cromwell, was in the first graduating of HdGCS, the Class of 1932, and grandfather, Mr. Abel Francis Cromwell, served as the grammar school principal for more than 30 years

Memberships & Affiliations: Member of the St. James A.M.E. Church, Harford County CASA Advocacy Assoc.; Lifetime member Morgan State University.