David Ushery David Ushery is a veteran American television news anchor at WNBC News 4 , NBC’s flagship owned and operated station. Ushery co- anchors the noon newscast on Thursdays & Friday’s, also the daily 5:30 pm newscast alongside Shiba Russell. Ushery is also the creator and anchor of “The Debrief with David Ushery,” which airs on WNBC and the station’s New York Nonstop cable channel, as well as co-host of “Moms and the City and a Dad named David,” airing on New York, NBC's Cozi TV.

Considered “a standout at the company—and in this market, as well as an anchor willing to venture into uncharted territory and create innovative programming, the award-winning Ushery has been a trusted and respected journalist in New York City since 1993. He has also been lauded for his volunteer work and commitment to community. David C. Banks is the President/CEO of The Eagle Academy Foundation. He was the Founding Principal of The Eagle Academy for Young Men, the first school in a network of innovative all-boys public school in New York City. As President he is responsible for the successful leadership and David Banks management of the organization, which is charged with the replication of the successful Eagle model. Since opening in 2004, the Eagle Academy family has grown to encompass a total of six schools in the Bronx, , Queens, Newark, Harlem, Staten Island and is expanding its vision nationally.

The Eagle Academy for Young Men, the first all-boys public high school in New York City in over thirty years, is a nurturing institution which believes that excellence, both in character and scholarship, opens doors and provides a bridge to equality. The Eagle Academies represent a partnership between students, school staff, parents, mentors, and community partners, who are all committed to the guiding principles of academic excellence, leadership and character development. These principles are supported by our core initiatives of mentoring, community service, extended day activities, Saturday Institute, summer programs, and parental involvement. The first Eagle Academy for Young Men was established as part of New York City’s twenty-first century high school reform initiative, an accomplishment achieved through a unique partnership with One Hundred Black Men, Inc. After five years of sharing space with the Bronx School for Law, Government & Justice, it has since moved into its own, state of the art facility.

Prior to becoming principal of Eagle, David served as the Founding Principal of The Bronx School for Law, Government & Justice. This theme-based high school provided a unique opportunity for him to combine his law and education background. During his tenure, David helped spearhead a community-wide effort to secure a permanent home for the school. As a result, Bronx Law is now housed in a $75 million, state of the art facility, representing an unprecedented partnership between the criminal justice community and an inner-city high school.

David is a graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey and received his Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University. He earned his Educational Administration and Supervision certification in only one semester by attending three colleges: Brooklyn College, City College and Baruch College. Further, David Banks has also been chosen as one of seven Black Male Achievement Social Innovators nationwide by the Leadership and Sustainability Institute, for demonstrating tangible results in improving the life outcomes of African American men and boys. David Banks has joined the Board of Directors for the International Boys’ Schools Coalition. In May 2014, David Banks was awarded an honorary Doctorate degree from Wheelock College. David resides in New Jersey. He has four children, Jamaal, Aaliyah, Ali and Malcom Rashaad, and one grandchild, Hayleigh. Inez Barron was elected to the NYC Council in 2013, after having served 5 years in the NYS Assembly. Her political service follows a distinguished career of public service in the NYC Department of Education. Inez is the daughter of George and Margaret R. Inez Barron Smith, who raised her to “put God first.” Inez credits her parents with instilling in her the value of education and pride in her culture. Their encouragement to her was “always give your best, do your best, be your best and expect the best.” Inez Barron is succeeding her husband, Hon. as Council Member of the 42nd Council District. Inez and Charles are the parents of Jelani Johnson and Jawanza Barron. For more than fifty years, Ms. Barron has been actively engaged in protesting against civil and human injustices such as segregation, discrimination, apartheid, exclusion of Africa from the NYC curriculum, police misconduct and environmental racism.

Inez has a long history of community activism. Through participation in various community organizations, she has been involved in closing a store selling illegal drugs; stopping the construction of a wood-burning incinerator that would have spewed tons of particulate matter into the air; ending the use of coal-burning furnaces in public schools; and maintaining affordable rents. As Assembly member, she is the Assembly author of the State legislation that maintains affordable rents in Spring Creek/“Starrett City” for the next 30 years. Inez was born and raised in public housing and attended the New York City public schools. She is a graduate of of the City University of New York (Bachelor of Science in Physiology) and Bank Street College of Education (Master of Science in Reading and Special Education). Ms. Barron's philosophy is that children should be valued and motivated to achieve, and teachers have a responsibility not only to provide the skills necessary to be life-long learners and become productive and critical members of society, but also to challenge and stimulate children’s thinking.

During her 36 year tenure with the NYC Board of Education, Inez held various instructional positions, including classroom teacher (elementary, junior high school and college levels), reading teacher and math lab teacher. Inez held a variety of administrative and supervisory positions, including teacher trainer, district coordinator for early childhood, executive assistant to the community superintendent, and assistant principal. Ms. Barron retired as a principal. Inez’ affirmation is “I believe God.” Former Member Charles Barron has been a community activist for over 45 years. In 1969, in need of a vehicle to express his desire for justice, Barron joined the Charles Barron Harlem branch of the Black Panther Party. After his Black Panther experience, he attended New York City Community College, now known as New York Technical College, where he obtained an Associate's Degree. He then attended Hunter College where he acquired his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology with a minor in Elementary Education.

In 1979, Barron joined the National Black United Front (NBUF) and became the founding chairperson of NBUF'S Harlem Chapter. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed Chief of Staff to the Reverend Dr. Herbert Daughtry, Chairperson of the National Black United Front. From 1982-87 he served as Secretary General of Rev. Daughtry's African Peoples Christian Organization (APCO). He traveled across the United States visiting many college campuses, churches, prisons and communities organizing around international, national and local issues. As the founder and CEO of the Dynamics of Leadership Corporation, Charles also traveled the country presenting seminars and workshops on leadership development.

In 2001, Barron was elected to the New York City Council. He served as Chair of the Committee on Higher Education for over eight years and was a member of the Committees on Education; Consumer Affairs; Immigration; Land Use (Planning, Dispositions & Concessions); and Women's Issues. As a Council Member Charles Barron secured funding to renovate 3 parks totaling over $15 million; secured allocations for 2 new $80 million schools; was the number 1 Council Member in Brooklyn in securing real affordable housing; secured millions of dollars for funding of the Black Male Initiative for City University of New York (CUNY); and millions of dollars for a work force development project that generated over six thousand jobs in neighborhoods of high unemployment in New York City. At the final session of the City Council, Charles was described as “the conscience of the City Council”.

He is a founding member of the East New York based organization Operation POWER (People Organizing and Working for Empowerment and Respect) and was recently elected to the New York State Assembly on November 4, 2014. Councilman Barron is known as a fearless fighter for human rights issues. He is described as “unbought and unbossed,” speaking truth to power and delivering for his community and beyond. Ms. Valerie Lancaster-Beal has been an Independent Director of Sierra Income Valerie Lancaster Beal Corp. since February 2012. Ms. Lancaster Beal is a Trustee of the City University of New York where she is the chair of the Faculty, Staff and Administration committee. She also serves on the Fiscal Affairs Committee. Previously, Ms. Lancaster Beal served on the Board of Regents of Georgetown University. Ms. Lancaster Beal holds a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania.

Valerie is the Director of Finance and Compliance for Data Capital Management (DCM). DCM is a systematic, event-driven Hedge Fund built on Novel "Big Data" Technologies and real-time Data Feeds. DCM sits at the intersection of Technology and Finance in New York City's "Silicon Alley". Valerie enthusiastically utilizes her extensive managerial experience in the capital markets to develop and implement financial protocols and strategic growth strategies while ensuring compliance with the rules and regulations of regulatory agencies as well as the company’s policies and procedures.

Chair of the Committee on Faculty, Staff and Administration. Chair of the task force charged with developing investment oversight policy and procedures for selecting and monitoring retirement investments for CUNY employees’ $6 billion system. • Co chaired the Chancellor’s Initiative on the Black Male. Directed a panel of distinguished scholars in examining the status of Black males in our society and ways of using education to improve the situation. • Working with administration in developing strategies to increase admission and retention of students and faculty of color at the University. Municipal Credit Union

About MCU

Municipal Credit Union has been serving the financial needs of our members since 1916. The credit union was chartered in response to the concern of New York City Mayor, John Purroy Mitchel, who wanted city employees to have a way to save at reasonable rates and a low cost borrowing alternative to loan sharks.

MCU started out with one branch in the Municipal building using handwritten ledgers. At the end of the first year, nineteen charter account holders had combined deposits of $570. Today, we have 16 branches, more than 350,000 members and over $2.0 billion in assets. MCU’s mission statement is to build lifetime quality financial relationships with each member by providing competitive products and excellent service. On behalf of the 29 CUNY BMI Funded Projects, we send a Sincere and Heartfelt Congratulations to our 1st Annual CUNY BMI Spring Benefit Honorees!

The Honorable Charles and Inez Barron ; CUNY BMI Governmental Higher Education Award

Valerie Lancaster Beal; CUNY Board of Trustee Member; CUNY BMI Champion Award;

Municipal Credit Union, and CUNY BMI Philanthropic Award

Thank you for your Vision, and continued Support of Black Male Achievement as you respectively have helped to fulfil the dreams of so many young people! It is truly an honor to congratulate your achievements and acknowledge each of you as our Inaugural CUNY BMI Spring Benefit Honorees.

God Bless!