GOVERNANCE BOARD MEMBERS

Alan Gumbel leads work that expands opportunity and strengthens civic and economic systems in Memphis. He brings more than twenty years of leadership experience in workforce development, education, public policy, and nonprofit management. Throughout his career, he aligns operations, partnerships, and resources to drive measurable community impact.

Gumbel has guided organizations through major transitions and built programs that improve outcomes for students, workers, and small businesses. He has secured more than 75 million dollars in public and private funding and advanced regional initiatives through senior roles at the Black Chamber of Memphis, the Greater Memphis Alliance for a Competitive Workforce, the Memphis Academy of Health Sciences, the City of Memphis Workforce Investment Network, and Metropolitan Inter-Faith Association. These roles give him practical insight into how education, workforce, and economic systems interact and how to strengthen them for Memphis residents.

Living and working in Memphis motivates Gumbel to build a stronger and more inclusive regional economy. He volunteers with the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, serves in his parish, and supports neighborhood and social service organizations. On the Governance Board, he applies a systems-focused perspective, cross-sector leadership experience, and a clear commitment to improving outcomes for families and communities across Memphis.

Ari Thompson is a youth member of the More for Memphis (MFM) Governance Board who plans to go into political science. Her interest in this career was influenced by her parents, who raised her to think critically and have important discussions about the state of America today. She considers herself lucky to have been supported by a community of people, like her church and her father’s fraternity brothers, who taught her the importance of serving others and providing for their needs.

Thompson believes that Memphis is the city that best represents service. “In all my 16 years of living here, I have seen firsthand how Memphis’s culture promotes a kind nature and the principles of hard work. Despite this, Memphis is often painted as a dangerous city that you shouldn’t touch. Being able to help others and make so many memories in Memphis is especially important as it allows me to see the true nature of Memphis outside of the media, and prepares me to show that true nature to people around the country.” – Ari Thompson

Thompson brings a unique perspective to the MFM Governance Board as the only member under 18. She is able to describe firsthand what is happening inside of Memphis-Shelby County schools and share solutions that students believe in. Outside of community work, she enjoys playing the cello, which she has practiced since the fifth grade. She is a member of the Memphis Youth Symphony Orchestra, and her other hobbies include reading and playing video games.

Sheneka Balogun serves as Chief Operating Officer of the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis, where she oversees the organization’s core operational functions and integrates people, systems, and strategy to ensure organizational capacity aligns with community impact. As a mission-driven executive, Balogun brings more than 20 years of experience leading operations, human resources, and organizational strategy across the nonprofit, education, and public sectors.

Balogun holds a doctorate from Johns Hopkins University, a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University, a Master of Arts in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from LeMoyne Owen College. She also holds a credential in Business Analytics, Economics, and Financial Accounting from Harvard Business School Online. Dr. Balogun was selected as an Aspen Institute Fellow through the Memphis Workforce Leadership Academy and served on Mayor Lee Harris administration’s Our Next Era Planning Committee for Inclusive Economic Development. In 2025, she was a featured speaker at the Black in HR POWER25 Summit, where she shared insights on talent and organizational systems. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Outside of her professional work, Balogun enjoys reading romance novels, experimenting with new recipes for family dinners, and learning new chords on her acoustic guitar.

With over 20 years of experience as an educator and social impact leader, Jamilica Burke is dedicated to transforming systems and creating pathways for lasting community change. A Memphis native, Burke returned to her hometown to support the very community that produced her, bringing a deep commitment to collective impact and educational equity.

Currently serving as the president of Seeding Success, Burke leads strategic initiatives focused on improving economic mobility within the cradle-to-career continuum. Her work centers on driving cross-sector collaboration and fostering innovative partnerships that break down silos to tackle complex social challenges. Throughout her career—which spans roles in school, district, and community leadership—she has remained rooted in building resiliency through strategic planning and sustained systems-level transformation.

Burke’s foundation in service began with Teach For America in Atlanta Public Schools. She holds a BS in Political Science with a minor in Pre-Medicine from the University of Chicago and a Master of Science in Urban Education and Leadership from Georgia State University. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), she combines academic rigor with executive expertise to drive results for children and families across Memphis and Shelby County.

Yolanda Cooper-Sutton’s work is rooted in her love for Memphis—its people, its history, and its unshakable spirit. She believes every community deserves dignity and investment. What inspires her most is seeing people come together to solve problems and lift one another up. Outside of Cooper-Sutton’s civic work, she loves learning, exploring local stories, and finding ways to connect people across neighborhoods and generations. She brings to the More for Memphis Governance Board a lived understanding of Memphis’s challenges and a deep commitment to building trust, transparency, and long-term change.

Cooper-Sutton remains grounded through practices that strengthen her faith and sense of purpose. Her early mornings are spent in prayer and study, guiding her personal growth and the integrity she brings to public service. She also finds balance in exploring local history, spending time with family and friends, and playing tennis.

Her professional focus is grounded in advancing equitable systems, strengthening public sector accountability, and expanding opportunities for youth through mentorship and educational programming. Cooper-Sutton brings a grassroots, on-the-ground perspective shaped by years of direct engagement with residents, youth, and city systems. Her work spans policy analysis, field inspections, public advocacy, and youth empowerment—giving her a holistic understanding of how decisions made in boardrooms impact real lives. She also brings a commitment to transparency, collaboration, and community voice. She believes governance should not only set direction but also build trust, and she is dedicated to ensuring that the people most affected by decisions are heard and centered.

Nakyla Curry is a dedicated college student majoring in Science Lab Technology and a proud mother. Becoming a parent at a young age pushed her to grow quickly and take responsibility seriously, learning patience, discipline, and how to stay focused in challenging situations.

She enjoys caring for others, whether through being a full-time mom, mentoring, or finding ways to make a positive difference in her community. She takes pride in being reliable and supportive, and she brings a strong work ethic and positive attitude to everything she does. She is passionate about helping people and being part of meaningful work, especially in healthcare and service-based roles. Curry is looking for an opportunity where she can continue to grow, contribute, and build a better future for herself and her son.

Waddell Fisher is a dedicated Memphian and a proud veteran of the United States Air Force. Experiences he gained while living in Germany, California, and Michigan have given him enhanced awareness of community needs in his hometown. His diverse perspective motivates his commitment to inspiring individuals and neighborhoods across Memphis to recognize and pursue their potential.

Fisher is known for his empathetic approach and his willingness to be a team player in community service. He regularly invests his time volunteering at resource fairs and other neighborhood projects. As a recent appointee to the More for Memphis Governance Board, he remains actively involved with the Soulsville Neighborhood Association and supports the South City Opportunity, Revitalization & Empowerment Community Development Corporation (SCORE CDC). His faith-based outlook underpins his dedication to fostering meaningful relationships and advancing opportunities for residents, especially those who are under-resourced or disenfranchised. He is committed to promoting equity and connecting communities with valuable resources.

Fisher holds a Certificate of Christian Leadership from the Urban Ministry Institute (TUMI), which is an extension of World Impact Ministries, as well as a Certificate of Completion from SCORE CDC’s South City Resident Leadership Academy. He has also earned his Associate of Arts degree in Faith and Community Leadership from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applies his education toward empowering and supporting under-resourced communities. Additionally, Fisher has a passion for music and serves as an active member of the music ministry at his place of worship.

Unveyunce Fitch is a lifelong South Memphis native who attended South Memphis schools from elementary school through high school, where she graduated as valedictorian. This experience shaped her understanding of both the potential and the challenges within the community.

Fitch’s greatest inspiration is the belief that youth are the future and that early intervention can change life trajectories. She initially aspired to become a juvenile probation officer but soon realized she wanted to reach young people before mistakes were made rather than after. That shift led her toward education and youth advocacy. She strives to be the teacher she wishes she had growing up: someone who recognizes potential, nurtures strengths, and believes in every child.

Outside of her professional work, she is passionate about dancing, music, and making people smile. She also finds joy in raising her daughter and aspires to become a motivational speaker who helps youth navigate mental health. Through compassion, connection, and honest conversation, she hopes to help children see that healing and growth are possible.

She brings a unique perspective to the More for Memphis Governance Board as someone who has lived the realities of South Memphis, understands its challenges firsthand, and believes deeply in its promise. Her lived experience, commitment to youth development, mental health awareness, and community-centered leadership allow her to advocate for equitable systems and meaningful change for Memphis youth and families.

Marlon Foster is the founder and CEO of Knowledge Quest, a youth and community
development organization founded in 1995 whose mission is “to vigorously equip youth and families to maximize their potential through education, wellness and opportunity.”

He is considered a ‘social entrepreneur’ because of his unique approaches to community development. He is a life-long resident of South Memphis and presently lives in the immediate neighborhood in which Knowledge Quest is headquartered.

Foster holds a business degree from LeMoyne-Owen College and a Master of Divinity degree from Memphis Theological Seminary. The Seminary established the Rev. Marlon and Sheila Foster Professor of Pastoral Theology and Homiletics in honor of their humanitarian efforts. Foster was also invited to the White House by President Obama and honored as a “Champion of Change” as a part of the United States’ Winning the Future Initiative to prevent youth violence and make our communities safer.

Tena Robinson Holmes Goins is an adult resident of South Memphis who sits on the More for Memphis Governance Board. She has worked in the healthcare field for over 20 years taking care of the elderly. During that time, she helped accomplish the Choices Program so loved ones of elderly parents or family members could be employed to tend to them in the comfort of their own homes. She has also worked in the restaurant business for more than two decades. She is a self-employed hairdresser, soul food cook, and caterer. Additionally, she works with people with special needs and holds certifications as a hair braider and forklift operator. Her hobby is wreath-making for all occasions.

Holmes Goins is very driven, valuing hard work and determination. Family and community work are major focuses in her life. She prides herself on being reliable and compassionate. Holmes Goins is hopeful that More for Memphis will bring more resources to South Memphis, especially for youth and the elderly.

Brian Harris is a seasoned business and community leader with over 20 years of experience in team development, strategic planning, and youth engagement. He currently serves as special assistant to Mayor Paul A. Young and director of youth services for the City of Memphis. Harris previously taught business courses in Memphis-Shelby County Schools and held senior leadership roles at Apple, Amazon, and Best Buy, where he led operations and youth-focused community initiatives. A lifelong Memphian, Harris holds a B.S. in Organizational Leadership and an Executive MBA from Bethel University. He is active in civic life, serving on several local boards and commissions, and is a life member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity. Harris is a dedicated father to two children, Brian II and Hailey.

Arriell Gipson Martin is a transformational leader, strategist, and community connector committed to driving sustainable impact across Tennessee. A Memphis native, she has built her career at the intersection of government, community engagement, and civic leadership, helping residents and partners turn complex challenges into clear, workable solutions.

As senior program manager for Shelby County Government, Gipson Martin leads initiatives that expand public access to resources, strengthen collaboration across sectors, and empower residents to engage with confidence. Her work has helped thousands of Tennesseans navigate systems that shape daily life by reducing barriers to information, improving pathways to services, and mobilizing community voices.

Gipson Martin’s leadership extends statewide as an alumna of Leadership Tennessee NEXT Class VIII, where she continues to invest in the next generation of civic and business leaders through planning and selection efforts. Nationally, she was featured on PBS NewsHour for her work with Starts With Us, co-creating five policy proposals informed by engagement with more than 30,000 Tennesseans.

Beyond government, Gipson Martin is a dedicated board leader, serving with Serenity Recovery Centers and Junior Achievement of the Greater Mid-South, advancing trauma-informed recovery services, economic mobility, and financial literacy. She also created Ask Shelby, a civic education initiative that makes local government easier to navigate.

Gipson Martin earned her degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and has advanced training in trauma-informed leadership, public health preparedness, and crisis response through the Department of Criminal Justice Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Michelle Robinson McKissack has served on the Shelby County Board of Education since 2018. She is an Emmy Award-winning journalist with a passion for helping children and supporting public education.

McKissack is the former editor of Memphis Parent magazine and worked for years in Memphis as a news anchor and reporter at ABC 24 and News Channel 3. She has also worked as a reporter in Washington, D. C., and Chicago.

Born and raised in Memphis, McKissack attended Campus School, then White Station Middle and High Schools, graduating in 1987. She received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism from Northwestern University in Evanston, IL.

McKissack is married to John P. McKissack, and they have four children. She enthusiastically served in roles as a room parent, PTA president, and on the leadership councils at her children’s schools. She is especially proud of two programs she helped establish at Downtown Elementary: the annual Turkey Trot and the Heart 4 Art fundraiser.

McKissack also served as a founding board member of Crosstown High School, which opened in August 2018. Over a three-year period to create Crosstown, she helped to develop the curriculum and hire school leaders.

Additionally, McKissack, who represents MSCS' District 1, has served in education at the state level. She was appointed to several advisory councils including the inaugural Tennessee Board of Education Parent Advisory Council while representing Shelby County Schools in 2016-2017. McKissack has been a constant voice for educators, students, and parents.

Angel Subber was born and grew up in Tunica, Mississippi. She was raised by a single mother with five children. Her mother worked three jobs as a teacher, a bus driver, and a factory manager. Subber moved to Memphis during her senior year and felt that being a part of a big city was a totally new experience. She became a waitress and met many people who had impactful roles in the city, such lawyers and the mayor. In Memphis, she found her passion to help others, starting a Women's Day celebration where women are invited to speak on their lives without being judged. She also became involved in efforts to help the unhoused community.
Subber prides herself on giving to others. She views joining the More for Memphis Governance Board as a greater challenge to do what she loves. She is currently unemployed but finds joy giving back to her community with love, food, and hugs.

Tate Wilson is the CEO of the Kemmons Wilson Family Foundation, where she leads the foundation’s mission to strengthen families and invest in thriving neighborhoods in Memphis. Wilson’s career has centered on using philanthropy as a catalyst for long-term, community-led change–bringing together nonprofits, civic leaders, and investors to tackle complex challenges such as health equity, educational access, and neighborhood revitalization. Wilson brings to governance work a systems-level perspective shaped by hands-on experience in grantmaking, impact investing, and collaborative community development.

Living and working in Memphis is central to Wilson’s identity. She is a proud Memphian–one who loves her city and its rich culture, creativity, and resilience. Wilson is an Echols Scholar graduate of the University of Virginia. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four boys, exploring Memphis neighborhoods, and supporting the city’s arts and music scene. Wilson serves on the boards of the Association of Infant Mental Health in Tennessee, Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women, the Spence and Becky Wilson Baptist Children's Hospital, the Brooks Museum, Memphis Delta Prep Charter School, Tennessee Career Academy, and University of Tennessee’s Population Health Consortium.

Commissioner Mick Wright was elected to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners in 2018 and re-elected in 2022. He represents District 3, which includes all voting precincts in Bartlett and Lakeland.

Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, Wright made Shelby County his home after earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Strayer University.

Since 2003, Wright has been with Youth Villages, where he currently serves on the leadership team for the Memphis Allies initiative. This program focuses on providing intervention services to young people and adults at high risk of gun violence involvement.

An alum of Leadership Bartlett, he has volunteered with various civic organizations, including the Bartlett Chamber Foundation, the Bartlett Education Foundation, the Bartlett Education Advisory Committee, the Bartlett Sesquicentennial Committee, and the Bartlett First Responders Monument Committee. He also founded Better Bartlett Schools, leading grassroots efforts that resulted in the creation of the Bartlett City Schools system.

Wright has held leadership positions within the Republican Party of Shelby County, serving as Vice Chair and President of the Northeast Shelby Republican Club. He was elected as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in 2016.

Mick and his wife, Alison, live in Bartlett with Halo, a Labrador Retriever mix. They are members of Christ Community Church.