Meet the Board
Beacon of Light
Board of Directors
Hazel Broadnax
President
Longtime Brightwood resident, active in Emory United Methodist Church and local civic affairs. A CPA and CGFM with an MPA from American University, she retired in 2005 as CFO of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation after a distinguished financial career in D.C. government. Post-retirement, she consulted for KPMG at NASA, helping secure a clean audit opinion. She now serves on the Goodyear VEBA board, chairing its audit committee, and on the board of WLF, supporting workforce development for low-income residents.
James Waller
Vice President
James holds a BS in Secondary Education from the University of Virginia and serves as Chief of School Operations for Friendship Public Charter Schools. A former Chief of Staff to U.S. Congressman John Lewis, he has extensive experience in organizational design, youth mentoring, and education. James co-founded 100 Black Men of Washington and has held senior leadership roles with Everybody Wins! USA and MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership.
Dian Lammy
Treasurer
A resident of Ward 4 and former Vice-President of Capitol One Bank. She has
twenty-seven years of progressive banking experience and an extensive background in finance as well as an outstanding track record in the area of retail banking,
management, and supervision of overall expense profit performance. She is currently a
financial consultant. Diane received a Bachelor of Arts in Business Management from the University of the District of Columbia.
Marcia Mendenhall
Secretary
A lifelong Brightwood resident and Hampton University graduate with a BS in Early Childhood Education and an MA in Special Education from Trinity University. She has over 20 years of experience in education and teaches at a private school in Brightwood. Active at Emory United Methodist Church, she has served as President of the United Methodist Women and coordinated the EBOL Transitional Housing Program. She also plays a key role in EBOL’s youth and senior mentoring programs.
Lillette Campbell
Director
Founder and Executive Director of The Bridges Academy, a private school in upper NW DC serving infants through middle school for more than 25 years. She represents the Beacon of Light Board among Georgia Avenue businesses and leads its business and economic team. The 16th National President of Continental Societies, Inc., she also serves on Industrial Bank’s New Market Tax Credit Advisory Board. Fluent in Spanish, she teaches the language and supports the Beacon of Light food pantry and immigration clinic as an interpreter. Lillette holds a BA in Romance Languages/Education and an MEd in Education/Spanish from Howard University.
Joseph W. Daniels
Director
Pastor, author, and visionary leader who has served as lead pastor of Emory United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C., for 31 years, growing the congregation from 55 to 400 members. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary, a Howard University Divinity degree, and bachelor’s and master’s degrees from American University. A founder of both the Washington Interfaith Network and D.C. Power, he remains deeply engaged in faith-based social justice work and teaches at Wesley Theological Seminary. Rev. Daniels is also a sought-after speaker and the author of four books on ministry and community transformation.
Jaleesa K. Hall
director
A Miami native who holds degrees from Clark Atlanta University, American University, and Wesley Theological Seminary, where she earned her MDiv and a Community Engagement Fellowship. She is the Founder of Raising A Village (RAV), a nonprofit providing intervention programs and resources to underserved children and families. Under her leadership, RAV has delivered more than 1,500 tutoring sessions across 15 school and community sites in the D.C. area. Before launching RAV, Jaleesa held leadership roles at Center City Public Charter Schools, the Hirshhorn Museum, Wolf Trap Foundation, and Wesley Theological Seminary.
Jennifer E. Loud
director
Principal and sole owner of The Loud Law Firm in Washington, D.C., and has practiced law in the district for 33 years. She began her career as a judicial clerk to Judge Susan R. Winfield and later served as a Senior Associate at Eaton & McClellan, once the nation’s largest African American–owned personal injury firm. Her practice focuses on probate, estate planning, and complex civil litigation, including Camp Lejeune Justice Act cases. A committed community servant, Jennifer has been appointed to multiple D.C. boards, is a founding board member and general counsel of The Emory Beacon of Light, and remains an active member of The Emory Fellowship. She holds both her B.A. and J.D. from Howard University.
Brian K. McCollum
director
Chief Operating Officer of AIEGS Global and has extensive experience advancing academic and cultural institutions. His career also includes leadership roles at Princeton Theological Seminary and Step Afrika, as well as serving as Director of Development for Seeds of Peace. An ordained Presbyterian teaching elder who has preached internationally, he is a graduate of Morehouse College, Princeton Theological Seminary, and Columbia University, and is completing a PhD in Educational Management at Hampton University.
Belva E. Milson
director
Belva is a former accountant for the National Association of Manufacturers. A graduate of the University of the District of Columbia, she is one of the founding members of the Beacon of Light. She is very active and supportive of the transitional housing ministry and the food pantry. She has served in various financial capacities at the Emory United
Methodist Church for the last 40 years. She is a dedicated volunteer to the work and mission of the Beacon of Light and the church.
Fonda Sutton
director
Fonda Sutton brings nearly 30 years of legal, policy, and nonprofit experience to her work serving children and families in underserved communities. She specializes in K–12 education policy, advocacy, and leadership coaching, grounded in a strong commitment to justice and equity. Fonda is the Partner for Public Engagement and Advocacy at Education Forward DC and serves on several nonprofit boards. A triple Georgetown graduate with degrees from the Walsh School of Foreign Service, the Law Center, and the McDonough School of Business and she is a devoted Hoyas fan.