

Tamra Billinghurst-Black
- Born a New Yorker, currently resides in the suburbs of Cleveland.
- Vice President at New York Life after serving in several roles, ranging from entry level to appointive officer.
- 25 years of experience in the financial services industry; holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a MBA in Quantitative Analysis from St. John’s University.
- Member, Board of Directors, Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland – 2018 recipient of the Outstanding Board Volunteer award from the Boys & Girls Clubs Michigan/Ohio Area Council.
- Check her out in Crain’s Cleveland Business.

- Born in Texas, came to Cleveland as a recipient of a Rockefeller Foundation grant to study African American music.
- Zelma was the first black woman to play a leading predominately white role on Broadway.While in Cleveland she wrote and acted in several musical and opera productions.
- In the 1950s, George served on several government committees at the national level.
- She was honored with a role as a good-will ambassador and an appointment as U.S. alternate delegate to the United Nations General Assembly.
- From 1966-74 she served as the director of the Cleveland Jobs Corps.
- After retiring she lectured at Tri-C.

- Cleveland City Council Member Ward 7 (1980-2008) – the longest-serving female council member in the city of Cleveland.
- Civil Rights Activist.
- Mainly worked to restore and improve the neighborhood of Hough in the wake of the 1966 Hough Riots.
- Inducted into the Ohio Women Hall of Fame in Columbus in 1996.

A. Grace Lee Mims (1930-2019)
- Born in Alabama and moved to Cleveland to obtain her MLS from Case Wester Reserve University
- Soprano Soloist at the Fairmont Presbyterian Church.
- 43 years as Director, Host and Producer of ‘the Black Arts’ on WCLV.
- Teacher at the Cleveland Music School Settlement.
- Member, jazz-folk ensemble, The Descendants of Mike and Phoebe.
- Sang with the Cleveland Orchestra and Chamber Chorus.
- The Cleveland Arts Prize honored her for “a life committed to music, family and the contributions of African Americans to culture, history and the arts.”