ALL INCLUSIVE PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY

Mitchell Anthony is owner of Anthony’s Tax Services where in addition to individual tax returns he handles the financial affairs of 6 non-profit organizations across North Carolina. He is a native of NJ and has been living in Raleigh, NC for 21 years. He has earned an MBA and a Bachelor’s degree in business.  His expertise is in finance and accounting. He is married with 3 adult children. In his spare time he likes to golf and visit family. Leaders by Choice welcomes Mr. Mitchell Anthony and looks forward to him keeping us organized and in good standing with the IRS.

Lucia Foster has been involved with theatre as a performer, director and educator for most of her life. In her younger years, Lucia was inspired by theatre's potential to strengthen the self-esteem, empathy, problem-solving and communication skills of individuals, as well as to bolster group cohesion. As an adult she has sought multiple outlets to utilize theatre’s benefits in rural and urban communities in the US and around the globe. Lucia received Bachelor's degrees in Dramatic Art and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's degree from the University of Winchester, UK, in Theatre for Development (using theater as a community building tool.) She spent eight years as the Artistic/Executive Director of a non-profit community theatre on Maryland’s eastern shore, where she taught a variety of performance arts classes to youth and adults and developed educational and event programming designed to enlighten, entertain and promote stronger community relationships across race, age and economic lines. Lucia enjoys using theatre games as a means for helping students develop their performance and interpersonal skills, and is passionate about supporting others in exploring all the possibilities of “play;” both on stage and off. Leaders by Choice welcomes Ms. Lucia Foster and looks forward to working closely with her as we build partnerships with local theater groups.

Sarah Griggs is an entertainment lawyer with a focus in music. Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, Sarah originally moved to the US to study voice and piano at Berklee College of Music. After graduating with a degree from Berklee in Music Business, she moved to New York City to work in the music industry. Fast forward a few years and a few roles (The Orchard and Epic Records to name a few), Sarah is now VP of Business and Legal Affairs at ADA Worldwide/Warner Music Group. When Sarah's not working, you can find her listening to music or spending time outdoors with her dog Otis. Leaders by Choice welcomes Ms. Sarah Griggs and looks forward to her guidance in the fields of entertainment and law.

La'Shawn Martinez is a Lifetime Member of the original Leader's By Choice Club started in Beacon, NY more than twenty-five years ago.  She continues choosing leadership in her roles of school counselor, mother of two boys, and fitness instructor. She is a lifelong learner looking to grow and effectuate change. La’Shawn strives to continue shining her light and leaving this world better than she found it. Leaders by Choice welcomes Ms. La’Shawn Martinez and looks forward to her working closely with our Education Department.

Fonda Kitt Muhammad is the Founder and Executive Director of LBC.  She is a Black Muslim woman who identifies as a BIPOC.  She is an educator, visionary, mentor, collaborator, author, and a change agent. As a visionary and long time educator, she has created a myriad of learning environments wherein students learn acceptance as opposed to tolerance. Fonda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and a Masters degree in Secondary Education. She taught English Language Arts, directed school productions, and cultivated leadership skills through the magic of theater for more than three decades in New York before relocating to Raleigh, North Carolina. Mrs. Muhammad is a wife, mother, and grandmother. Leaders by Choice welcomes Fonda Kitt and looks forward to her continuing the work of developing both the artist and activist in our future leaders.

Letha Muhammad is the Executive Director of Education Justice Alliance (EJA), based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Letha is working to advance the organization's mission to dismantle the School to Prison and School to Deportation Pipeline in her local school district, Wake County Public Schools, and to advance equity in public education across the state. She believes that working with parents, students and families who are directly impacted by these issues is one of the most effective ways for her to contribute. As such, her work includes engagement and leadership training with parents, students, and community members to ensure they know their rights and how to advocate for themselves and students. Letha represents EJA on the Coordinating Committee of the National Dignity in Schools Campaign and serves as co-chair of their fundraising/finance committee. She also serves on the Coordinating Committee for Every Child NC, a statewide coalition working to ensure equitable funding for our public schools. Letha is a member of Muslim’s for Social Justice (MSJ) and on the steering committee for the Movement to End Racism and Islamophobia (MERI). She is a wife and the mother of one school age child and two young adults. Leaders by Choice welcomes Ms. Letha Muhammad and looks forward to her bringing many years of experience to our Treasury Department.

David is a Strategic Account Manager at Square Inc. with a Bachelor of Science degree from Johnson & Wales University in Sports Entertainment/Event Management. He has a strong passion for learning and paying it forward. David's journey started at the age of 21, as Co-Founder of a non-profit called “I Am Beacon." From there, David began working for the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Yankees, eventually climbing up the ladder as a Manager of Premium at The Aspire Group, followed by a second stint at the New York Yankees in their Premium department. After some time, David pivoted his career to technology for a Customer Success opportunity in Fintech at Fundera (acquired by NerdWallet), landing a Partnerships role in DEI at Jopwell. His current position is working as a Strategic Account Manager at Square Inc. In addition to this, David is 1/3 of the UnderRepresented Representatives podcast with Najah Muhammad. He also created the virtue brand by virtue, an approachable clothing company. Leaders by Choice welcomes Mr. David Quill and looks forward to working with him in the areas of technology and management.

Edrena Walker is currently employed in healthcare and is also Administrative Assistant for a small trucking company. During grade school, Edrena performed in many school plays and sang in her high school chorus. As a mother and former substitute teacher, Edrena recognizes the need for connecting with children and is very passionate about leading them in the right direction. Edrena’s desire to help children become leaders and her love for the arts is what motivated her to become involved with LBC. Leaders by Choice welcomes Ms. Edrena Walker and looks forward to consulting with her on medical issues, especially COVID-19 protocols.