A Good Black Man, Incorporated (AGBM, Inc.) is a 501 (c)(3) organization in good standing with the Internal Revenue Service. The AGBM, Inc. Board of Directors is a "working" board whose purpose is to assist AGBM, Inc. in fund raising, planning, developing and implementing policies, procedures and programs that will empower African American male youth in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Empowerment and self love have been the driving force for D. Anne Browne since she began her writing career in 1979. It was during that year she began to spread the gospel of health and fitness to the African American community through a series of articles (for Metropolitan Magazine) titled, "For The Health of It."

By the mid 1980's D. Anne began to notice how the literature of the time encouraged an analytical approach to the universality of human development. In response to the needs of the African American community, D. Anne began to focus her thinking and her writing on the concepts of self actualization.

By the early 1990's her first literary attempt was to provide "self help" material which did not endorse a morbid fascination with the suffering of others as a precursor to development. D. Anne has already realized her dreams of becoming a competitive bodybuilder, free-lance writer, commercial artist, personal trainer and physical therapist assistant.

Her first book (You Can Get There From Here: Life Lessons On Growth & Self Discovery For The Black Woman), though not autobiographical was based on many of her personal beliefs. Encouraged by the success of that book, D. Anne began to shift her thinking to ways of addressing the crisis between African American men and women.

Through careful research and interviews, D. Anne began to compile a body of work which not only addressed many social issues facing African Americans overall. She has taken her work a step further by examining the Black male psyche and sexuality, the manifestation of cultural ignorance in American society and the patterns of self destruction which have plagued African American communities. D. Anne Browne directs and dedicates her work, That Old Black Magic: Essays, Images and Verse on the Joys of Loving Black Men to African American men.

D. Anne plans to self-publish and distribute this book in the future. Until then, she also conducts empowerment workshops. The unlimited potential of cyberspace coupled with her continued concern about the general misconceptions about African American males motivated her to start the not-for-profit male empowerment organization, A Good Black Man, Inc. (AGBM). The ongoing mission of AGBM includes enhancing the life opportunities for African American male youth.

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Playwright/Actor Derrell G. Owens is the Director of Zionward Productions, a Christian theatre company. Owens' most memorable moment as a writer came in February 2000 when his original play, The Family Mantle, won 1st place in the Eighteenth Annual Drama Competition sponsored by ABC2 and The Arena Players, Inc. The play was produced for television by ABC and aired on February 26, 2000 in celebration of Black History Month. In May 2001, the revised full-length version of "The Family Mantle" won him an Individual Artist Award in Playwriting from the Maryland State Arts Council and a Governor's Citation.

As an actor, Owens has performed on stage, film and television. He has been featured in such movies as: The Accidental Tourist, Home for the Holidays, Clara's Heart, Species 2, The Replacements and the HBO mini-series, The Corner. For seven years Owens was featured on the television crime drama, Homicide, Life on the Streets. His theatre credits include: A Few Good Men, Tryin' Times and A Raisin in the Sun. In July 2003, Owens' original play, "Sessions in Autumn", was selected as an "A- List" play by the Frank Silvera Writers Workshop to be read during the Readers' Theatre Series of new plays at the National Black Theatre Festival. Owens has been featured in many publications as well as the June 2002 issue of New York's AWARE Magazine and the October 2002 issue of Atlanta's Stand Firm Magazine. Derrell is also a recipient of the 2002 Legacy of Excellence Award.

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Darlene Green-Connor is the treasurer for AGBM, Inc. She has 25 years of experience working in accounting, financial and administrative disciplines in the electric utility industry. Darlene has 13 years of accounting experience and 6 years of experience preparing budgets. Darlene is currently responsible for a managing $1.4 million budget. In addition to her professional experience in the utility industry, she also is an entrepreneur. She has managed a successful tax and bookkeeping practice since 1993. Darlene has a Bachelor's of Arts in Accounting, a Masters Degree in Business from the Johns Hopkins and a certificate in Leadership Development from the Johns Hopkins University. Darlene has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1985.

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Benjamin T. Brooks, Sr. is the president of B&R Brooks Professional Tax Service, P.A. The company is a Maryland based firm that provides accounting, payroll and income tax services to small businesses, non-profit organizations and the public at large.

Mr. Brooks, a native of Sumter, South Carolina, is the fourth child of thirteen born to the late Thomas Brooks, Jr. and Hester L. Brooks. After graduating from Ebenezer in 1968, Mr. Brooks fulfilled his military obligations by serving in the US Army. Upon completing a tour in Vietnam, he was awarded the Good Conduct, Accommodation and Vietnam Service medals. In 1972, he was honorably discharged.

He matriculated at South Carolina State University, where he majored in accounting. Mr. Brooks began his professional career as an accountant in June of 1976 for a large mid- west distillery company. He was later promoted and transferred to the east coast plant in Baltimore, Maryland.

In June of 1987, after eleven years of employment, he tendered his resignation. This decision allowed him to devote 100% of his time to the prosperity of B&R Brooks. Over the past two decades, the company has established business contacts throughout the mid- Atlantic, southeast and west coast states.

He currently holds official positions with the following companies and organizations: President - Commercial Cleaning Services, Inc.; President - Brooks Family Investments, Inc.; Vice-President - S.A.W. Enterprises, Inc.; Treasurer - Baltimore County African American Cultural Festival, Inc.; Former Treasurer - Citizens for Burns; Treasurer and Past President - Greater Baltimore Chapter SC State University Alumni Association; Treasurer - Edrich Manor Homeowners Association; Treasurer - Associated Managers, Inc.

Mr. Brooks currently resides in Woodstock, Maryland with his wife of thirty-two years, Theresa, a Catholic school principal. They have three children. All of whom have completed college and are engaged in various careers.

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Carol Brooks has over 15 years of experience in business development, sales, marketing and public relations. She has worked extensively with image development and market awareness in the areas of business, television, Internet, medical publishing, and within the state and county workforce development arena.

Within the several years she has developed her expertise within the Information Technology arena through website concept development, management, sales, and marketing. She was the Internet Site Manger and Director of Internet Sales and Marketing for a local television website and has directed the development and restructure of several Baltimore County websites.

Ms. Brooks is now currently the Business Services Manager for the Baltimore County Office of Employment and Training. In this role, she guides the vision and direction for the newly developed Business Services Team to foster a more efficient, demand-driven workforce development system in the Baltimore County region. She is charged with creating awareness among businesses about valuable services and funding available to them for their recruitment, training and other customized workforce needs. Her expertise in marketing, sales, public relations and business development, coupled with her enthusiasm for her work, makes the charge challenging, rewarding and ever-evolving. She has been acknowledged nationally within her field for her innovative concepts in providing business services.

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Donnie Brown is one of the members of "The Ten Bears." The Ten Bears was Morgan State University's NCAA Lacrosse team that played from 1969 to 1981. It was the only Historically Black College men's lacrosse team ever. Notably, they defeated Washington, Lee and Notre Dame Universities. The book "Ten Bears", by Chip Silverman and Dr. Miles Harrison is in book stores now. The feature film will be out soon.

Over the last 17 years Donnie has served as a successful youth football coach. He spent 10 years at various Pop Warner football programs. Including, but not limited to youth soccer, head coach at Woodlawn High in Baltimore County, College Club lacrosse coach at Howard University and Morgan State University.

He has coached many youth lacrosse programs including several in the Baltimore middle school League and the U.S. Lacrosse Youth Council (B.R.I.D.G.E.). Donnie served on the board of directors of several organizations from New York to Florida. As a member of The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he served as an official in lacrosse, football, and soccer.

In 1992, Donnie founded "The Warriors", a summer lacrosse program for Baltimore inner-city youth to give them a chance to play a sport that was otherwise unavailable to them. The Warriors program became a part of The Mc Kim's Center in 1994. Since then, other programs have started with Donnie's assistance from the youth through the adult level.

He is a two-time Baltimore County (Maryland) "Man of the Year" (1997 and 1999). Baltimore Magazine recognized him as one of the top fifty people in lacrosse. In 1996, Baltimore County (Maryland) recognized him as the Division 3 Coach of the Year. Donnie was also voted the Exceptional National Youth Lacrosse Coach from U.S. Lacrosse in 2005 and the Abe Pollin Award from The Washington Wizards in 2008.

Presently, he is working in the International Office for the Social Security Administration. He continues to run the Mc Kim's Center lacrosse program (which supports The Stadium School and Dunbar Middle boys programs). Donnie remains an active player at the Grand Masters level.

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Joe Ford (Joseph A. Ford, Jr.) is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore. Ford went on to study at the internationally renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfields Hills, Michigan and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree.

Professionally, Ford has worked in every facet of graphic arts. He has been a graphic designer for two ABC affiliated TV stations: WJZ-13 in Baltimore and WJLA-TV 7 in Washington, D.C. He designed graphics for programming, studio sets, TV Guide advertising, and miscellaneous printed materials.

As an art director for W.B. Doner & Company, Advertising, he designed the graphics for regional and national advertising campaigns for the Air National Guard, Commercial Credit, Colt 45 Malt Liquor and other prestigious clients. While at Doner, he designed the bicentennial symbol that was used nationally on all equipment, signage and publications for the Air National Guard.

Ford has also held a design position at Richardson, Myers and Donofrio, Inc. Advertising. Ford's design work has received national acclaim from such professional organizations as the Advertising Association of Baltimore, the Art Directors' Club of Metropolitan Washington, Print Magazine Regional Design Annual, Broadcast Designer's Association and the CLIO Awards Competition (which is the advertising industry's equivalent of the Academy Awards). In addition to the above, he has served as a member of the American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) Board of Directors, Baltimore Chapter.

Ford has used his design experience to help the black community. He designed and implemented a visual identify program for the Arena Players. The program included a logo design, stationary, posters, ads, program booklets, and a new facade for the Arena Playhouse. This was the beginning of a relationship that lasted for over a decade with Ford volunteering as a graphic design consultant.

To honor the founding father of graphic arts and its outstanding students at Carver Vocational Technical High School, Ford established the Linwood H. Jordon Commercial Art Achievement Award. This award has been given each year since 1975. The award became a self-supporting scholarship fund that would help Carver's graduating commercial art students further their education. He taught in the Maryland Institute College of Art Grad Prep Residency Program. This federally funded program encouraged participation by students of color in graduate school education preparation.

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Carolyn Payton has over 16 years of personnel administration experience, which includes eight years of military personnel administration. She currently works in the Institutional Equity and Organizational Development office of the Human Resources Department at The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC), the only tri-campus community college in Maryland. Here she annually creates the college's 16 affirmative action plans, coordinates professional development programs and conducts orientation for new employees.

In addition to her longtime commitment to the public industry, she is also an entrepreneur, establishing her own notary signing business. Carolyn has her Mediation certificate and is currently mediating for the Maryland Human Relations Commission. She has earned her Bachelors of Arts in Management with dual emphasis in Management and Human Resource Management; her minor is in Communication. Carolyn has also earned her Masters degree in Management Administration (MMA) at the College of Notre Dame of Maryland in 2006.

Carolyn's' professional memberships include: The Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM), Howard County Human Resources Society (HoCoHRS), College and University Professional Association-Human Resources (CUPR-HR), and the National Association of Female Executives. Her leadership initiatives include Membership Chair-CUPA-HR, Baltimore/Washington Chapter and Vice President, Beldale Home Owners Association (HOA). Carolyn is also a member of the Community College of Baltimore County's Strategic Planning Committee, Professional Development Team, Strategic Communication Taskforce, and the Fall Focus 2005 Group.

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Wife and mother of three, Terra R. Scott is currently Administrative Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University in the Office of Facilities Management. Terra has earned her Bachelors of Science Degree in Science - Biology Emphasis at Coppin State University. During her undergraduate career, Terra volunteered as a Student Ambassador for Coppin and as a mentor to middle school girls at Calverton Middle School. During the summer months, Terra worked at a house counselor for mentally disabled senior citizens, and as a camp counselor at Douglass Memorial Community Church's Camp Farthest Out.

Currently, as an active PTA member at Medfield Heights Elementary, Terra volunteers throughout the year for various school related activities and community events. Other previous volunteer experience includes, serving as a construction worker for Sandtown Habitat for Humanity, community health educator for the American Lung Association of Maryland, Harlem Park Middle School via University of Maryland Baltimore, Coppin State University's Community Health Center and test proxy for NAWIC Block Kids.

Presently, Terra is a part time graduate student in the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. As a component of her practicum experience this spring, Terra served as a lobbyist at Homeless Persons' Lobby Day in Annapolis, Maryland through the organization Healthcare for the Homeless. The purpose of the lobby day is to join students, advocates, people experiencing homelessness, service providers in advocating for public policies that will build a future without homelessness. Terra's ultimate goals are to obtain as Masters of Science in Health Education, Doctor of Philosophy in Public Health and work as a Community Health Educator and college professor.

Terra enjoys spending time with her family and friends and considers herself passionate about contributing positively to the community. Being apart of AGBM, will only enhance her contributions and commitment to the African American community.

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Stan Stovall is one of the most recognizable faces in Baltimore television broadcasting, having worked in this market more than 21 years. Stan rejoined the WBAL-TV 11 News team in April 2003 as co-anchor of the weekend editions of 11 News Today. We say, "rejoined" because this is Stan's second tour of duty with WBAL-TV 11. His first tour of duty began in 1978 until 1983, Stan served as the primary anchor for the weekday evening editions of 11 News.

Since his return to 11 News, Stan has climbed the ladder quickly. In August 2003, Stan was promoted to co-anchor of the weekday editions of 11 News Today and 11 News at Noon. Then, in October 2003, Stan was promoted once again to co-anchor 11 News at 5, adding to this morning duties. Stan also hosts "11 TV Hill," an 11 News public affairs program that airs on Sunday afternoons.

While most of Stan's work during his 33 years in broadcasting has been as a primary news anchor, over the years, he has also worked as a reporter, producer, film photographer and film editor. In 1988, Stan tried his hand at freelance reporting and spent nearly six months in south east Asia covering a civil war in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). He spent half the time living in the jungle combat zones of Burma, and the rest working out of cities like Bangkok, Manila, Seoul and Tokyo.

His interest in international politics and investigative reporting have also taken him to Central America during the Contra War in Nicaragua. He traveled to Russia and the Ukraine before the fall of communism in the former Soviet Union. Stan also traveled to the Vatican City in Rome for the elevation of Baltimore Archbishop William Keeler to the College of Cardinals. Stan's primary hobby is fitness, having been a former competitive weightlifter and bodybuilder for more than 30 years. He is a former four-time State Powerlifting Champion and holds the former bodybuilding titles of Junior Mr. Arizona, Mr. Maryland, Mr. South Atlantic and Mr. Delmarva. Over his 33 years of broadcasting, Stan has been recognized by hundreds of civic, legislative, educational and charitable organizations for his untiring work in the communities he has served.

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