anthony white
Artistic director
President
Anthony White is the Artistic Director for the Detroit Youth Concert Choir and Performing Arts Company. He has directed more than 1500 youth from the metro Detroit area, where he has created a platform for them to develop their skills in performing arts. Anthony White has a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Marygrove College. While matriculating through Marygrove College, Mr. White performed in various productions such as Ragtime, Godspell, and Ain’t Misbehavin. He also formed the “Soulful Expression Ensemble” where he used his God-given talents of vocal music, music production, songwriting, music composition, and theater.
Board of Directors
Stephen E. Shepherd is the Director of Operations of the Detroit Youth Choir & Performing Arts Company. He has served with the organization since 1998 in rolls such as Theatre Director and now Director of Operations. Stephen also serves as Vice President on the DYC Board of Directors. He is a Graduate of Virginia Union University where he earned his bachelor's degree in Speech and Theater with a Minor in Music. Stephen has 20+ years in the performing arts world. He has been involved in many productions such as Ain’t Misbehavin, Purlie, Mojo: A Black Love Story, Don’t Bother Me I Can’t Cope, The Fantasticks, Zooman and the Sign, The Wiz and many more.
Stephen
Stephen Shepherd
director of operations
NeQuan White is a native Detroiter. She was educated through the Detroit Public and Catholic School System. After graduating from High School she attended Marygrove College, majoring in Psychology. After graduating from Marygrove College she was employed at Spectrum Child and Family Services, as a Foster Care Case Manager. Thereafter she switched gears into the automotive industry, “Nissan Technical Center North America” currently as a “Technician”.
In 2006, she married her college sweetheart Anthony White. Two years later they welcomed their daughter “Shyel White into their life, who is a member of The Detroit Youth Choir.
NeQuan has worked alongside with her husband Anthony White for many years. In fact, due to having only 7 choir members, she assisted in the alto and tenor section. Her journey with working with the Detroit Youth Choir, began at the age of 23. From that point on there was no turning back. She now serves on the board as an Interim Financial Secretary.
NEQUAn WHITE
Financial Secretary
Yolanda Hamilton is a native Detroiter, mother of two adult children and currently employed at Detroit’s John D. Dingell Veterans Medical Center. Since her employment she has earned her Bachelor of Social Work Degree from Wayne State University and in her efforts to support the veterans she plans to pursue her master’s degree in 2021. An advocate and catalyst for change, Yolanda volunteered to participate in a program designed around the concept of storytelling to bridge and forge relationships between Veterans, their families and employees. She enjoys dining in the city’s newest restaurants, live entertainment and reading.
In 2006, her then 10-year-old daughter Reagan expressed an interest in singing. After seeing a flyer on the information board at Marygrove College, she enrolled her into The Detroit Youth Concert Choir after rehearsing for Mr. Anthony White. After witnessing the devotion and passion that Mr. White has for children and teaching, Yolanda invested her free time to the choir. In the early days at DYC she played many supporting roles…. chaperone, chauffer, den mother, fundraiser, make-up artist, parent coordinator, treasurer, etc. Under Mr.White’s tutelage Reagan’s vocal skills and range made her a principal performer for the next six years. Today as a proud board member she can continue to support DYCs mission and witness the many continued blessings bestowed upon them.
Stephen
Yolanda hamilton
Treasurer
LaTasha Williams is passionate and driven in serving people. She absolutely loves working with children and ministry. LaTasha is the founder of an outreach ministry titled Release and Rejoice. She is one of the board members who serves as the Executive Secretary for the renown Detroit Youth Choir (DYC). In addition, she volunteers as an event planner for Tenna Harris Ministry. Lastly, she is a Special Education teacher.
LaTasha graduated from Davenport University in 2004 with an associate degree in business administration. She later graduated from Marygrove College in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in English and in 2015 a master’s degree in special education. In May 2018, she earned a certificate in the Education Specialist Program in Administration and Supervision at Wayne State University.
LaTasha’s primary goal is to make a difference in the life of children. She wants children to know they can and will succeed in school and in life. She believes in the quote, “Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care” (Theodore Roosevelt). LaTasha is a risk-taker; she enjoys taking on challenges and stepping out on faith. She focuses on solutions to problems and works hard daily to make sure each day counts!
Latasha Williams
Executive Secretary
Lacetia B. Walker is co-founder and independent educational consultant with Scholar Builder, LLC. Lacetia holds an Educational Specialist Certification in learning disabilities and an endorsement in mathematics from Wayne State University. She earned a master’s degree in urban education from Cambridge College and a bachelor’s of science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in computer information systems from Alabama State University. She has an extensive knowledge of research-based strategies in differentiated instruction, student engagement and multiple intelligences which she uses to guide and instruct educators who service struggling learners.
Mrs. Walker has more than 30 years of experience in public education. She has served in several capacities ranging from classroom instruction to school and district program administration in the special education and mathematics curricula. More specifically, she has lead classroom instruction for elementary and middle schools, and served as a Curriculum Instructional Specialist for her district in the Office of the Assistant Superintendent. She has developed and presented numerous research-based professional developments ranging from effective instruction to Total Quality Management.
Mrs. Walker is deeply committed to education and development and growth of young people. She strongly believes that all children have the right to a quality educational experience.
LACETIA WALKER
education/member at large
James began his career in the Navy before moving with his late wife Jeanie to Detroit, where they raised their family. While in Detroit, James joined the Detroit Fire Department and throughout his tenure there rose from the rank of Trial Firefighter to Research & Development Coordinator Chief; where he served as the Financial Officer, Budget Director, Purchasing Director and Auditor for the Detroit Fire Department.
As an active volunteer and community member, James was a member of the St. Scholastica/Benedictine DADS Club for some 42 years, where he served as President, Vice President, Treasurer, Fundraising Committee Chairman, Boy Scout Leader, Baseball Coach and Umpire.
Additionally, he was a board member and treasurer of the Strategic Builders Incorporated and board member with the Detroit Eagles Athletic Club. He served as the Treasurer for the Sisterhood Foundation, the Detroit Repertory Theatre Board of Trustees vice-Chair and Chairman. In July of 2019, James was honored by the Repertory Theatre with the Irma Wertz patron of the year award.
James is currently the President of the Ashley Park Condominium Association and the Executive Director of the "Way and Means" Community Foundation, aka the Livius Paoli Foundation.
Other organizations that James is affiliated with include the International Association of Fire Chiefs, the Retired Detroit Police & Fire Fighters Association, Inc., the Phoenix of Detroit, the Detroit Fireman’s Fund, the NAACP, the Western View – Next Door Block Club and the Detroit Youth Choir.
James Means
Ways and Means Foundation
Bianca has been a leader on youth development teams within Metro Detroit’s public-school system training fellow educators, students and youth. Bianca has found success with her graduate degree in Social Work from Wayne State University, in helping to increase awareness and prevention on at risk youth issues such as homelessness, lack of adequate elementary and secondary education, sufficient behavioral health and lack of access to health care. Bianca has been a panelist on many mental health forums and has afforded the opportunity to meet with politicians to discuss current mental health issues within our school systems. Bianca has also been honored by Detroit’s City Council for her work with Domestic Violence, awarding her a Spirit of Detroit award.
Bianca is a current active Board Member for the Detroit Youth Choir, as well as the Ways and Means foundation. Bianca serves on the Executive Branch of the Southfield Democratic Club and was recently nominated a Precinct Delegate for the city of Southfield. Most recent accolades include being honored as Michigan Chronicle’s top "40 under 40" emerging leader class of 2019, deemed Who’s Who in Black Detroit" by Real Times Media and induction as a young professional in Oakland County’s "40 under 40" elite class of 2020.
Bianca wilson, Lmsw ssw
Member at Large
Patrice holds a Bachelor of Science from Eastern Michigan University and is an aggressive planning and development, and outreach management professional with several years’ organizational leadership and administrative experience. Patrice’s experience includes program launches and implementation, communications development and delivery of public speaking engagements, outreach coordination, and organizational development with an emphasis on client development and retention. Her varied background as a program management and outreach professional has effectively left a trail of successful development and nurturing of customer experiences and relationships.
With an interdisciplinary background in planning, development, outreach and management, Patrice is equipped to develop unique approaches to program implementation. She is experienced in managing programs for utilities, municipalities and non-profit organizations.
Notably Patrice has led multi-million dollar program launches, with responsibility for planning and coordinating with multiple partner organizations and internal and external teams to design the project approach and plan. She has also managed programs servicing over 25,000 customers annually.
Patrice believes that teamwork makes the dream work and is a strong believer in collaboration to meet the shared goals. She is also Michigan Chronicle Women of Excellence honoree, a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, African American and Blacks in Energy (AABE), serves as a board member of the Detroit Youth Choir and holds a Six Sigma Yellow Belt Certification.
Patrice suggs
PR/member at large
Lutricia M. Valentine, CMP is an internationally certified meeting professional and Travel Consultant who has been working professionally in the hospitality industry over 20 years. Lutricia was amongst the first African American woman to achieve this designation. She lives in Detroit, MI but was born and educated in Chicago where she received her degree in Computer Programming with a minor in Business Administration. She has managed conferences and events from board meetings to 8,000 attendants throughout the US and internationally. She is a mentor in the industry and have trained several event and meeting planners. She is blessed to have 31 years of marriage, 2 sons and grandchildren. She is currently Owner, Professional Details, LLC an Independent Planning Company; Executive Director, Urban Village Network, a 501c3 non-profit community based organization that focuses on youth and emerging leaders; Physical Education/Health Teacher, The James & Grace Lee Boggs Academy, and a Nationally Certified Doula. Lutricia is passionate about giving back. Lutricia began serving the Detroit Youth Choir when her son joined as a member in 2007. She has supported and served DYC for 13 years in various roles including Board Member.
Lutricia Valentine
Member at large
McIntosh has served in his current position at Oakland University since June 2015. He joined Oakland University in 1994, holding a variety of positions, including interim vice president for student affairs and enrollment management, assistant vice president and dean of students, founding director of the Academic Advising Resource Center, and founding director of the Center for Multicultural Initiatives.
Prior to joining Oakland University, McIntosh worked at Wayne State University, Eastern Michigan University, Bowling Green State University, and served as a Saturday Academy instructor for Project Upward Bound, a college preparatory program that helps inner-city high school students meet college admissions standards..