Orange County African American Community Center, Inc.

Andrea L. Smith is Chairperson of Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. She has been a member of the Foundation since 2013. Mrs. Smith also served as Secretary from 2013 to 2016 as well as alongside various Committee Chairs. Prior to joining OCAACC, Inc., Mrs. Smith was Chief Executive Officer of ICJ Health, Inc., an international health firm, accountable for advertising in the Canadian marketplace. She served as Vice President of Administration of San Gabriel Mountain Spring Bottling Company, Inc. She served as Vice President of Administration and later became CEO of Innerplanetary Enterprise, Inc. In addition, Mrs. Smith served on the Executive Board of James, Velox & James/Research, an international research company specializing in renewable energy infrastructure.

Public Relations & Marketing Chair. Peggy Studivant-McNeil is an active board member since 2009. She studied at Southwest Jr. College, LA Trade Tech, and UCLA. She opened Harlequin Productions (Englewood, New Jersey) in 1984. She hosted the cable television show, “East Coast Review” and in 1999, she opened “The Junction Rhythm & Blues Club” (Clarksdale, Mississippi). She’s also a Real Estate Agent; a National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) member; a State Licensed Facility Administrator; a certified Direct Support Professional for Persons with development disabilities; She Founded, “Unk’s Place”, a Community Development Corporation, focusing on the elderly community. She’s also an Airbnb Super-Host (Unk’s Place Short-Term Rentals), and has been featured on local news and published in numerous print publications.

Sandra holds an AA degree from the National College of Education (Teacher’s College) in Evanston, Illinois, and CLC, Grayslake, Illinois. She relocated to California after marriage and continued her undergraduate education at Santa Ana College and UC Irvine, CA. Sandra is an accomplished pianist. She was a musician for New Spirit Baptist Church in Santa Ana, CA, and currently teaches piano and vocals to students. She is also an aspiring songwriter, musician, vocalist, and director. She has released three CDs. Her song, “God is in Command, He’ll Bless You”, was judged in a songwriting contest with Alicia Keys, Gwen Stefani, Lenny Kravitz, and Steven Tyler. In 2002, she was contacted to collaborate on a song for the legendary late Michael Jackson. Sandra has been a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, CA for almost 30 years. She is currently a member of Voices of Joy, Praise Team, and Mass Choir.

Entertainment Committee Chair. Shirley has been a licensed California Realtor, since 2001 and a licensed California notary since 1999. She specializes in Residential and Commercial Real Estate- assisting clients with selling and purchasing a property. Additionally, Shirley received certificates of completion from the Southern California Institute of Technology in computer software programming and Office Systems/Front Desk Operations. Shirley worked with House of Prayer (a non-profit Christian organization) as a bookkeeper from 1999-2014. Currently, she serves on the Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. board as chairperson for events and entertainment.

Mr. Grant is an attorney and senior principal at The Law Offices of Willie L. Grant and Associates, Fullerton, California. Mr. Grant is a member of the California Supreme Court Bar, U.S. District Court Bar, Federal Tax Court, Los Angeles Trial Lawyer Association, Los Angeles, and Orange County Bar Associations. In addition to his private practice, he is a registered agent of the IRS, and a Bar Examiner Tutor, a Real Estate Appraiser, an officer of The African-American Council of Parents, where he mentors students from middle to high school. Mr. Grant is deeply honored to be a part of an organization whose members are totally devoted to assisting young people in obtaining their educational goals and becoming a productive member of society.

Scholarship Committee Chair. Annie is a retired educator and librarian. She received her undergraduate degree from Grambling State University. Annie completed her graduate studies in several states in the United States including New Mexico, Idaho, Arizona, and in California. She also worked and studied in Europe. Where ever Annie worked, she engineered programs or participated in established programs that dealt with students furthering their education beyond high school, including the AVID and the Passport to College Programs. Anne became involved in the Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. when she learned of the organization’s scholarship programs for graduating seniors.

Gary Smith is the Scholarship Liaison Coordinator of Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. and has been a member of the Foundation since 2013. Gary is a graduate of California State University, Long Beach where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree. Upon graduation, Mr. Smith embarked upon a 23-year career at IBM whereupon he served in sales, marketing, staff, management, and consulting roles. Following his career at IBM, he spent an additional 20 years in sales and marketing executive positions in the software industry. Mr. Smith was one of the founding members of an organization, which has resulted in college entrance to more than 300 students throughout the United States and continues his commitment to the educational success of young men and women. Mr. Smith has had responsibility for organizing large user and sales conferences and has been recognized for his ability to increase revenue streams and to develop sales and marketing strategies as well as programs.

John Woodruff serves in the Public Relations & Marketing Department of Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. and has been a member of the Foundation since 2011. John attended the University of Maryland-Extended Campus under the auspices of the US Naval Academy and served in Naples, Italy from 1974-76 prior to his retirement. Mr. Woodruff has worked with some of the largest Fortune 500 Companies and public institutions across the country. After retiring, he embarked upon a Marketing career at Sam’s Club/Wal-Mart as Managing Director for 18 years.

Volunteer Committee Chair. Belinda retired after 35 years of service with the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) and the University California Irvine Medical Center (UCI). Her college background in Business led to her working in the Financial Business Office as an Accounts Representative. A team leader, Belinda was responsible for overseeing accounts, and large sums of cash. Her job also required her to interact with patients, business administrators, and insurance and government contracts. Belinda is a family-oriented and praying, mother of children. She always volunteered her time in her children’s school and instilled in them the value of seeking higher education. Now, she enjoys volunteering with the Orange County African American Community Center, Inc., where she still seeks to encourage students to attain higher education.

Pastor Leon Clark is the Co-Chaplain of Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. He received a B.A. in Communications, a Minor in Religion, and a Philosophy degree from California Baptist University. He also received a Certificate of Christian Counseling from California Christian Institute. Rev. Clark is presently working on a Masters of Divinity degree from the C.P. Haggard Graduate School of Theology. God has used Rev. Clark in various ministerial capacities while serving in many community organizations. He’s worked for the Orange County Urban League and Catholic Charities of Orange County; where he had helped disadvantaged people get back on their feet. He currently serves as a member of the Evangelism Committee of the Western Baptist State Convention, President of the Congress of Christian Education for the Tri-County District Association, Vice-President of the Orange County Minister’s Conference, and for the past four years, is the proud Pastor of the New Spirit Baptist Church.

Reverend Patrick Harris is the Co-Chaplain of Orange County African American Community Center, Inc. and has been a member of the Foundation since 2013. He is a Veteran of the U.S. Marines where he served in providing support to returning Viet Nam Veterans to cope with stress and war experience, as they transitioned to civilian life. Upon leaving the military, Reverend Harris began a career with the U.S. Postal Service where he became active as an Equal Employment Officer (EEO) for more than 15 years. In that capacity, he worked on more than 700 cases representing employees before administrative judges. In 1986, Reverend Harris became an ordained minister at Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda, California where he continues to serve in a variety of administrative and counseling capacities. He remains committed to supporting our youth and community services.