Leadership
Dr. Myra Gordon serves as co-chair and international spokesperson for the International Ota Benga Committee, working alongside founder and chair Ann van de Graaf. A clinical psychologist and retired associate provost at Kansas State University, she helps advance the committee’s mission to preserve Ota Benga’s memory and use his story to promote human dignity, inclusion, and social progress.
A Message from the Co-Chair and Spokesperson, Dr. Myra Gordon
A Message from the Founder and Chair, Ann Van de Graaf
Membership
- Ms. Ann Van de Graaf, Core Leadership Team; Founder and Chair; Artist; Activist; Member, St. John’s Episcopal Church
- Dr. Myra Gordon, Core Leadership Team; Co-Chair and International Spokesperson; Clinical Psychologist; retired Associate Provost, Kansas State University; Entrepreneur, Amazing Africa LLC; Member, Diamond Hill Baptist Church
- Ms. Annabelle Tweedy, Core Leadership Team; Trustee of White Rock Cemetery, Jackson Street United Methodist Church
- Mr. Henry Fleming, Core Leadership Team; Veteran; Historian; Deacon of Diamond Hill Baptist Church
- Ms. Kitty Brew; Core Leadership Team; Director of Operations and Facilities Manager; Secretary to the Budget Committee, Diamond Hill Baptist Church
- Mr. Hunter Hayes, Great Grandson of Gregory Willis Hayes; Emmy-award winning songwriter; Delaware
- Mr. Ronnie Shoultz, Entrepreneur, Heritage Connection, LLC; Vocalist
- Dr. Carl Hutcherson, Jr., Pastor; 2nd Black mayor of Lynchburg, VA
- Mrs. Grace H. Dean, Trustee and Christian Education Chairperson, Jackson Street United Methodist Church
- Ms. Francine Baruti, Congolese American; Entrepreneur, ABLE Group Home
- Ms. Gloria Simon, Assistant Director of Admissions; University of Lynchburg; Actor
- Dr. Lindsay Michie, History Professor Emerita and former Department Head, University of Lynchburg
- Mr. Magus Magnum, Poet and Spoken Word Artist; Washington, D.C.
- Mr. Jacques Miango, Congolese American; Pastor and Director, Congolese Diaspora Network; Washington, D.C.
- Mr. Ngimbi Kalumvueziko, Congolese American; Author; Washington, D.C.
- Ms. Glenda Cash, retired Professor of French Language Studies, University of Lynchburg
- Mr. Kenton Martin, Project Manager
- Ms. Tolear Walton, Member, Jackson Street United Methodist Church
Ex-Officio
- Ms. Catherine Bemba, Cultural Attache, Embassy of the DRC in Washington, D.C.
- Ms. Charleta Mason, Entrepreneur/Co-Owner, Community Funeral Home, Inc.
- Mr. Ron Smith, Entrepreneur; Men’s Ministry and Trustee, Diamond Hill Baptist Church
- Mr. Donald Preston, Men’s Ministry and Deacon, Diamond Hill Baptist Church
- Mr. Ted Delaney, Historian; Director of Lynchburg Museums
Consultants
- Dr. Cathy McElderry, retired Professor of Social Work, Middle Tennessee State University
- Ms. Kenniss Henry, Leadership of COBRA
Team Ota in Congo
- Dr. Willy Loyombo, Professor of Anthropology, Mbandaka University; Founder of DGPA, one of two national umbrella Pygmy activist organizations
- Mr. Keddy Mosulu, Co-Founder of REPALEF, the other national umbrella Pygmy activist organization
- Ms. Celinemoka, President, Pygmy Women’s Association, Kinshasa
- Mpia, Lead Dancer, Traditional Pygmy Dance Troupe, Kinshasa
- Mr. Roger Kadsby, Acting-President, National Council of Traditional Chiefs and Elders
- Prophet Gedeon Ngongo, Pastor, L’Eglise Mera in Changu
- Mr. Danny Kalambay, 2nd year student in Business, National Pedagogical University; OBIC Coordinator of University Student Ambassadors for Ota
- Mr. A. Chrimess, OBIC Technology Expert
In Memoriam
- Dr. Owen Cardwell, Jr., Director of the Center for Leadership Studies, University of Lynchburg; Pastor, Diamond Hill Baptist Church (committee service 2022 – 2025)
- Pastor Chris Rousell, Rector, St. John’s Episcopal Church (committee service 2023 -2025)