Community is the lifeblood of Black people. The ancient African principle of “Ubuntu” (I am because we are) lives in the hearts of Black people throughout the diaspora. So, it’s no coincidence that individuals representing our community tend to be the best of us, shining examples of who and what we should all aspire to be.
The following are individuals worth watching in 2025. Their work in various communities thus far has been incredible. The Defender predicts each of these individuals will raise their impact to the next level come 2025.
James P. Stancil II, Ph.D., Outdoor Afro Houston, Lone Star College
At Lone Star College, Stancil serves as an academic strategist. His work is shaped by a commitment to supporting neurodiverse students through research-based techniques. Stancil has worked for over 20 years in K-12 education nationwide before transitioning to college-level work.
Today, he is a News Literacy Ambassador for the News Literacy Project for Houston and coordinator of Tutoring Services at Prairie View A&M University. Stancil also formed a 501(c)(3) organization, Intellect U Well, Inc., that promotes the joy of reading, media literacy and digital citizenship in the Houston area. He volunteers his time as a local leader with the Houston Network of Outdoor Afro, which seeks to reconnect African Americans with nature and the outdoors.
Dr. Charles Turner, pastor, New Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church
Turner has been at the forefront of multiple battles, including the fight to get Kashmere Gardens residents care and services after the unexpected wind storm (derecho) in Houston in 2024. He was also a leading voice pushing back on the TEA takeover of HISD, and lent his voice to voter empowerment efforts during the run-up to the 2024 election. Bordering somewhere between millennial and Gen Z, he’s a young man of God on the rise.
Regina Gardner Morgan, activist, organizer & education advocate
Ask anybody in the Ft. Bend area, and they will tell you that Gardner Morgan is a force to be reckoned with. She’s an out-of-the-box political thinker and behind-the-scenes organizer who is known and respected by elected officials and grassroots individuals in Ft. Bend County.
She pulls no punches when it comes to holding individuals and institutions accountable. Whether friend or foe, Gardner Morgan will ensure you stay on the right track, not for her personal fame but for the well-being of county citizens.
Desmond Bertrand-Pitts, CEO, Buffalo Soldier National Museum
Bertrand-Pitts, MBA, M.ED is the CEO of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum, Center for African American Military History. He oversees all operations, programming, and finances for the museum, which generates over $2 million in annual revenue. Desmond has improved the overall museum experience by adopting policies and procedures that make it more operable, integrating technology, expanding educational programming, enhancing exhibitions, broadening donor reach, and creating an “in the now” approach to history.
He launched the Path Forward, a $5 million campaign in 2020, which is now rebranded as the Ready and Forward Campaign with a $13 million goal; to date, it has raised $5 million. The campaign was launched to enhance the armory, elevate archival capabilities, expand educational reach, establish sustainability and create an endowment.
Stacey Allen, artist, filmmaker & founder of Nia’s Daughters Movement Collective
Allen, an award-winning dance troupe founder, recently added children’s book author to her resume. Allen is also a filmmaker who consistently wins awards and grants for her empowerment work. Her influence upon the greater Houston area and its outskirts continues to rise and is nowhere near the heights that it will reach.
Zakiya Newman, outreach coordinator, Harris County Democratic Party
A Houston native and graduate of Lewis & Clark College in Washington state, Newman is passionate about elections, electoral politics and civics education. Along with continuing the arduous work of political organizing, she is one to watch in terms of her efforts to fill a much-needed gap in civics education for Black people and all people.
