PATRICIA A. ACKERMAN, Ph.D., is a retired Ohio public school administrator, university trustee emerita and member of the Ohio Board of Regents. During 35 years of service in K- 12 she championed the needs of students at risk by creating alternative programs, co- authoring a textbook series, and leading professional education organizations at the local, state and national levels. Dr. Ackerman is the national coordinator of the Black Lemonade Project and executive director of Chalkdust Education Foundation (CEF) located in Cleveland, OH.
PORTIA L. HUNT, Ph.D., is a professor of counseling psychology at Temple University, a licensed psychologist and diversity consultant with more than 35 years of experience. Highly regarded in her field, she has provided diversity training and counseling to individuals and couples, schools and municipalities. As an expert in trauma care, Dr. Hunt has provided professional services in the aftermath of the MOVE bombing in Philadelphia, aided corporate executives impacted by 9/11, and assisted relocated survivors of Hurricane Katrina. She is executive director of the National Center for Family Recovery (NCFFR) located in Philadelphia, PA.
MICHELLE D. WALTON has been an elementary/middle school educator since 1992. She was one of the first African American National Board Certified Teachers in the State of Ohio. In addition to serving as a master teacher and leader, she currently teaches mathematics in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights [Ohio] City Schools. Ms. Walton has presented workshops at the district, local, state, national and international levels. She has traveled abroad studying the educational systems in Europe and Asia, as well as several African nations. Ms. Walton is president of Chalkdust Education Foundation.
BLP ASSOCIATES TEAM
More than 20 individuals located in various parts of the U.S. have been specially trained to serve as BL facilitators. Collectively, their experiences in education, law, psychology and social services enable the project to create customized teams of professionals to deliver the program to clients.