As EPA's Administrator, Lisa P. Jackson leads a staff of approximately 18,000 professionals dedicated to protecting the public health and environment of all Americans. She was nominated to lead the Agency by President Barack Obama on December 15, 2008 and confirmed by the Senate on January 23, 2009. She is the first African American to serve in that position.

Cynthia Willard-Lewis currently serves as District "E" Councilmember. Willard-Lewis is a former Louisiana State Representative and previously worked as an Administrative Assistant and then Bureau Chief in the Housing Division of the City of New Orleans. She has been honored with many awards . . . , She was an honor graduate of Xavier University where she received the University's Gold Medal and Service Awards. As a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, she began her service to the community.

Cheryl Artise Gray Evans is a 1990 graduate of Stanford University and a 1993 graduate of Tulane University Law School. In November of 2003, Ms. Gray was elected to serve the people of District 98 in the Louisiana House of Representatives. In November of 2007, Ms. Gray was elected to serve the people of District 5 in the Louisiana State Senate. She serves Vice-Chairman of the Local and Municipal Affairs Committee. Senator Gray also serves on the Environmental Quality, Health and Welfare, and Revenue and Fiscal Affairs committees. Senator Gray currently serves as Parliamentarian of the Women's Caucus.

Ms. Gray is currently serving Of Counsel in the law firm of Gray & Gray, A PLC, where she specializes in personal injury law. Prior to this, she worked as managing partner at Gray & Gray, as an associate at Elie, Jones & Gray, as Director of Corporate and Legal Affairs for the Shreveport Pirates, and clerked in the Colorado law firm of Kelly, Stansfield & O'Donnell. She also taught a Sports Law class at the University of New Orleans.

Tiffany Monique Lloyd, 2008 - 2009 Miss Black Louisiana USA will serve as Mistress of Ceremonies. Lloyd, the multi-talented singer, dancer, motivational speaker, and model is a native of Ferriday, LA. Lloyd is a 2003 magna cum laude graduate of Alcorn State University receiving her degree in psychology and education.

NCBW is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to community service with the focus on the social and economic needs of the community. NCBW advocates on behalf of women of color through national and local actions and strategic alliances that promote its national and international agendas on leadership development and on gender equity in health, education and economic development.

For further information and tickets please contact either Brenda Mitchell via email at BGJMitchell@bellsouth.net, or by phone at 504-957- 0482, or Monchiere' Holmes via email at monchiereholmes@yahoo.com, or by phone at 504- 259-2203.

Councilmember Willard-Lewis serves as Chair of the Ground Transportation and Parking, Sanitation and Environmental Enforcement, and Special Remote and Evening Meeting Feasibility Study Committees, as Co- Chair of the Housing and Human Needs and Special Disaster and Recovery Committees, and as a Member of the Board of Murals Review, Cable and Telecommunications, Competitive Selection, Education, Special Development Projects and Economic Development and Special Official Journal and New Orleans Register Ordinances Committees.

Jackson is a summa cum laude graduate of Tulane University's School of Chemical Engineering and earned a master's degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University. She was born in Pennsylvania and grew up a proud resident of New Orleans, Louisiana.