Sherry Bernard

Sherry Bernard (she/her) is a human centric and equity driven nonprofit professional. She has a strong passion and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and liberation. Sherry is a seasoned group facilitator specializing in taking groups of various sizes through DEI, youth development and leadership and career development learning concepts. 

Sherry currently serves as the Director of Diversity Initiatives & Partnership for the United Way of Greater Houston. In her current role, Sherry innovates and implements a portfolio of services designed to support diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) via external partnerships in the Greater Houston nonprofit sector. In addition to serving as a trusted DEIB thought partner and strategic leader for our internal staff community and external local nonprofit community, her scope of work includes leadership of two signature leadership development programs, aimed at increasing access for multicultural changemakers. 

Prior to joining the United Way, Sherry served as Vice President of Social Responsibility & Youth Leadership for the YMCA of Greater Houston, leading the strategy for equity advancement and youth leadership. 

Sherry is proud of her Jamaican heritage and is the co-founder and Chief Experience Officer of an international movement that promotes Caribbean culture and unifies the Caribbean community through creating meaningful experiences. Sherry holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Master’s Degree in Public Administration and Certification in Nonprofit Management (CNP) through the University of Houston.
 

Tara Black

For almost seven years, Tara A. Black has worked as a major gifts officer at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. As a senior director of Major Gifts, she fundraises to support the institution’s highest priorities and manages a team of major gift officers. She previously served as chief development officer for the Houston Area Women’s Center, where she was responsible for fundraising, strategic planning and served as a member of the executive leadership team.  

She has more than 18 years of nonprofit fundraising and sales experience and has held positions at the Houston Symphony, St. Luke’s Episcopal Health System and the Houston Rockets. Tara earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and minor in education from the University of South Carolina. She also earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from the Institute for Nonprofit Executives at Rice University. 

Tara is a member of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers, the Association for Healthcare Philanthropy, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals. In her spare time, Tara enjoys attending professional sporting events and traveling with her husband, Dwight.  Tara also serves as a mentor to young black women who work in philanthropy and/or are looking to enter the profession.

Dr. Angel Harris

Dr. Harris serves as the VP & CAO at United Way of Greater Houston (UWGH). As one of the largest United Ways in the U.S. by annual revenue, they are a leader and trusted partner in improving lives, tackling critical community social issues, and helping neighbors in need land on their feet, and stay there. As CAO, Angel oversees UWGH’s development and brand strategies to execute the community’s Second Century Vision. Over her career, she has raised over half a billion dollars to fund investments in poverty-reduction programs across the country.

In an effort to use her voice to drive change, Angel has served as a panelist and speaker for hundreds of events. She is often called upon to speak on issues related to development, increasing opportunities for marginalized communities, women’s empowerment, and faith in a better tomorrow.

Angel serves and has served in a variety of community-related positions, including being a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Women’s Partnership, a trustee for the Livingston Avenue Collaborative for Community Development, a first connection volunteer for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and a volunteer tax preparer for the Earned Income Tax Credit Coalition.  She has invested in young leaders as a mentor in both the Big Brothers Big Sisters school-based mentoring program, and the Franklin University Undergraduate Coaching Program. She recently ended 7 years of leadership as President of the Greater Ebenezer Cathedral of Praise Women’s Auxiliary. A graduate of Project Diversity, a member of Leadership Columbus class of 2007 and was also a founding member of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council and is a member of the Alexis de Tocqueville Society.  She and her husband, Chris, have a blended family with seven children.
 

Kimberly Karol

Kimberly Bernard Karol, CFRE, APR , Deputy Director of Development at The Nature Conservancy, has made significant and award-winning contributions in all areas of fundraising. In her current role, Kimberly works alongside the Global Chief Development Officer to implement strategic fundraising initiatives, including campaigns, communications, and DEIJ.  

Before The Nature Conservancy, Kimberly’s efforts at Prairie View A&M University, a historically Black university in Texas, positioned the institution for increased giving by demonstrating impact and strengthening philanthropic relationships in preparation for a comprehensive campaign. 

Kimberly has also held leadership positions with The University of Texas Health Science Center, Teach for America, Drexel University, The Aspen Institute, and Lehman Brothers, bringing broad experiences in communicating across diverse audiences to effect meaningful change.

Kimberly also serves as an instructor in the Art of Fundraising program at the Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership at Rice University. She is an active member of the Association of Donor Relations Professionals and the Public Relations Society of America.  

Kimberly holds a Bachelor of Arts from Baylor University and a Master in Public Administration from New York University.  

Avis McCray

As a professional with over 30 years of experience in the nonprofit field, Avis McCray has served in positions with progressive levels of responsibility at The Briarwood School, Houston Public Library Foundation, Susan G. Komen Houston, Girl Scouts San Jacinto Council, Baylor College of Medicine and Memorial Hermann Foundation.

Her experience and background provided the opportunity to build on her passions for education, literacy, research, healthcare and working to instill courage, confidence and character in young women. These professional opportunities provided her with the ability to return to an organization she founded almost 10 years ago to serve as the Executive Director for Community and Family Historical Preservation Association (CFHPA).

Avis earned a BA in English with an Emphasis in Professional Writing from Grand Canyon University and the Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership with Distinction in the Fall of 2021. She is currently pursuing her MPA  with an Emphasis in Nonprofit Management and studying to sit for the Certified Fund Raising Executive credentialing exam.

She is a lifelong Texan and mother to two autistic sons who are her heartbeats. She enjoys classical piano, painting, writing, and gardening in her spare time and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater Houston Chapter and The Woman’s Club of Houston.