BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Galda I McCants
Board of Directors
Galda McCants is the Executive Administrative Secretary for Metro East Organizing Coalition- MEOC. She has a great love for people and gives of herself for the overall betterment of society. She is a racial and economic justice advocate. And she advocates for gun safety and victims of violence. Galda is a native of Chicago, Illinois and daughter of the late Judge Marion W. and Juanita Garnett.
She is the wife of Presiding Elder Gary McCants of the Super Soaring South District of the Illinois Conference, for 45 years. She is also the mother of four grown children, and grandmother of three grandsons. She retired from education in 2011 after over thirty years of service in Chicago Public Schools and Springfield, District #186.
An ordained elder since 1985 in the AME Church, she served as pastor of three churches in Illinois that include: Allen Chapel, in Lincoln, St. Paul in Springfield and currently serving as the pastor of Shiloh AME Church in East St. Louis, IL
Rev. McCants is also the co chair of the ICER (anti racism) committee for the Illinois Conference of Churches, along with Father Kevin Laughery. She serves as the Illinois Conference Coordinator of Women in Ministry for the AME Church.
Suzy Douglas
Board of Directors
Suzy Douglas is the Financial Executive Treasury for Metro East Organizing Coalition. She is a community leader and advocate for building strong families. She is passionate for seeing Black men lead their families. She is part owner of Living Waters Properties LLC (REIC), a Real Estate Investment Company based in Illinois. She also teaches Bible Studies and Health/Wellness classes. Suzy is considered by many to be a “Guidance Influencer for the Generations” and a “Mother of Many Houses.”
She believes “Learning is Never Ending,” for example, she learned to ride a motorcycle at the age of 61 after failing the riding test several times.
She has worked as counselor for neglected/abused children, taught second and third grade students at a Christian School, started 2 church based Christian Daycare centers and opened an In-home Christian school.
Suzy received a B.S. in Crim. Just. /Sociology from Texas Woman’s Univ., Denton, Texas and a M.A. Educ. from National Louis Univ. located in Wheeling IL. She is also an Ordained Elder at Empowerment of Grace Church.
Suzy has been married to Col. Samuel R. Douglas, USAF Ret. for 38yrs who is from Huntsville, Texas and they have two daughters, Ashton - 33 and Kersten - 23.
PASTOR MARY A. YOUNG
Board of Directors
She presently serves as a board member of the Metro East Organizing Coalition.
Ordained Evangelist of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, Inc.
Evangelist Young received her Bachelors degree in Business Administration from the University of McKendree in Lebanon, Illinois in June of 2007. She has also received a certificate of professional ministry study from the Bethesda Temple Bible Institute, St. Louis, Missouri; attended Gateway Biblical Counseling School working towards her Masters in Biblical Counseling; one class away from receiving an Associates degree in Early Childhood Education; she has a Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degree from the Midwest College of Theology. She is the founder and Instructor of Midwest College of Theology at GIAC and has since graduated several students with their Associate, Bachelors, Masters and Doctorate degrees.
With the help of the Lord and the power of the Holy Ghost and it’s divine directions, assisted by her spouse, the late Douglass James Young, formerly a Police Officer of East St. Louis, Washington Park, Lebanon, IL. Alorton, IL who so faithfully served with her in any capacity that was needed, founded the God Inspired Apostolic Church which began in June 2010; in November 2010 she was later installed as the Pastor; 2011 they purchased the old Mental Health building and dedicated it as their new Church facility located at 3911 State Street East St. Louis, Illinois where the church is presently located; winning souls for Christ; working with the Homeless and ministering occasionally at the St. Vincent Depaul Center.
Pastor Sharon Autenrieth
Board of Directors
Pastor Sharon Autenrieth presently serves as a board member of the Metro East Organizing Coalition. She is Co-Pastor of The Rooted Community in Granite City, Illinois and one of the founding members of Metro East Mutual Aid, an all-volunteer network working toward a world in which everyone's needs are met. She is very compassionate about the well-being of others and the betterment of society. Sharon is a wife, mom, grandmother, animal lover, and stubborn idealist.
Luke Jenkins
Board of Directors
Pastor Luke presently serves as a board member of the Metro East Organizing Coalition. He is the
Senior Pastor of Love Fellowship Christian Church South. He is very passionate about street outreach ministry and being a ministry of presence for youth and young adults. Pastor Luke help lead and coordinate Metro East Organizing Coalition's Peace Walks in E. St. Louis area hotspots. He is a trusted community source and sought after by individuals of all walks of life. He is a dedicated and hard working leader. He is a gun violence reduction interventionist and an advocate for victims of violence.
James McDaniel Sr.
Board of Directors
Bishop McDaniel presently serves as a board member of the Metro East Organizing Coalition. He received much of his formal education early on in Memphis and Friars Point, Mississippi. Bishop McDaniel graduated from East St. Louis Senior High School in 1974 as class Valedictorian. He also graduated from Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville with concentrations in Business Administration, Biology and Chemistry.
Bishop McDaniel has a deep passion for training and teaching. He is an accomplished conference teacher and trainer. He has been a member of Rising Star Church since 1971. Bishop McDaniel is striving to make an effective impact in the community by helping to develop "Community Pride," Spiritual Renewal and Revitalization, to help build the old wastes, and help cause former desolation to rise up. He was elected Bishop on Sunday, December 5, 2010, of Rising Star and New Birth Ministries Worldwide, Inc., and Unified Leadership Affiliation, International.
Bishop McDaniel is married to Lady Charlotte J. (Davis) McDaniel who is without equivocation his most precious jewel.
Bishop McDaniel serves as President of the Clyde C. Jordan Food Bank, Inc., Board of Directors.
