Bob Powell, Partner at James Moore & Co., CPAs and long-time nonprofit advocate passed away on July 17, 2018. His commitment to our human services sector was unparalleled including playing instrumental roles in the establishment of many staples we all rely on today: Strategic Nonprofit Alliance Partnership (SNAP), UPHS and INIE.
In honor of Bob Powell and his legacy, UPHS will award three (3) Bob Powell Memorial Scholarships to selected and eligible participants to attend the UPHS Annual Excellence in Nonprofit Management & Leadership Conference. Each participant will be required to complete an application to include letters of recommendation and the UPHS Education & Training Committee with support from The Powell Family will select the recipient annually.
Desmond Meade is a formerly homeless returning citizen who overcame many obstacles to eventually become the President of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Chair of Floridians for a Fair Democracy, and a graduate of Florida International University College of Law.
As President and Executive Director of FRRC, which is recognized for its work on voting and criminal justice reform issues, Desmond led the FRRC to a historic victory in 2018 with the successful passage of Amendment 4, a grassroots citizen’s initiative which restored voting rights to over 1.4 million Floridians with past felony convictions. Amendment 4 represented the single largest expansion of voting rights in the United States in half a century and brought an end to 150 years of a Jim Crow-era law in Florida.
Presently leading efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities across the state, and to reshape local, state, and national criminal justice policies, Desmond have recognized for his leadership and the impact of his work. He has been named as Time Magazine 100 Most Influential People in the World and recognized as Floridian and Central Floridian of the Year.
A sought-after speaker, Desmond has made numerous appearances on radio and television, and has spoken before national organizations such as the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and Bread for the World. Desmond has testified before Congressional members and staffers and was a part of a delegation to the United Nations where he gave testimony regarding disenfranchisement in Florida. Desmond orchestrated a historic meeting at the White House between returning citizens and the President Obama’s administration. He has appeared on numerous shows such as Al-Jazeera, Democracy NOW, MSNBC with Joy Ann Reid, FOX News with Dana Perino and Tucker Carlson, Samantha Bee, and All In with Chris Hayes. He is a guest columnist for the Huffington Post in which one of his articles about the death of Trayvon Martin garnered national attention. Desmond has been featured in several newspaper and magazine articles and was chosen as a “Game Changer” by Politic 365, as well as being recognized as a “Foot Soldier” on the Melissa Harris-Perry Show on MSNBC. Desmond is married and has five beautiful children.
Twitter: @desmondmeade
2477 Tim Gamble Place, Suite 200 Tallahassee, FL 32308-4386
