Emerging Leader of the Year Honoree
Charnell Ferguson
Director of Constituent Services
Office of at-large
councilmember mel franklin
Charnell Ferguson is a native of Prince George’s County, Maryland. She graduated from Bowie State University with a degree in Business Management and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration. Charnell is the founder of the Diamond Foundation Inc. a non-profit geared to help the community and build self-esteem in youth while raising awareness on mental health. She later re-established the NAACP at Bowie State University at the end of her sophomore year and found her love for activism, serving as the Bowie State NAACP President. Later, she became the president of the Maryland State NAACP Youth and College division. In 2017, Charnell was selected to be a part of the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Emerging Leaders program where she had the opportunity to intern with Rep. John Conyers (MI-13), who was responsible for Michigan’s 13th Congressional District) on Capitol Hill. Her hard work earned her awards and citations in her efforts to improve and serve her community including a citation from State elected officials and US Senator Benjamin Cardin in 2018. Charnell has been on many panels and has even been featured in local media outlets speaking out against injustice.
One of her most significant accomplishments was leading a state NAACP press conference on the hate crime against her classmate Second Lieutenant Richard Collins III. In 2018, Charnell was selected to be in the inaugural class of the NAACP Next Gen program and became the Region 7 Chair for the NAACP Y&CD. Charnell also was elected to the National Board of Directors for the NAACP as a Region 7 Youth Board Member. During her tenure, she sat on several committees tackling various issues associated with mental health, criminal justice, international affairs, and raising awareness on political/advocacy issues. Charnell has worked in the office of Congressman Hoyer, Del. Barnes, and currently works as the Director of Constituent Services for Councilmember At-Large Mel Franklin. She was selected by the Prince George’s County Social Innovation Fund to be a Fortyunder40 cohort member in 2019 and a New Leader’s Council fellow in 2020. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated. As she continues to thrive in her community her favorite quote is “to be in control of your own destiny.”
Emerging Leader of the Year Nominees
Jonathan Harris
Founder
Million Paths Foundation, Inc.
There are many ways that you can describe Jonathan C. Harris. From a TEDx speaker to the inaugural Mr. Maryland U.S. United, to a 100-pound weight loss transformation, Jonathan has been making waves nationally since the age of ten. Born and raised in Fort Washington, Maryland, Jonathan has received over 100 honors including the Prince George’s County, MD 40 Under 40, and the first-ever winner of the DMV Renaissance Author of the Year Award.
He is also a passionate philanthropist and organizer who provides free community events and raises money to provide food, clothes, school supplies, and toys through his non-profit, the “Million Paths Foundation.” During his time working in higher education, he has also raised over one million dollars for HBCU advancement through developing minority male initiatives, creating food pantries, and mentoring several emerging leaders to enhance their student success.
In his free time, he enjoys walking, reading, spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and playing video games. Jonathan's philosophy is "There are a million paths to the life you truly want", so he strives to help others make the best choices to turn their dreams into reality. If you’re excited about collaborating to create the life you truly want, visit www.authorjon.com.
Vince Harrington
Executive Director,
Maryland Democratic Party
Vincent D. Harrington, MPA is a campaign strategist, coalition builder, and leader in community relations with significant experience building partnerships across corporate, legislative, and community stakeholders. Vincent is the founder of Legacy Solutions Group LLC, a positioning and branding firm that develops strategic relationships from various companies based on their needs and growth plans. Currently, Vincent serves as the Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party.
Before serving in his most recent capacity, Vincent worked for fifteen years in politics demonstrating a strong commitment to improving a variety of issues including healthcare delivery, supporting unions, strengthening schools, unlocking opportunities for black families and supporting seniors. As a Constituent Services Specialist for Congresswoman Donna Edwards (D-MD 4th District) & Community Relations Officer for Prince George’s County Government, Vincent was able to create and validate solutions for improving the quality and efficiency of residents in this region.
Recognizing the economic drivers behind legislative reform, Vincent leveraged his competencies having worked on Capitol Hill and County Government to drive strategies that positively impacted the intersection of policy and delivery. To augment these professional experiences, Vincent obtained an MPA from Bowie State University having served as President of Pi Alpha Alpha during his two years.
The combination of his educational and professional experiences within the political sphere provided the framework necessary for Vincent to successfully operate as Political Director for the Wes Moore for Maryland Gubernatorial campaign. He managed several key initiatives in the historic election of Wes Moore, Maryland’s first African American governor. Vincent’s mission through his work is to provide a voice to the voiceless while simultaneously providing a pathway for others to get involved in the political process. When he is not moving at the speed of politics, you can find Vincent mentoring young men from his alma mater, The University of Maryland, College Park or participating in local community service projects.
Albert T. Lewis
Principal
Largo High School
Albert T. Lewis is an 18-year educator in the D.C.-Metropolitan Area. Mr. Lewis currently serves as Principal of Largo High School in the Prince George’s County Public School (PGCPS) system. Prior to the principalship, he served the District of Columbia Public School System at Benjamin Banneker Academic High School, the top-ranked public high school in Washington, D.C., as an Assistant Principal. Prior to Banneker, Mr. Lewis spent the first fourteen years of his career with Prince George’s County Public Schools as an English Teacher, Debate Coach, and Assistant Principal.
In 2013, Mr. Lewis was awarded “Teacher of the Year'' for PGCPS. Subsequently, he co-founded the Male Educator Network of Prince George’s County Public Schools (MENofPGCPS) to address bringing more qualified men of color into teaching and educational leadership.
Currently, Mr. Lewis is a Doctoral Candidate at the University of Maryland College Park, where he is studying School System Leadership, with a focus on addressing social and emotional learning gaps to better assist Black boys in their transition to high school.
Albert, and his wife, Shaundace, have been married since 2015 and have two children, Kennedy, 18, and Albert, Jr., 7.