Our Story
We as Black mothers came together on August 7, 2016 for our first Black Mothers Forum meeting.
Our focus was on addressing the many concerns about the safety and welfare of our Black children, especially our Black sons. We want to dismantle the systems that have adversely impacted our Black community, and begin to create safe and supportive environments for our children and families.
Our amazing team of parent advocates are committed to helping others. We take our convictions and turn them into action. Think you would be a good fit?
Our children need you.
Black Mothers Forum Core Team
Debora Colbert
Debora Colbert
Debora Colbert
Debora Colbert serves as our Executive Director and Governing Board Member. Debora is a wife, mother and grandmother with a passion to see our children's socio-emotional well-being in tact and have the freedom to operate in academic excellence.
Gwen Payton
Debora Colbert
Debora Colbert
Gwen Payton serves as a Governing Board Member and one of our Central and South Phoenix Lead Parent Advocate. Gwen is a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother with a passion to see our children safe, supported and free to pursue their academic endeavors.
Janice Varnado
Debora Colbert
Janice Varnado
Janice Varnado serves as a Governing Board Member and is our West Valley Parent Lead Advocate. Janice is a wife, mother and grandmother with a passion to see our children treated with dignity, respect and free to pursue academic excellence.
Donna Foster
Donna Foster
Janice Varnado
Pastor Donna Foster serves as a Core Team Member and Leads our Prayer and Wellness Team. Pastor Foster is a wife, mother and grandmother with a heart for children in Foster Care and has passionately volunteered in Foster Care communities and agencies to make sure these children are socio-emotionally in tact and academically successful.
Janelle Wood
Donna Foster
Janelle Wood
Janelle Wood is the Founder and serves as the President on the Governing Board. Janelle is a wife and mother with a passion to see that all of our Black sons and daughters are free to live in safe and supportive communities.
Dawn Demps
Donna Foster
Janelle Wood
Dawn Demps serves on our Core Team and Co-Lead of the Education Committee. Dawn is a Doctoral Student at Arizona State University and also serves as our intern. Dawn is a mother with a passion to see all Black children know their history, value their identity and free to live a full and fruitful life.
Claudia Rodriguez
Claudia Rodriguez
Claudia Rodriguez
Claudia Rodriguez serves on our Core Team and is our Part-Time Administrator. Claudia is a mother with a passion to see her Black son have the opportunity to learn in a safe and supportive learning environment.
Shannon Hayes
Claudia Rodriguez
Claudia Rodriguez
Shannon Hayes serves on our Governing Board and is the East Valley Parent Lead Advocate. Shannon is a mother with a passion to see our Black community gain financial literacy and pursue economic freedom.
Brittany Bonner
Claudia Rodriguez
Brittany Bonner
Brittany Bonner serves on our Core Team and is the Co-Lead of our Education Committee. Brittany is a mother with a passion to see all Black children have an opportunity to be authentic and pursue academic excellence free from labels and punitive disciplinary practices.