Economic Programs Staff
Dedrick Muhammad
Dedrick Muhammad is the Senior Director of Economic Programs for the NAACP and Executive Director of the Financial Freedom Center. As Senior Director, Mr. Muhammad's responsibilities include the totality of work coming from the NAACP Economic Department, overseeing the Financial Freedom Center as well as leading the NAACP Economic Department in meeting the great economic challenges faced by the nation.
Lillian D. Bowie
Lillian Bowie is the Director of Economic Research and Strategic Partnerships for the NAACP. As Director of Economic Research and Strategic Partnerships, Ms. Bowie's responsibilities include working in the areas of economic equality and education by cultivating strategic partnerships to provide valuable resources to communities suffering from the current mortgage crisis and providing research insights to help the unemployed.
Mjiba Frehiwot, MSW, Ph.D.
Mjiba Frehiwot, MSW, Ph.D. is the Director of Education and Training for the NAACP. As Director of Education and Training, Ms. Frehiwot's responsibilities include coordinating the national Economic Education Strategy. This includes managing our Financial Freedom Campaign which is comprised of 21 units, coordinating the Economic Departments presence at State Conference and Regional Conventions and coordinating all curriculum creation, resources guides and tool kits and the implementation of these tools. Additionally, Dr. Frehiwot is the primary liaison between the Economic Department and our Unit leadership.
Dorcas R. Gilmore
Dorcas R. Gilmore is Assistant General Counsel in the NAACP Legal Department where she represents the NAACP National Office and assists its over 1200 branches and units nationwide. In this role, she advances the NAACP’s racial justice advocacy mission on issues of economic justice and provides corporate counsel. Also, Ms. Gilmore serves as the Director of Community Economic Development in the NAACP Economic Department where she oversees efforts to promote the creation and growth of small businesses, individual wealth building primarily through matched savings accounts, and community asset building.
Charles R. Lowery, Jr.
Charles R. Lowery, Jr. is the Director of Fair Lending and Inclusion for the NAACP. As Director of Fair Lending and Inclusion, Mr. Lowery's responsibilities include working on consumer financial services issues such as predatory lending and asset building; monitoring the activities of financial institutions which have signed on the NAACP Responsible Mortgage Lending Principles; and working with NAACP units on consumer finance advocacy campaigns.
Dawn Chase
Dawn Chase is the Manager of Diversity and Inclusion at the NAACP. As the Manager of Diversity and Inclusion, Ms. Chase's responsibilities include cultivating partnerships and programs that create opportunity for enhancing the economic stability of people of color. She is also responsible for managing over fifty corporate partnerships that support our corporate fairness and diversity initiative.
Mellisa Gopie
Mellisa Gopie is the Office Manager for the Financial Freedom Center and Executive Assistant to the Senior Director. As the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the Senior Director, Ms. Gopies responsibilities include providing support to the Senior Director, managing travel requests, accounts payable, meetings & events and the internship program.
Nicole E. Kenney
Nicole E. Kenney is the Communications Associate, Economic Programs for the NAACP. Ms. Kenney manages the Economic Departments’ communications including publications, communications operations and online presence to advance the Department’s advocacy strategies at the national, regional and local level.
Yehwroe D. Sinyan
Yehwroe D. Sinyan is the Economic Education Coordinator for the NAACP. As Economic Education Coordinator, Ms. Sinyan's responsibilities include providing support to the department by assisting in the development and implementation of policy tools, activities, trainings and programs to increase the capacity of NAACP units and to promote the advocacy agenda and economic education of the NAACP Economic Program.
