PRESIDENT

Kenann McKenzie-DeFranza, Ph.D., is an Asociate Professor of Education Practice at Gordon College’s Herschend School of Education. She has served as the inaugural Director of the Generous Listening and Dialogue Center at Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University. Prior to that, Dr. McKenzie served as Director of the Boston University Wheelock Aspire Institute. Her experience includes academic counseling, teaching college and graduate courses, working as an Executive Director at the US Department of Ed., and other positions in education administration, policy or advocacy. Dr. McKenzie founded the Aspiring Spirit Podcast in 2020 and provides professional development on leadership, listening and community. Her publication Learning, Listening and Leading serves as the companion journal to these trainings. In her civic life, this proud wife and mother serves on the Beverly, Massachusetts School Committee. Dr. McKenzie has a BA in Africana Studies from Cornell University, an M.Ed. from the University of Virginia in Social Foundations of Education, and a Ph.D. in Politics and Education from Teachers College, Columbia University. She was elected to serve as N. Shore Branch President from January 2023.

VICE PRESIDENT I & COMMUNICATIONS CHAIR

Having been a member of the NAACP in 2008 when she lived in Kentucky, Natalie appreciated the significance of the NAACP‘s mission to end racism and to create a fair and just society with equality of opportunities for all. More specifically, she had come to realize that a North Shore Branch was needed. Natalie is the Founding President of the Branch. She is originally from New Jersey, holds an MBA from Oxford Brookes University and owns her own communications consultancy firm. She lives in Wenham.

VICE PRESIDENT II

Isis has worked for the U.S. House of Representatives since 2019, most recently as the District Liaison for Congressman Seth Moulton's district office. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in urban planning from Harvard University - Graduate School of Design. Isis was an undergraduate research fellow at the National Center for Student Parent Programs and an Expectant and Parenting Youth Representative with the New York City Administration for Children’s Services. Isis sits on several boards including the North Shore Community Action Program, Harborlight Homes, Green Beverly, and she is currently a Student Parent Advisor at the Aspen Institute where she advocates for two generation success programs at postsecondary institutions. She is a mother of two who graduated with her bachelor’s degree in public policy from Endicott College in 2019. She loves hiking trails with her family.

VICE PRESIDENT III

Kyle is the current Branch Manager for North Shore Bank Enon Street. He has been in banking for eight years. Kyle lives in Beverly with his wife and daughter. Kyle is an active member of the Beverly Rotary Club and the Greater Beverly Chamber of Commerce. He also serves on the boards of Fisher and Fuel and Beverly Main Streets. Kyle is passionate about being a part of the NAACP looks forward to furthering the great message it provides.

HEALTH COMMITTEE CHAIR

Mercy is a north shore resident and a branch founding member. She has worked in healthcare all her adult life in both the clinical and administrative sides. Mercy holds an MBA with a concentration in healthcare from Umass Lowell. She currently works as a healthcare administrator for a medical office. Mercy is very passionate about people and she truly believes that community engagement is key to promoting health equity. This equity is her focus as the health committee chair.

TREASURER

Martha is a lifelong resident of the North Shore, a finance professional and a social justice advocate. She has an MBA from Simmons College Graduate School of Management. Previously, she worked for Fidelity Investments and spent about ten years working in renewable energy. She currently serves as the Director of Finance and Operations for the Community House in Hamilton and has volunteered with local groups including: the Girl Scouts, Buker School PTA and First Parish Church in Beverly, among others. She is currently involved in outreach dinners in Beverly that feed people who are experiencing food insecurity. Martha lives in Wenham.

MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE CHAIR

Arnie Cowan has lived in Beverly most of his life, is married to Nancy and they have 2 grown children Adri and Jacob. Arnie is an active member of Temple B’nai Abraham in Beverly and is on the Social Action Committee. He has also been a long-time volunteer for Family Promise of the Northshore and serves as a volunteer coordinator. He works at HP Inc. and serves on a company-wide racial equity task force. Arnie is passionate about social action and anti-racism and very excited that we now have a branch of the NAACP right here on the Northshore to be involved with.

EDUCATION COMMITTEE CHAIR

Heather Maes is a special education teacher at Hamilton-Wenham Regional School District. Prior to her work in public education at HW, Salem and Swampscott, Heather was an AmeriCorps Massachusetts Promise Fellow. She obtained her M.Ed. from Salem State University in 2016. She also has additional certifications in trauma-focused pedagogy and TESOL. Heather has volunteered for the Hamilton-Wenham Human Rights Coalition and is currently taking coursework through SSU's Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies.

HISTORY COMMITTEE CHAIR

Lauren has worked in museums across Massachusetts for over 20 years. She holds a M.A. in American History from Brandeis University and an M.A. in American and New England Studies from Boston University. She has served as the Marblehead Museum's Executive Director since 2018. Throughout her career, her professional focus has been to study the history of diverse and marginalized members of our communities, and to use the tools museums have to offer (exhibits, living history, and other forms of public history) to share those stories.

HOUSING COMMITTEE CHAIR

Andrew DeFranza is a long-time housing advocate and non-profit leader on the North Shore. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Harborlight Community Partners. Andrew has been active at the local, state, and regional level advocating for Fair Housing Policy encouraging opportunity and choice in all communities on the North Shore. He is a committed husband to Dr. Kenann McKenzie-DeFranza and father to their four children.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE CHAIR

We are looking for a Chair to lead this committee; if you are an active Member interested to learn more, please contact us.