Eight CLA Alumni Recognized in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal 50 Black Leaders List
Eight CLA alumni were listed in the Business Journal's 50 Black Leaders You Should Know in the Minneapolis/St. Paul Area list. Big congratulations to Gabrielle Grier, Ethelind Kaba, Anissa Keyes, Lea Olsen, Abdul Omari, Ashely Booker, Delphanie Daniels, and Lisa Sayles-Adams for this memorable achievement! Read and learn about each of their careers here in Minneapolis/St. Paul below.
Gabrielle Grier serves as chief innovation officer with the African American Leadership Forum in Minneapolis. She was managing director at Juxtaposition Arts, a youth art and design education center in North Minneapolis, and more to help implement change in strategic vision, program development and organizational culture.
Ethelind Kaba became executive director of the Ann Bancroft Foundation in September 2021. The foundation, based in St. Paul, "makes transformational opportunities available to K-12 girl-identifying youth through grants, mentorship and ongoing development opportunities," according to Kaba.
Anissa Keyes is founder of Arubah Emotional Health Services, The Healing Center and the Northside Epicenter. She founded Minneapolis-based Arubah, which provides outpatient mental health services, in 2012. She was named a Business Journal Women in Business honoree in 2019.
Lea Olsen is a broadcaster for Bally Sports North, covering the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx. She's also a keynote speaker and played Division I basketball with the University of Minnesota, where she studied journalism and mass communication.
Abdul Omari is founder and principal of AMO Enterprise, a consulting firm that helps people thrive in team settings and understand and develop their leadership skills. His clients have included General Mills Inc., Target Corp. and Best Buy Co. Inc. He also was a Business Journal 40 Under 40 honoree in 2020.
Ashley Booker became CEO of YWCA St. Paul in August 2023. Prior to that, she held leadership roles at Planned Parenthood North Central States, the Minnesota Office of Higher Education, and University of St. Thomas.
Delphanie Daniels is community engagement director at Richfield-based Best Buy Co. Inc. She also sits on The BrandLab board and is involved with the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Lisa Sayles-Adams will become the Minneapolis Public School District's new superintendent this month. She has served as a teacher and principal in the district and has held leadership positions in St. Paul schools. She was most recently superintendent at Eastern Carver County Schools.
