2021 Event & G4Ed Foundation Sponsors

Paul Jenkins

Manager at World Acceptance Corporation

We’re thrilled to have this well-known leader of men as one of our conference speakers. A true entrepreneur, Mr. Jenkins is always looking for new and innovative ways to succeed. He is Guaranteed to achieve succes in whatever he does.

Santi Benita Smothers

President at Battle Fields of Life Foundation

Ms. Smothers just so happened to meet a couple of our Greeks 4 Ed board members at our last Educators’ Greek Gala at the Renaissance Montgomery, AL. Her and her dynamic set of sisters couldn’t wait to take part officially in this year’s Spring event. She currently resides in Memphis TN and is the Founder/Executive Director of Battlefields of Life Foundation. We live with battles every day in our life, be it worry, abuse, violence, etc. Her service addresses our communities need to help our young adolescents and young adults in the field of domestic violence, drug abuse, shoplifting, proper etiquette, and conflict resolution. Her motto is "Each One, Teach Many.” Let’s welcome Santi and her family here to Montgomery, AL.

Brandon Cleggs-Burns

Career Coach

Brandon was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and graduated from Forest Hill High School in 2003. He is married to the love of his life, Nicole Cleggs-Burns, and they have two children: Abigail Elise and Olivia Grace. Brandon joined the U.S. Army in 2010 and deployed to Iraq where he served as a combat medic. He was discharged honorably after 4 years of service, but decided to enlist as a Reservist with the 5th Medical Brigade in Birmingham, Al. After serving 7 years in the Army, Brandon graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with a degree in Psychology. He worked for the Alabama Department of Human Resources as a Child Abuse and Neglect Investigator. With a heart to serve people and a Godly purpose driven life, Brandon prayed for a job that would allow him to serve his purpose. He is currently fulfilling that purpose as a Career Coach at the Montgomery Campus of Hope Inspired Ministries.

Dr. G. Lucian Ward

Pastor/Teacher/Scholar

Is a native of Dothan, Alabama where he successfully completed his general education in the Dothan City School System. Bro. Ward initiated into the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. on April 09, 1990, in the Gamma Beta Chapter housed at the Alabama State University in Montgomery, Alabama. He is a Golden Life Member and a member of the Outstanding Sigmas of the Southern Region! Bro. Ward presently serves as immediate past chapter president of the Epsilon Theta Sigma Chapter in the Montgomery River Region Area.
Bro Ward believes in being a servant/leader to humanity and shares his gifts of leadership with his community. Besides being active in his fraternity he is also active in the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Montgomery Chapter, The Cosmopolitan Civic Club and Club Aficionado. Professionally he is affiliated with the National Correctional Education Association, National Education Association, Alabama Education Association and serves and president of the Ingram State Technical College local education association.  Bro Ward also serve faculty senate chairman of the Ingram State Technical College in Deatsville, Alabama.
Bro Ward has served for the last twenty-two years as senior pastor of the Branch Grove Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. He also serves as the speech instructor at Ingram State Technical College, the college that services a totally incarcerated student body in the Alabama Community College System.

Krishula Edwards, MPA, MS, ALC, CCTP

Edwards Essentials, LLC (Owner & Counselor)

Krishula Edwards is a native of Montgomery. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington Magnet High School. After high school she attended Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) in Tallahassee, Florida where she received her bachelor’s in political science and her first master's in Public Administration. In 2016 she received a second Masters of Counseling Psychology in Clinical Mental Health from Troy University.

She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and a member of the local Beta Nu Omega Chapter. Also, in the community she is a part of Junior League of Montgomery, Mayor Steven Reed's Young Professional Council, National Council of Negro Women, Kiwanis Club, Community Action Partnership of Middle Alabama, and the Montgomery Area Mental Health Authority.

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She is the President of the Alabama Mental Health Counseling Association under the Alabama Counseling Association, where she is leading the statewide organization to help break the stigma against mental health. Krishula specializes in abuse/ trauma. She also owns her own company called Edward Essentials, LLC, where she provides counseling, motivational speaking, public speaking, notary services and consulting services.