For over 31 years, Sabrina has been involved in her community, dedicating her time, energy, and resources to those in need. She consistently provides clothing, shoes, and hygiene assistance to children, to ensure that they have the essentials throughout the year. Sabrina also prepares and serves meals for holidays and weekly during the summer, often at her own expense, to create a welcoming environment for community members. She recognizes the lack of recreational facilities in the neighborhood; so, she organizes activities for local families and children, including everything from summer BBQs to cool drinks and snacks left in coolers for kids who walk by.

Beyond her direct service, Sabrina continues to be a passionate advocate for her community. She regularly speaks before the city council, urging them to address the community’s need for a safe space to host events and recreational activities. She shows up at local school football games and other events, offering help wherever she can. Sabrina’s motivation is a result of her own childhood, in which she needed extra support, and she is very inspired by the smiles she is able to bring to others. Some of the children she first supported are now well over 40. Sabrina hopes to continue pushing for greater resources, especially from the city council, to better serve her community.

Mr. Leonard Jackson is a giving, caring, selfless, compassionate, charismatic person who believes in being the change you want to see. Mr. Jackson and the Krewe of Legends (KOL), actively participates in community activities such as their annual back-to-school drive to provide backpacks, school supplies, medical screenings, etc. to underprivileged youths in Ward II. They also host their annual veteran’s drive to collect personal hygiene items and prepare meals for veterans who have fallen on hard times. Mr. Jackson and the KOL volunteer their time yearly to provide meals for the colleges who participate in the Martin Luther King Parade and the Battle of the Bands event. Ward II’s annual Juneteenth Celebration in John Henry Becks Park is also an event that Mr. Jackson diligently participates in.

Mr. Jackson, the Exalted Ruler of the Vernon Gilbert Elks Lodge, is working assiduously to revitalize the Elks image by partnering with Ms. Janine Harges and other vendors to host a Community Health Fair in June which brought members of the community together to educate them on health and well-being while providing the youth with fun activities. Other services such as free notary are offered by the lodge to help those in need. Mr. Jackson is a great leader in Ward II, his willingness to serve has motivated others to give back and to restore pride in the community.

Exclusive Dining & Catering Co., LLC was established in May 2015. They began with a focus of catering large and small events. Since its inception, their services have expanded into Gourmet Meals To-Go, Spice Distribution, Culinary Education, Franchising and Consulting. They rebranded to DEM DAM BURGERS in 2021 after opening their 2nd location at The Outlets of MS Dec 2020. Their future goals include expanding to 5 more locations and franchising 10 by 2026.

During the beginning of the Pandemic in 2020, Chef Sherman and Brandy coordinated a community giveaway of essential items servicing over 50 families in need. DEM DAM BURGERS also became a Disaster Recovery Hub during the tornadoes that devastated the city of Moss Point, MS. DEM DAM BURGERS received a Grant from Mississippi State University and the East Biloxi Community Collaborative to facilitate a Culinary Education program for at-risk Youth. DEM DAM BURGERS has also conducted an annual Thanksgiving food giveaway for the needy since opening its doors in 2018. Chef Sherman regularly volunteers at the Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence and they often donate services to organizations such as Moore Community House, Moss Point High School Marching Band, South MS Housing Authority and multiple law enforcement agencies across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Retired Biloxi NAACP President James A. Crowell III has been an exemplary defender and champion for the East Biloxi community for over five decades and recognized as one of the most respected civil rights leaders in South Mississippi’s African American community. Crowell parlayed his vision and tenacity from a prolific 34-year career in civil service at Keesler Air Force Base to becoming deeply involved with the Biloxi Branch of the NAACP, working closely under the legendary Dr. Gilbert R. Mason, Sr. Upon Dr. Mason’s retirement, he endorsed Mr. Crowell to be his successor. Mr. Crowell was elected and served 28 years as only the second President of the Biloxi Branch of the NAACP, after Dr. Mason had served 34 years. Under Mr. Crowell’s tenure, membership rose almost twofold to over 250 members. He retired as Biloxi NAACP President in 2022. Mr. Crowell expanded his leadership status on the local front and was also elected to serve as a member of the National NAACP Board of Directors for a total of 16 years. He also served numerous years as Treasurer for the Mississippi State NAACP, working under then-Mississippi State President Derrick Johnson, now the NAACP’s National President. Whenever there was a critical issue taking place in South Mississippi’s Black community, Mr. Crowell was often the first person to reach out to for opinion and advice.

He led in the formation of Save Our Schools (SOS) after East Biloxi’s Nichols Elementary School was closed under protest by the community, fighting until its reopening. Mr. Crowell, a member of First Missionary Baptist Church and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., is a graduate of Robert E. Hunt High School of Columbus, MS. He earned his B.S. in Mathematics from Mississippi Industrial College in Holly Springs, MS. He resides in East Biloxi with his wife, Eula Crowell and is blessed with three children and five grandchildren.

Allytra Perryman shines brightly as a multi-faceted community and civic leader and community advocate, highly respected and recognized as a fervent warrior for the people of East Biloxi and South Mississippi. She has been serving as Program Director for the East Biloxi Community Collaborative (EBCC) since 2016 and is also making valuable contributions in several other capacities. Under Ms. Perryman’s direction, EBCC, consisting of up to 25 grassroots community partners, conducted and released a Community Needs Assessment for East Biloxi in 2019, a document used today as the top benchmark yardstick by Steps Coalition and other groups to plan and design revitalization programs and projects in fostering a viable future for the East Biloxi community. Perryman also led in the founding of EBCC’s Emerging Leaders Executive Program, in collaboration with the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy, that provides critical intense training for local community nonprofits executives and leaders.

As Deputy Director of the Mississippi State Conference NAACP, Perryman works closely with Executive Director Charles Taylor and State President Rev. Robert James in initiating creative, effective and forward-moving programs and strategies for the state office and its over 60 local NAACP branches across the state. Perryman has served for several years as Chair of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coast Wide Celebration Committee, guiding South Mississippi in celebrating the annual federal holiday of the slain civil rights leader. Ms. Perryman also serves on the Board of Commissioners for the South Mississippi Housing Authority and is a member of numerous community organizations in South Mississippi. A native of East Biloxi, Ms. Perryman, in whatever role she takes on, works diligently toward creating a healthy, vibrant and sustainable East Biloxi for its families. She’s “got East Biloxi’s back,” in helping ensure a bright and vibrant future for this historic community, which strives to be built and planned by the community from within.