Educating. Empowering, and Emancipating Black Women

Chair

Adrienne Billings-Smith

Adrienne L. Billings-Smith is a public servant, political leader, and community advocate dedicated to advancing equity, civic engagement, and inclusive leadership. As Vice Chair of the Connecticut Democratic Party and a former West Hartford Town Councilor, she consistently worked to expand access, elevate underrepresented voices, and strengthen pathways for civic participation and political engagement.

Her leadership aligns closely with the mission of Black Catalyst PAC through a deep commitment to empowering Black communities, supporting inclusive leadership, and helping build sustainable political and community infrastructure. Adrienne has helped develop programs and initiatives that foster community dialogue, educate and engage residents, and strengthen connections across diverse communities throughout Connecticut.

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In both public service and community leadership, Adrienne has focused on creating spaces where people feel informed, represented, and empowered to participate in shaping policy and local decision-making. She has championed initiatives related to equity and accessibility, while also supporting organizations and community leaders already doing transformative work on the ground.

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 Adrienne continues to work at the intersection of advocacy, leadership development, and civic empowerment to help build stronger, more inclusive communities and expand opportunities for future generations of Black leaders—particularly Black women—to lead and thrive.

Member

Sonya R Jelks

Growing up in Alabama before relocating to Atlanta, GA, where she completed high school, Sonya Jelks came to the Northeast to attend Syracuse University, where she majored in Anthropology and Management Information Systems and took her first post-college job at CIGNA in Bloomfield. She is the mother of two wonderful daughters, both currently in college, and is also a community advocate and a 3-term city councilor with the City of Meriden. Sonya currently leads the City of Meriden City Council as the Majority Leader, the first woman and minority to hold the position in Meriden.

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Professionally, Sonya has worked as an IT Manager and Project Consultant for over 18 years for Fortune 500 corporations implementing e-commerce solutions while traveling extensively throughout the US and abroad. For her family, Sonya made a career shift to the Connecticut General Assembly as a legislative aide and the Clerk of the Labor Committee, overseeing legislative activities for state legislators. As local and state resource, Sonya's advocacy and focus have been on building strong community partnerships with legislators, businesses, nonprofits, and community members to make lasting changes that help underserved communities and populations. Most recently, Sonya became the Connecticut Director of the non-profit Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), where she supported housing development and policies for the homeless and now works with the Connecticut Department of Housing on the Interagency Council on Homelessness, that seeks to enable collaboration among state agencies to end homelessness in Connecticut.

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In addition to professional experiences, Sonya has extensive community involvement. In her spare time, she serves as a board member of New Opportunities Inc, a nonprofit dedicated to helping vulnerable households. She also a board member of Emerge CT, a women's leadership organization, and she is a founding member of the Black Catalysts PAC. Sonya is also coaches competitive FIRST Robotics teams and mentors students from the Nutmeg Big Brother Big Sister program and the Sustainable CT Meriden internship program. Additionally, Sonya is a Justice of the Peace in the State of CT; she serves on the parish council and lectors at St Luke Parish in Southington. Lastly, Sonya is a member of the Farmington Valley Chapter of the Links, the Meriden Elks, and is a sustaining member of the Junior League of Hartford.

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Member

Christine Bartlett-Josie

Christine Bartlett-Josie is a veteran political strategist, consultant, and community advocate with more than two decades of experience in campaign management, electoral politics, public policy, and coalition-building across Connecticut. A respected force in Democratic politics, she has dedicated her career to expanding political power, representation, and leadership opportunities for Black communities and women, particularly Black women seeking public office. She understands both the challenges and transformative potential of building sustainable political infrastructure that supports candidates beyond Election Day.

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As a founding partner of DNA Campaigns, Christine has managed and advised winning campaigns across Connecticut, from municipal races to statewide office. Her work has contributed to the election of seven mayors, numerous state legislators, constitutional officers, and local leaders throughout the state. Known for her grassroots organizing, fundraising strategy, messaging, and coalition development, Christine has built a reputation for connecting campaigns directly to the communities they serve.

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Christine also served for five years as Board Chair of Emerge Connecticut, where she focused on recruiting, mentoring, and training Democratic women to run for office, with a strong emphasis on supporting women of color. Her leadership helped strengthen the pipeline of Black and Brown women entering Connecticut politics and public service.

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In addition to her political work, Christine currently serves as Connecticut State Director for Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund, where she works at the intersection of environmental justice, public health, and community advocacy. Her work includes coalition-building, legislative strategy, and advancing policies that protect overburdened communities throughout the state.

Christine’s background also includes international and governmental service. She served as a Foreign Service Officer for the Government of Saint Lucia at both the Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the Consulate General of Saint Lucia in New York from 1997 to 2006. During the 2014 and 2020 election cycles, she worked on special assignments with the Connecticut Office of the Secretary of the State, supporting election administration and helping municipalities prepare for secure and accessible elections.

A longtime Connecticut resident originally from Saint Lucia, Christine remains deeply committed to empowering Black political leadership, strengthening civic engagement, and building lasting pathways for the next generation of women leaders in Connecticut politics.

Member

Trina Williams

Trina Williams is a Connecticut community leader, advocate, volunteer, wife, and mother of four adult children dedicated to civic engagement, educational empowerment, and strengthening opportunities within underserved communities.

Her work has long centered on service, mentorship, and advancing equity through grassroots leadership and public engagement. Trina approaches leadership with a deep respect for family, community responsibility, and the importance of using one’s time and voice with purpose.

She has been recognized for her community impact through honors from organizations including the Connecticut Red Cross and the Greater Hartford Chapter of Jack and Jill of America. She currently serves as President of the Farmington Valley (CT) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, and as Eastern Area Co-Chair of Events.

Trina has also served as a robotics coach and judge with FIRST Robotics, helping mentor and encourage young people in STEM education and leadership development.

More recently, Trina has expanded her civic involvement through local town commission work and political engagement, including serving as an elected delegate to the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Her work continues to focus on advocacy, representation, and supporting initiatives that strengthen democratic participation and uplift historically marginalized voices.

Through both volunteerism and civic leadership, Trina remains committed to creating lasting impact in her community while helping inspire the next generation of leaders.

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Member

Gemeem Davis

Vice President and Co-Director of Bridgeport Generation Now and President of Bridgeport Generation Now Votes. Bridgeport Generation Now is a grassroots, resident-led and women-led community organization on a mission to increase civic engagement and dismantle systemic corruption and racism in the city of Bridgeport.

Member

Nuchette Black-Burke

TBD