Who We ARe

Staff Members

Executive Director

williams@thenewrural.org

Williams holds a degree in Family and Consumer Science from the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas and is pursuing a Masters degree in Public Administration. She is from the small Delta town of Elaine, Arkansas. She served as a board member starting as a high school student in 2007 until the time she became a staff member. Williams coordinates member relations, organizes conferences, attends legislative meetings, directs special projects, does strategic planning, directs staff, and maintains the central Arkansas office of the organization.

Southeast Regional Director

broadnax@thenewrural.org

After a career in health care, Broadnax moved back home to the Arkansas Delta to work with youth and help with revitalizing her community. She organizes communities in the four southeast counties of Chicot, Desha, Drew, and Ashley, works with parental engagement, does youth organizing, and is in charge of forming a southeast regional revitalization network. She is an officer of the State PTA organization.

Delta Regional Director

barnett@thenewrural.org

Lincoln has a BS degree in Psychology from Morehouse College in Atlanta and a Master of Divinity from the Memphis Theological Seminary. He is an active community member in Hughes where he attended high school then graduated from the Arkansas School for Science, Mathematics and the Arts. He is a youth minister and after school program director.

North Central Regional Director

mgrandon@thenewrural.org

A graphic artist with 14 years of professional experience in design and production, Matt Grandon helped develop the Ozark Byways and Delta Highway Projects. He designs websites, signs, magazine, logos and organizes chapters in north central Arkansas.

Youth Network Coordinator

webb@thenewrural.org

Candy serves as the Youth Network Coordinator. She feels that she has been blessed to be a part of rural Arkansas my whole life. Her family takes their part in youth leadership very seriously.Candy and her family have volunteered for the past 12 plus years with RCA and Saline County 4-H. She loves being outdoors and discovering all the hidden gems and quirky adventures our state has to offer.

Youth Community Health Worker Program Coordinator

Carleisha Murry is a native of Altheimer, Arkansas, she holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations/Mass Communication from The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a Master’s of Science in Psychology from The University of Phoenix. She is a 2016 graduate of the Black AIDS HIV Research Institute located in Los Angeles, CA. She serves as the Vice-President of The Board of Directors for The Strilite Foundation. For the past 15 years Carleisha has worked with individuals infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. Her professional interest is to educate, empower and enlighten the community concerning holistic health care, retention, linkage to care, adherence as well as reducing the number of new HIV infections. She is also involved in promoting routine HIV testing. Carleisha is passionate about health outreach, research and education. She is a National HIV Conference Facilitator. She is the lead program coordinator for Rural Community Alliance Youth Community Health Worker Program. She is a Faith Based Ambassador as well as a community ally.

Board Members

President

Erma Brown is a retired Ouachita County Administrator for the Arkansas Department of Human Services. She currently serves on Ouachita County Quorum Court as Justice of the Peace, and Ouachita County Enrichment Board. She’s a graduate of Leadership Arkansas (LEADAR) and the Community Development Institute (CDI). She has served as Region 13 School District Representative of the Arkansas School Board Association, President of Stephens School District Board, Vice President of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, member of the Camden Chamber of Commerce Board, Facilitator for Camden Leadership program, President of the Women’s Crisis Center, and appointed by the Governor to serve on the Arkansas Child Abuse Prevention Board.She holds a Master Degree in Counseling and is a proud member of the St. Stephens Missionary Baptist Church.

Vice President

Rickey Lambert is a graduate of Southern Arkansas University with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems. He is employed as a Desktop Support Analyst with Lion Oil Company in El Dorado, Arkansas. Lambert is married to Pamela Boone-Lambert, and they have a son, Ricotta, and a daughter, Jayla. Lambert brings to Rural Community Alliance a passion for and history of service. He has been an alderman for the city of Waldo for the past ten years and has taught Sunday school in his local church. He is a gifted musician, photographer and also a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity.

Secretary

Margaret Elumbaugh has a track record and reputation of successful teaching for 33 years, before retiring in 2022. She taught children at the middle school level in all subject areas, with a strong focus on mathematics. Her philosophy was dedicated to enthusiastic and dynamic teaching as a means of creating and nurturing a lifelong love of knowledge in children. She resides in Batesville, Arkansas, where she looks forward to continued involvement with local schools/programs in her area and across the state.

Treasurer

Jason Hayes has years of experience in the banking field, leading volunteer organizations, and as a mechanical technician. He currently serves as the Director of the Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce.

Board Member

Diann Epps is currently a State Farm Agent in Camden, Arkansas. She has a Masters of Science in Education in Special Education and Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Business Education and minor in Business Administration from Henderson State University. She is currently working on her Doctor of Education and Organization Leadership with Emphasis in Special Education from Grand Canyon University. Diann is a veteran of the US Army and a former teacher in rural Arkansas. She’s currently pursuing a Doctorate of Education in Organization Leadership. Diann has volunteered for years in various community organizations in Camden, AR. She has passion for working with youth.

Board Member

Paulette is a native Arkansan, reared in the Brinkley Public Schools. She loves fishing, reading, and discovering new things and information. She is the mother of three, the grandmother of six, and the wife of Grover Lawson, Sr. for over 40 years. Paulette is a member of 2nd Baptist Church in Little Rock, AR, and is a member of the Leading Ladies of Christ Ministry. She served on the Board of the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame for 15 years, and on the Foundation Fund Board for UALR for three years. She has numerous years of community service experience. She is also a motivational speaker. Paulette holds a bachelor’s degree in Speech Communication and a Master of Applied Psychology degree (with an emphasis in Training & Development) from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is a certified diversity professional and is EQ-i 2.0 and EQ-360 Certified. She has over thirty years of experience in Human Resources management. She has served as a management consultant for over twenty five years, as well as an Adjunct Instructor for Pulaski Technical College and Webster University. She is the President/CEO of L. P. Lawson Consulting, a human resource consulting firm.