Advisory Board
Arielle M. Brandy
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
A native Hoosier, Arielle Brandy was born and raised in the Rust Belt city of South Bend, IN, where she resides. A graduate of Indiana State University, she received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. A proud Afro-Latina voting rights advocate and community organizer, she is passionate about
A native Hoosier, Arielle Brandy was born and raised in the Rust Belt city of South Bend, IN, where she resides. A graduate of Indiana State University, she received her Bachelor's degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies. A proud Afro-Latina voting rights advocate and community organizer, she is passionate about empowering Hoosier women, youth into leadership and mentoring. She has become her community’s go-to on policies impacting the Black & Brown communities, voting rights, voter registration and voter education. She is the co-founder of Vote Safe Indiana, a bipartisan non-profit with the mission of improving Safe Voting Rules amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Arielle was most recently the Indiana State Director for the Pete for America Campaign. As State Director alongside her Pete for Indiana team, she led volunteer & voter outreach efforts throughout the state to help drive success in each Early State primary and build a strong coalition of elected officials, candidates, organization and party official support for Pete Buttigieg in the state of Indiana. Arielle spearheaded national surrogate programs to include voices of supporters/validators from South Bend & Indiana. She also traveled across the country as a National surrogate speaking directly about Pete’s leadership as her Mayor, advocating for Pete’s policies that would directly improve the lives of Black & Brown America.
Before hitting the national campaign trail, Arielle led the exploratory committee as Political Director for Senator Eddie Melton’s bid for Indiana Governor. For 3 years, Arielle served as the Democratic Board Member of Voter Registration for St. Joseph County, where she maintained the voter rolls, ensured every voter in St. Joseph County had access to the ballot and oversaw the elections as an Election Administrator and as a Regional Field Director in 2016 for the Indiana Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign for John Gregg for Governor, Evan Bayh for U.S Senate and Lynn Coleman for Congress in the 2nd Congressional District. As an organizer in 2016, she co-founded the St. Joseph County African American Democratic Coalition. Alongside her membership, she continues to advocate for issues that affect the Black & Brown community through community forums and initiatives. She strives everyday to bridge the gap between government and the community.
Since 2011, Arielle has served the state of Indiana as an Executive Board Member for Indiana Young Democrats. She was most recently elected as President of IYD and previously served as the National Committeewoman working to elect Young Democrats and candidates that represent their values elected into office while also getting young people engaged in the political process. In 2019, Arielle was appointed to serve on the Young Democrats of America National Convention planning committee, overseeing the convention’s training, speakers and panel discussions that brought over 1,000 Young Democrats, Presidential candidates and national trainers from all over the country to Indianapolis, IN.
Standing strong with women’s rights and advocating for women’s healthcare accessibility & policies, she now serves on the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Indiana/Kentucky Political Action Committee (PPINK PAC). Arielle graduated from the inaugural class of Hoosier Women Forward, a Democratic women’s leadership organization. She now serves on the HWF board helping women across the state of Indiana get elected into office, hold leadership positions, find their purpose and have a seat at every table.
Arielle was awarded ‘Leader Under 40’ by Mayor Pete Buttigieg and the City of South Bend in 2019. She serves her South Bend community as Political Action Chair of the South Bend Branch of the NAACP, Committee Member for the Westside Memorial Day Parade Scholarship Fund, a member of Latino Young Professionals Network, IDAAC South Bend Chapter and a Press committee member of ‘Not In My Community’ Campaign- combating the use and distribution of synthetic drugs in her community.
A full time single mother to two beautiful daughters Madisyn and Harlyn, Arielle strives to ensure that our communities are educated, empowered, full of diverse leadership and inclusive policies not only now but for future generations to come.
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Eugene C. Staples, Sr. Affectionately known as theREV is founder and Lead trainer for LeaderSHIFT Training and Development (L.T.D) providing leadership training to businesses, schools, churches and non-profits to help them fully reach productivity potential. Staples is a seasoned YouTuber on “ReCharge with theREV Broadcast”, host of Rolli
Eugene C. Staples, Sr. Affectionately known as theREV is founder and Lead trainer for LeaderSHIFT Training and Development (L.T.D) providing leadership training to businesses, schools, churches and non-profits to help them fully reach productivity potential. Staples is a seasoned YouTuber on “ReCharge with theREV Broadcast”, host of Rolling with theREV a broadcast program featuring motivational messages, music and dialog to encourage and engender positive life change Live from Las Vegas, USA. This nationally syndicated show features host Minister/Teacher/Motivator Eugene C. Staples, Sr. and a team of contemporary life changers and commentators.
Staples is committed to providing not only life changing and challenging messages of excellence, he also strives to provide teaching and training that puts Leadership Development into service within the community. Staples, is founder of The C.H.A.I.N. (The Community Helping Advance and Improve Neighborhoods). The C.H.A.I.N. is an alliance between community partners such as ministries of faith, members of the police and fire departments, city government officials, representatives in education, professionals from mental health industry and senior citizens. This alliance was formed to bring community members together to brainstorm and come up with “next steps for solving the problems that plague our communities”. With the input of the greater community its goal is to develop sustainable grassroot strategic plans that make the community a better place to live, work, worship and serve.
Staples former experience includes Founder/Executive Director/CEO of S.A.F.E. Entertainment (Staples & Associates Family Educational Entertainment) non-profit company which specializes in empowering America’s youth utilizing multi-media. Founder of Capernaum Community Church in South Bend, Indiana. He did so after seeing the need to provide a place where persons of all ages, backgrounds, nationalities and abilities could be encouraged to develop their full spiritual, emotional and physical potential through innovative forms of worship.
Staples has served as Senior Pastor for congregations in the Mid-west. He served for two and a half years as Senior Pastor of the 190 year-old historic Second Baptist Church of Dowagiac, Michigan, Lead Pastor of a Southern Baptist Church Plant Capernaum for three years, served nearly seven years as Senior Pastor of Southwind Immanuel Church in Michigan City, Indiana, Chaplain of Alford’s Mortuary in South Bend, Indiana and on-air-talent for LeSea Broadcasting contributing to LeSea’s international television broadcast. Pastor Staples is founder & President of S.A.F.E. (Staples & Associates Family Educational) Ministries. The Reverend is well versed in all aspects of pastoral care and is a self-published author.
Social justice work is no stranger to Pastor Staples as he is the former Clergy Chair of T.A.P. (Transforming Action thru Power) in South Bend, Indiana; an affiliate of the Gamaliel Foundation. T.A.P. is a faith power-based organization that utilizes community-based strategies to address such persistent problems as low educational attainment, poverty, inadequate health care, violence, and limited civic engagement.
Eugene & Kelly have been married for over 30 years and have five wonderful children Eugene, Sidney, Gabrielle (their only daughter), Sam and Adam.
All in all, Eugene C. Staples, Sr. has dedicated his life’s mission to helping build Leaders by “accepting them where they are but challenging them to get to where they are suppose to be by engaging young people, adults and families in the examination and correction of the most critical issues of their lives.”
“I just want to use the to empower individuals and families for healthy development of mind, body and spirit: helping those who have faltered to get back on course while helping all become positive, productive contributors to the communities in which they live and serve – by teaching everyone that the affirmative application of the life lessons & experiences combined with commitment to community involvement can make this world a better place to live, learn and share”
Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Dr. Mark A. Smith
Pastor Eugene C. Staples, Sr.
Dr. Mark A. Smith
Many years ago now Mark Smith was a factory worker who wanted to do more. He completed his BSBA while on the shop floor, and went on to obtain his MBA, starting his own consulting firm. As a consultant to business for over 20 years, He started and administrated college accredited corporate universities when there were still less than 100
Many years ago now Mark Smith was a factory worker who wanted to do more. He completed his BSBA while on the shop floor, and went on to obtain his MBA, starting his own consulting firm. As a consultant to business for over 20 years, He started and administrated college accredited corporate universities when there were still less than 100 in the country. This led to his obtaining his doctorate in education, with a concentration in the Community College. His work centered on his practical application of new ideas about getting groups to act as one, setting the world record for improvement. Dr. Mark A. Smith is today a writer/director/producer of film, with an eye towards acting and public speaking. He has multiple film projects with such stars as Laurence Fishbone, Jesse Metcalfe, Danny Trejo, Jaci Velasquez, Milo Gibson, and more. Today his focus is on change, through the use of media, that aligns with two principles: Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind; and love your neighbor as yourself. He encourages everyone to pursue the hope of perfect love right where they are, to leave the world a better place than they found it.