Brenda Joyce Carter
Born September 10, 1954, is 5th of 13 children. Her parents were John H. Canty and Mary S. Wallace. Brenda graduated from high school in Detroit. She attended Michigan State University, Spring Arbor College, and Oakland University. Brenda holds a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in organizational design. She also holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in local government. She is a graduate Fellow of the prestigious Michigan Political Leadership Program. She is also a certified grant writer and fiscal consultant.
Brenda joined the Improved Benevolent Protective Order of Elks in 1975 where she held various local and state positions (including State Directress of Education) and national positions (including Grand Trustee, Grand Auditor and Grand Directress of Public Relations). In 1997 Brenda (along with Phile’ Chionesu and Asia Coney) organized the now historic Million Woman March. Brenda’s involvement with the Million Woman March and the Elks spurred her on a speaking tour around the globe. Brenda traveled around the U.S., North Eastern Africa, Israel, Egypt and extensively in the Caribbean before returning to the United States. It was at one such speaking engagement that she opened for a young Senator from Illinois. In 2008, that young Senator, Barack H. Obama would become the first African American President of the United States of America.
In 1998, Brenda moved to Pontiac Michigan where she immediately began working in her community. She began working with the Pontiac Community School Improvement Team under the leadership of Velma Stephens. In 2003 Brenda programmed Pontiac Northern's robot for the International Championship Huskie Brigade Robotics Team (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology - F.I.R.S.T). She was the past President of District 4’s Citizens District Council and she currently holds the following positions:
- Pontiac School District Board of Education - President
- Michigan Association of School Board of Directors - President
- Michigan Association of School Boards - Past chair of the By-Laws Committee
- Michigan Association of School Boards - Past chair of the Finance Committee
- Council of Urban Boards of Education - Legislative Committee
- National School Board Association - Federal Relations Network Committee
- National School Board Association - Policy and ByLaws Committee
- National School Board Association - Nominating Committee
- Oakland County School Board Association - Legislative Committee
- Pontiac School District Policy Committee - Past Chair
- Tax Increment Finance Authority - Board of Directors - Secretary / Treasurer
- Brownfield Redevelopment Authority - Board of Directors - Secretary / Treasurer
- City of Troy - Former Interim Assistant to the City Manager
- Delta Fortitude Foundation – Board of Directors / Financial Secretary
- Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.- Member
- New Mount Moriah International Church - Member
- Pontiac Democratic Club - Member
- Oakland County Democratic Club - Member
- Michigan Democratic Party - Member
- Women Official’s Network (WON) - Member
- WON Foundation Board of Directors
Brenda plans to pursue her doctorate in education with a concentration in economic development from Oakland University in 2018. She is committed to mitigating educational inequities in school districts with high poverty, by researching successful education systems around the world, starting with Japan.
Brenda is married to Randy Carter, City Councilman of District 4, Pontiac, Michigan. She has six children and seven grandchildren.
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