30 leaders of the future

Nichole A. Francis, 29, Nashville, associate/public policy advisor, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz law firm; former national field director, Democratic National Committee; former board member, Community Forum and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Memphis.

Nikki A. Bethel, 29, New York, manager, human resources, Home Box Office; former associate, global diversity division, Morgan Stanley; board chair, Museum of Contemporary African Disaporian Arts, Brooklyn; recipient, 2001 Women Who Dare to Be Different award from U.S. Rep. Edolphus Towns; regularly mentors young people and is often motivational speaker during high school career days.

Terrance L. Jones, 28, Canton, Ohio, constituent liaison, Canton mayor's office; board VP, Canton Academy Community School; founder/director, Students Taking Educational Paths (STEP); board member, Stark Co. Family Council, M. L King Commission and Stark Co. Community Action Agency.

Johnita W. Mizelle, 30, Chicago, principal, the Williams Capital Group; board member, National Association of Securities Professionals, N.Y. Chapter; member, NASP Annual Pension Fund Conference Planning Committee, and executive director of Finance & Scholastic Training, NASP Chicago Chapter.

Mister M. Frisby, 29, Philadelphia, author whose self-published novel, Blinking Red Light, led to a two-book deal with Penguin/Riverhead Books; second novel, wifebeater, is now on bookshelves, and rib, motivational book for young men is due out in 2005; founder and head coach, PhatBack Athletics, a boys track club/mentor program that boasts 100 percent college attendance.

Marc Lamont Hill, Ph.D., 26, Philadelphia, assistant professor of urban education, Temple University; lecturer, Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania; former adjunct professor, Arcadia University and Neumann College; curriculum consultant, School District of Pennsylvania and High Tech Charter High School; finalizing Vocab: A Dictionary of HipHop Slang (Optima Books).

Erica N. Nelson, 30, New York, sports manager, NYC2012 (which promotes city's candidacy for 2012 Olympic Games); manages more than 1,800 Olympians and Paralympians worldwide involved in Olympic bid; volunteer assistant basketball coach, Hostos Community College; board member, Women in Sports and Events; co-vice president and board member, Power Play NYC.

Jada Miranda, 28, Los Angeles, vice president, HBO Comedy Programming; tutor and volunteer with Adult Literacy Program and volunteer with the Emma Bewen Foundation for Minority Interests in Media, which mentors students interested in the entertainment industry.

Sirena Hargrove-Leak, Ph.D., 30, Winston-Salem, NC., assistant professor of engineering, Elan University; first African-American female to earn doctorate in engineering at Univ. of South Carolina; recipient, Ford Foundation Dissertation Fellowship for Minorities; patent awarded for membrane flow reversal technique developed as student at North Carolina A&T State University.

Cedric D. Sparks, 29, Birmingham, executive director, Mayor's Office Division of Youth Services; one of 25 leaders admitted to National League of Cities and U.S. Conference of Mayors' 2004 Leadership Academy; Step Team coordinator, 45th Street Missionary Baptist Church; board member, Western Area YMCA, R.E.S.P.E.C.T. and 100 Black Men of Birmingham.