About Us - Muskegon Young Black Professionals

Our Story

Since 2017, Muskegon Young Black Professionals has provided an inspiring and uplifting network of professional and personal opportunities for young black professionals in the Muskegon area and beyond. Meet the board members behind the scene who make our amazing organization possible!

Jocelyn Hines

Founder/Board Chair

Jocelyn Hines was born and raised in Muskegon Heights. She attended Muskegon Heights High School and later went on to Michigan State University to study Social Relations and Policy with a minor in Public Relations. After graduation, Jocelyn worked on several political campaigns including a mayoral and state representative campaign.

Jocelyn has a heart for civic engagement and community service and spends a lot of her free time volunteering. She is the Founder/Chair of Muskegon Young Black Professionals—an organization dedicated to providing social and professional development resources to professionals of color, a board member of United Way of the Lakeshore, a core member of the Health Equity Council, and a member of Delta Sigma Theta. Faith is also important to Jocelyn, and she enjoys serving in her local church.

Jocelyn has also won several awards including the 2022 Grand Rapids Business Journal 40 under40, 2022 West MI Works 20 under 30, 2019 Governor’s Service Award for Youth Volunteer of the Year and Class of 2018 Future 15.

Jocelyn is truly dedicated to building strong diverse communities and making sure all voices are heard and represented. She often serves on committees and boards dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion and will continue to be a voice for young black professionals. Jocelyn still lives in Muskegon and recently completed her master’s degree in Public Administration at Grand Valley State University. She currently works for the Community Foundation for Muskegon County as a Senior Community Investment Officer.

Juwan Smith

Founding Board Member

Juwan Smith is co-founder of the Muskegon Young Black Professionals and a native of Muskegon Heights as well as a proud graduate of Muskegon Heights High School. He continued his education at Michigan State University, where he earned my BA in Psychology.

Currently working at Muskegon Community College as a Student Service Specialist in the Office of the Registrar, Juwan familiarizes and assists students with the tools and resources available to enroll at MCC, as well as navigating admissions, registration, billing, payment, and placement processes. Advocacy and Transparency are tools to success, and Juwan believes it is his duty to help others succeed. He is a hard worker who likes conquering new challenges. In his free time, you can find him at the gym, socializing, or being outdoors. Juwan is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, Incorporated. He plays the trombone and recently joined the jazz band at Muskegon Community College.

Nicole Day

Secretary

Nicole was born and raised in Muskegon Heights, Michigan. She graduated from Muskegon Heights High School and completed her undergraduate studies in Business Management and Human Resources Management at Western Michigan University and Davenport University.

Currently in leadership at Fifth Third Bancorp working in complaint management at the corporate office, Nicole leads a team of expert specialists that manages high level complaints, mitigates risk, and helps to ensure that the bank remains in compliance with federal regulations. She has held a myriad of positions in her 21-year tenure at 5/3 Bank: 13 years in the financial center in customer service and 8 years in operations holding positions in Escalations and now Bancorp Resolution.

Nicole has been an active member of Sigma Alpha Pi, National Society of Leadership and Success since 2018, Teach a Child to Save, Junior Achievement, and preparing taxes for the low income. She serves on the executive boards for the Muskegon Young Black Professionals as secretary, NAACP-Grand Rapids as secretary, and Read Muskegon. She has a desire to teach and empower future generations through financial literacy starting with her 2 boys, Jakari Jr. and JaKobi.

Brandon Davis

Sergeant-At-Arms

Brandon D. Davis, Esq. serves as the Director of the Office of Public Accountability (OPA) for the City of Grand Rapids. As part of that role, Brandon serves as the liaison between public safety and the community, leads the City’s restorative justice initiatives and some of the City’s violence reduction programming. Brandon believes that change, accountability, restorative justice, equity and engagement are keys to ensuring the success of the Office of Public Accountability and the starting blocks of bridging the gap between community and law enforcement.

Brandon has a wealth of public safety and public service experience. Prior to serving as Interim Director of OPA, Brandon served as the Senior Labor Relations Specialist for the City of Grand Rapids. Brandon was also a noted trial attorney in Muskegon County where he handled serious felony cases as a Senior Assistant Prosecutor including, but not limited to, criminal sexual conduct and murder cases. Brandon began his career in his hometown of Detroit, MI where he served as both a defense attorney and prosecutor.

Brandon obtained a Bachelor of Applied Arts in Interpersonal and Public Communication from Central Michigan University in 2007. He then earned a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School in 2010. Brandon also holds certifications from Cornell University in Diversity and Inclusion and Strategic Human Resources Leadership. Brandon is also a graduate of the Urban Core Collective’s Transformational Leaders Program. Brandon was appointed by Governor Whitmer and currently serves on the Michigan Community Corrections Board. Brandon is also a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Brandon is committed to servant leadership and to doing justice at all times.

Darius Mitchell

Vice Chair

Darius Mitchell is a community activist, mentor, business owner and lifelong resident of Muskegon County, who devotes his time to making an impactful and intentional difference in the lives he touches.

Darius graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1997 and he is very proud to be a Tiger. He is also a graduate of Baker College of Muskegon where he majored in Business Administration. Mr. Mitchell serves his community as the Vice Chair of the Muskegon County Democratic Black Caucus, Co-Chair of the Muskegon County Democratic Party Precinct Delegate Committee, Vice Chair of the Muskegon Young Black Professionals, Executive Board Member for Parties in the Park, and as an Executive Board Member of Hackley Community Care.

Darius is the father of two sons, Darron Mitchell (20) and Dillon Mitchell (6), but understands there are sons and daughters that don’t have a father, so he’s volunteered his time as a youth sports coach, mentor, president of a youth organization, and Big Brother. Darius was called to service in the community, because his mission is to serve a very misrepresented demographic group, which are African Americans and specifically African American men. His goal is to become a connection between political activities/issues and the urban community. By accomplishing these goals, he hopes to inspire more African Americans to take up the mantle and become more involved.

His favorite quote is: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best.”

Kiara McCain

Treasurer

Kiara McCain is a native of Muskegon Heights, MI. She received her bachelors of business administration at Western Michigan University (WMU) in 2005 and is currently pursuing a master’s in Organizational Change Leadership from WMU.

Kiara is currently an Inventory Planner/Buyer at Pratt & Whitney in Muskegon, MI. Pratt & Whitney, a United Technologies Company, is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and service of aircraft engines. Prior to joining Pratt & Whitney, Kiara has held purchasing roles at Gordon Food Service (GFS) and Nichols Paper & Supply along with various logistics analyst roles with C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. With over 15 years of experience within Supply chain and procurement, Kiara has a strong history of exceptional analytical and operational skills.

Kiara, a 2022 Future 15 recipient, is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and serves on the fundraising committee and as the Financial Secretary for her local chapter. Kiara also is a Community Investment Panel volunteer for United Way of the Lakeshore.

While analytical & very detail oriented, it is Kiara’s heart and dedication to continuous improvement that stand out as her greatest qualities. One of her life mantras is a statement made by the late and great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, what are you doing for others?”