CONCERNED CITIZENS OF COMPTON - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- CEO
- Managing Director
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Member of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- President of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
Job Titles:
- Founding Director
- Director, Exec. Board Member
Jeanice Johnson is a life-long resident of the City of Compton. She became involved with community engagement activities through her good friend and founder of Concerned Citizens, Leomise Theresa Nazel.
Jeanice recalls the many conversations with Theresa regarding the discontentment of the community with the elected officials. She remembers attending a by invitation only meeting of the Concerned Citizens of Compton during which the founding group was strategizing the next method of dissent of the elected officials. Professor James Johnson was the chair of the President of Concerned Citizens of Compton at the time. She reflected on the enthusiasm she felt, seeing her former college professor as the President of the organization. She decided to join the organization that very same evening, and has been involved since that day in 2000.
Job Titles:
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Member of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Nazel, Founding Director
Job Titles:
- Founding Director
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Member of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Employees of the City of Compton Police
Marilyn Seymore has lived in the City of Compton for over sixty (60) years. She worked for the City of Compton Fire Department for fifteen (15) years, and for the Federal Government for five (5) years.
Marilyn's community activism role was heightened when she became involved with the creation of the organization. Marilyn vividly recalls conversations among her colleagues regarding constant criticism from the community regarding alleged corruption, cronyism, and nepotism amid City's elected officials.
What initially began as a small group of concerned Compton citizens from the Police and Fire Department endeavoring to solve the plight of City government, quickly grew into members of the community joining the group strategizing in ways to "Save Compton". Marilyn fondly recall meeting regularly at the home of one of the employees, and meals being prepared while the group strategized as to what they could do, how far they could reach; while remaining employed with the City.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Board
- Director, Exec. Board Member
Morris McElroy joined the Concerned Citizens of Compton in 2010.
Job Titles:
- Founding Director
- Member of the BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Member of the EXECUTIVE BOARD of DIRECTORS
- Founders
Patricia Simpson-Lawrence has more than 39 years of serving the people of Compton through her work with the Compton Police Department, as a Community Activist, and through the organization she founded and shaped, the Concerned Citizens of Compton, Inc.
Patricia Simpson-Lawrence moved to California in December 1968. She attended Southwest College, and later enrolled in ROP-PBX School to become a PBX operator. Patricia acquired her computer and typing skills at the Chester Adult School. While attending her third week of ROP and typing classes, she was approached by Bernice Dredd, a staff member of the Compton Unemployment Department. Shortly thereafter, Patricia was hired to work the night shift at the Compton Police Department. While working for the Compton Police Department, Patricia took on another part-time employment, working for the Federal Reserve. She worked for the Federal Reserve for twenty-four years.
During her tenure with the Compton Police Department, Patricia began to notice what appeared to be blatant corruption and nepotism among the elected officials of the city. In an effort to understand the strong allegations of corruption sweeping through the city, Patricia began to attend City Council Meetings regularly. It was during the Council Meetings that Patricia gained unadulterated understanding of the workings of the government, its authority, and how corruption was occurring. Patricia first began voicing her disdain at the City Council Meetings regarding alleged corruption, and soon began seeking assistance on behalf of the citizens in the City of Compton in form of writing disapproval letters to various governmental agencies, holding press conferences and in 2000, she spearheaded a recall process on the "seated" Mayor. During the recall signature collection process, Patricia faced violent opposition. She was forced to turn over all the collected recall petition signatures under gun point (March 2000).