About NCNW
The National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) mission is to lead, empower and advocate for women of African descent, their families and communities.
National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) is an “organization of organizations,” comprised of 330 campus and community-based sections and 33 national women’s organizations that enlightens, inspires, and connects more than 2,000,000 women and men. Its mission is to lead, advocate for, and empower women of African descent, their families, and communities. It was founded in 1935 by Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune, an influential educator and activist, and for more than fifty years, the iconic Dr. Dorothy Height was president of NCNW.
Today, the NCNW programs are grounded on a foundation of critical concerns that are now “NCNW Priorities.” Our organization promotes education; encourages entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and economic stability; educates women about health and promotes healthcare access and promotes civic engagement and advocates for sound public policy and social justice.
Faith is the first factor in a life devoted to service. Without it, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.
-Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune
National President & CEO
Shavon Arline-Bradley, MPH, Mdiv
Rev. Shavon Arline-Bradley is the president and chief executive officer for National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) and brings 21 years of experience in healthcare, diversity, equity, & inclusion (DEII), government affairs, and executive leadership. She is also the founding principal and CEO of R.E.A.C.H. Beyond Solutions, a public health, advocacy, and executive leadership firm promoting DEI, political and organizational strategy, risk management, government affairs, and technical assistance.
Prior to starting R.E.A.C.H., she served as senior advisor and director of external engagement during the Obama Administration in the Department of Health & Human Services for the 19th U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy. Before her tenure in the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General, at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) headquarters, Rev. Arline-Bradley served as the executive vice president of strategic planning & partnerships, as well as former chief of staff.
She is a community advocate serving in leadership capacity in the following organizations: Delta for Women for Action, NAACP Board of Directors Health Committee, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., National Social Action Commission, and Oprah Winfrey Network initiative “OWN Your Health.” In addition, she is an active member of American Public Health Association, Links, Inc., and Jack & Jill of America, Inc., just to name a few. Further in 2024, Rev. Arline-Bradley became the youngest to keynote the Martin Luther King, Jr. Beloved Community Commemorative Service, the world-renown annual celebration of Dr. King’s birthday, organized by the King Center.
A southern New Jersey native, she earned her undergraduate degree in exercise science and master’s in public health from Tulane University in New Orleans, La. She also graduated from the Samuel Dewitt Proctor School of Theology at Virginia Union University with a Master of Divinity, where she too became an ordained minister. Rev. Arline-Bradley completed an Executive Certificate of Business Management from Howard University and an Executive Certificate in Diversity & Inclusion from Cornell University.
Rev. Arline-Bradley is a lover of all-things sports, music, and an avid resort traveler. Most important to her are her faith and family, as she enjoys being a wife to Andrew Bradley and mother of two children.
National Chair
Dr. A. Lois Keith
Dr. Keith is a Legacy Life Member and Bethune Achiever and has dedicated much of her life to NCNW’s mission. In 2016 at the NCNW’s 57th National Convention, she was honored to serve as co-chair of this event and she was elected to the position of National Vice President. She has served as the National Membership Chair at the pleasure of both President’s Dr. Dorothy I. Height, and Ms. Ingrid Saunders Jones administration. In 2022, she was appointed to serve again as Vice President. Dr. Keith was a member of the NCNW Transition Team and was a co-chair of the 60th Biennial National Convention.
Dr. Keith has served as Executive Member-at-Large, member of the National Nominating Committee, member of the National Re-certification Committee, and National Assistant Secretary, co-chair of Membership and is a member of the President’s Circle. In her local DeKalb Section, she served as Chair of the Leadership Committee, President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary of the DeKalb Section and she is a charter member of the DeKalb Pacesetters Life Guild.
In addition to her service at NCNW, Dr. Keith is also a champion for equitable education. She is a graduate of Alabama A&M University where she received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Secondary Education with a major in Mathematics and a minor in General Science. She received her Master’s in Middle School Education from Georgia State University and she also studied at Mercer University. She had a stellar teaching career with the Henry County School System for 30 years, in addition to serving as the Math Department Chair and Beta Club Sponsor. Her many accolades include Teacher of the Year 1991-92 and 2000-2001, nomination to Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, and the Principal’s Award 1995-1996.
Over the course of her expansive work in community service and education, Dr. Keith has received several awards and accolades including a proclamation from the State of Georgia for her service to NCNW and the community. In 2014, she was honored to have been the keynote speaker at the dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony at the new and first public Dorothy I. Height Elementary School in the state of Georgia. In late 2014, the DeKalb Section honored Dr. Keith as the first recipient of the Lois Keith Trailblazer Award for Exemplary Community Service and award which was named in her honor. They also awarded her the Living the Legacy Award in 2014.
In 2018, Dr. Keith received a Hidden Figure Award and she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree from American Bible University. In 2020, she received the Vanguard Award of Excellence in Leadership Award from the National Women of Achievement, Inc., and on July 22, 2021, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Real Women Atlanta Magazine.
Dr. Keith is a member of the Georgia and Henry County Retired Educators Association where she served as President. She is a chartered member of the East Metro Orchids, where she served as the chartering secretary and is currently serving as 2nd Vice President. She is a member of Xi Beta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she serves as chaplain. Dr. Keith is an active member of the Move of God Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
She is a chartered member of the New Rock Chapter of Top Ladies of Distinction where she served as the chartering secretary, and she served as the Area IV NCNW Chair.
She and her late husband, Lonnie, enjoyed more than forty-nine wonderful years of marriage. They have one son, Darius.