Community service and servant leadership are two key values that James H. Gilliam, Sr. and his wife Louise Hayley Gilliam instilled in their children, James Jr. and daughter, Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson. As a reflection of the importance of giving back to the community, The Gilliam Foundation was formed in 1998 by James Gilliam Jr, to serve as the vehicle for the Gilliam family to providing capital resources to the Wilmington community and more specifically, to nonprofit organizations focused on improving the lives and conditions of communities of color.

A family foundation from the beginning, Jim, Jr. served as Chairman of the Foundation until his untimely passing in 2003. Currently, Jim's sister Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson serves as President and Chair of The Foundation; cousin, Dr. Cydney Teal, serves as Vice-President, daughters of Jim Jr,-. Leslie Gilliam and Alexis Gilliam Lerner serve as Treasurer and Director, respectively; Micah Johnson, nephew of Jim Jr. also serves as a Director.

At its’ inception, Jim Jr. contributed more than $7 million dollars to fund the operation. To date, The Gilliam Foundation has provided over $10 million in grants to Delaware based community organizations and continues to be a thriving grant

funding pipeline for nonprofit organizations in need of financial resources.

BOARD  OF  DIRECTORS 

Every member of our board of directors is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society.  Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization. 

Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Ph.D.

Dean School of Graduate, Adult and Extended Studies

Delaware State University

As DSU’s Dean of Graduate, Adult and Extended Studies, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson supervises the delivery of nearly two dozen graduate programs; growing the DSU Online portfolio of both graduate and undergraduate majors; expanding Adult/Continuing Education offerings to support continued career and personal growth; and developing new public-private partnerships across Delaware. She is based at the DSU Wilmington locations and is the senior leader responsible for oversight of both locations to include the newly acquired downtown location gifted to the University by Capital One.  

Prior to coming to DSU, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson served as Secretary of Labor for the state of Delaware. At the Department of Labor, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson managed an organization of 420 employees and a budget of about $4 million to support the employee-related needs of nearly 400,000 workers and over 20,000 businesses in the First State.

Dr. Gilliam-Johnson is the product of an HCBU.  She has spent the bulk of her career in higher education, and has long believed that college and career readiness are keys to preparing both young and adult learners of color in a 21st Century America.  Her experiences and opportunities provide further evidence of the importance of diverse, inclusive environments on the health, wealth, and fortitude of communities and systems.

Dr. Gilliam-Johnson earned her BS in Psychology from Morgan State University, and both an MA and Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has served as the Founder of the GillJohn Consultant Group, LLC and worked as a consultant for many types of organizations in the areas of leadership, cultural competency, human resource management and resilience.  She has one son, Micah A. Johnson, and understands the struggles of single parenting, generational differences and the management of multiple priorities.  Her sensitivity to these issues has served to assist in the development of communities often overlooked and misunderstood and is why she is so highly committed to the ongoing mission of The Gillam Foundation.

Alexis Gilliam-Lerner, Director

Alexis Gilliam Lerner was raised in Wilmington, Delaware and currently resides in Los Angeles, CA with her family. Alexis graduated from AI DuPont High School and went to Hampton University where she earned a Bachelors in Mass Media Arts. Alexis also holds a degree in Culinary Arts from The French Culinary Institute and worked in kitchens in New York City. Alexis also worked in the culinary field in Los Angeles before deciding that she had a bigger calling. Alexis switched careers and now holds a MA in Clinical Psychology with a Community Psychology specialization. Alexis credits the valuable lessons she has been taught by her family in her career change and believes in the power of people coming together to accomplish a common goal. 

Alexis holds the core belief that individual lives are improved when surrounded by healthy environments and thriving communities. She strongly believes in advocacy for marginalized communities, women, and people of color. Alexis continues to be grateful for the opportunity to sit on the board and looks forward to many more years of being of service.

Micah Johnson, Director

Micah Johnson is the newest member of the board and a welcome addition to the foundation. As it’s youngest member, Micah has the unique opportunity to work in many of the communities the foundation serves. Micah is currently studying Cyber Security at the University of Delaware. He also holds an IT position for one of Delaware’s leading health care companies. Micah graduated from Alexis I. Dupont High School in 2012 and had the opportunity to attend Friendly High School in Maryland. After completing high school, Micah attended the Delaware Skills Center to become an apprentice electrician. After a year of working in the Electric Trade, Micah returned to social work when he was accepted into the Public Allies Program. This program places young adults in an “internship” with different non- profit organizations. Micah was hired by Connections CSP as an Administrative Assistant, where Mr. Johnson first learned Data Entry and basic entry level troubleshooting for Networking Devices. Micah’s vast experience is a welcomed addition to the foundation.