Tracy African American
Association, LLC

President

Yolande Barial Knight is a proud mother of three – Ernest and Emmanuel Turner, Morehouse Men and Isabella Turner a Jr. Arizona State and affirms that without God in her life nothing is possible.   Barial Knight is a member of Progressive Community Church in Stockton, CA. Ms. Barial Knight is a graduate of Xavier University in New Orleans, La with a B.S. in Biology. Yolande has served 3 terms as the President, 2 terms as Vice President and 3 years as Juneteenth Chair of Tracy African American Association, writes a monthly column, Mothers Corner, for the Tracy Press since 2011.  Yolande is a Lifetime member of the NAACP, member of the African American Chamber of Commerce, a Notary Public, published poet, and sits on the Multicultural Advisory Committee for Cong. Harder. She served as the Clerk of the Board for East Bay Regional Park District where she retired after 34 years in 2025. As a cofounder of the Black Employee Collective of the East Bay Regional Park District, she and her fellow coworkers, proudly campaigned along with other stakeholders in the Bay Area and nationally to name the first park in Contra Costa County after a black person! The park is in Concord, CA and is named: Thurgood Marshall Regional Park – Home of the Port Chicago Fifty. Yolande received an award from the Contra Costa Bar Association for her work as a member of the Port Chicago Taskforce that fought to Exonerate the Port Chicago 50 which happened in July 2024. She served as one of the Advisors to AAA Motivated LLC.  Yolande is a recipient of the TAAA MLK Jr. Image Award, The Women of Color Award and the NAACP Image Award. 

Vice President

Mary Kennedy-Bracken, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, has called Tracy, California, home for the past 23 years. She is a distinguished leader dedicated to community empowerment and business development. From 2003 to 2014, she served as President and CEO of the Lathrop District Chamber of Commerce, where she expanded membership, elevated the chamber’s community profile, and established a youth chamber of commerce. Her leadership strengthened connections among local businesses, residents, and government leaders, contributing significantly to the growth and vibrancy of the Lathrop community. Mary has been actively involved in several community-based organizations in leadership capacities, including serving as President of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women and as Bylaw Chairperson—and current active member—of the Tracy African American Association. She is also the founder of Turn Your Passion into Profit (TYPP), an initiative empowering aspiring entrepreneur. In civic service, Mary contributed to the San Joaquin Civil Grand Jury as Pro Tem Foreperson for 2023–2024 and Foreperson for 2024–2025, overseeing investigations and recommendations aimed at improving local government transparency and accountability. Beyond her professional and civic work, Mary enjoys reading, bowling, and jogging, reflecting on a balanced and engaged approach to life. Her enduring commitment to service, leadership, and entrepreneurship continues to make a meaningful impact in her community and beyond.

Treasurer

Diane Tyler 

Accountant | Financial Manager | Controller, began her accounting career as a Financial Manager for an investment and tax planning firm in Century City, Southern California. After ten years in that role, she founded her own accounting, bookkeeping, and tax preparation business in the Los Angeles area, where she built a strong reputation for professionalism and client-focused service. Following her relocation to Northern California, Diane successfully reestablished her business and continued serving a growing base of clients for the next 15 years. In, 2012, one of her longtime clients offered her the position of Controller for his company - an opportunity she embraced for its new challenges and benefits. 

Diane remained in that role for a decade, overseeing financial operations and contributing to the company’s growth and stability until her retirement in October 2022.

Throughout her career, Diane has been known for her integrity, meticulous attention to detail, and commitment to helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. 

 

Executive Secretary

Isabella Turner attends Arizona State University Online to receive a Bachelor of Arts in Film. Turner previously attended Georgia State University in Atlanta GA. She is a recipient of the TAAA Wayne Nelson Scholarship. 

Turner attends Progressive Community Church where she is active in the Media Ministry. Turner has worked as a gymnastic coach and currently employed at Federal Express.  She is excited for the opportunity to help serve in the TAAA organization.

Public Information Chair

Carol Chism-Hall Bio to be inserted

Education Chair

Olinga Yarber-Alexander has been a proud member of the Tracy community since 1988 and an active member of the Tracy African American Association (TAAA) since 2015. A passionate advocate for youth, she believes that today’s students are tomorrow’s leaders and is dedicated to supporting them through education, mentorship, and encouragement.

She currently serves as TAAA’s Education and Scholarship Chair, is a member and past President of the Kiwanis Club of Tracy, the Club’s Speaker Chair, and the Kiwanis Key Club Advisor at Kimball High School. Olinga also serves as a Tracy School Board Member and is appointed to the Tracy Youth Advisory Commission. She actively supports BSU clubs, the Tracy College Bound Program, and student leadership initiatives across Tracy high schools.

Olinga is a small business owner with over ten years of experience and currently works as a Notary and Notary Signing Agent for the State of California. She holds a B.A. in Social Science from San José State University and an M.S. in Higher Education with an Emphasis in Student Affairs from Kaplan University. She is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and has been married to Dr. Ameni Alexander for 32 years. She is the proud mother of adult children and grandmother of four.

By-Laws Chair

Imani Kuumba was born in Oakland, California, and raised in Berkeley, California, and is a graduate of El Cerrito High School. Imani has been a resident of Tracy since 1998, where he raised his four children. A member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. for over 40 years, he currently serves as Basileus (President) of the Delta Iota Iota Chapter located in the Valley of Northern California and has previously held leadership roles including Keeper of Finance and Keeper of Records and Seal. He has been recognized for his service with numerous honors, including Chapter Omega Man of the Year (2021, 2022, and 2024), NorCal Omega Man of the Year (2022), the Founders’ Lifetime Achievement Award (2023), and the 2025 Superior Service and Social Action Awards, and is a Lifetime Member of the NAACP Stockton Branch. A committed Pan-Africanist dedicated to the upliftment of Black people worldwide, Imani has been an active member of the Tracy African American Association (TAAA) since 2018, serving as Juneteenth Logistics Coordinator in 2023, 2024, and 2025, co-chair of the 2023 Juneteenth Entertainment Committee, and current Chairperson of the TAAA By-Laws Committee. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in African American Studies from San José State University and is the sole proprietor of Unchain and Unchain Movement, organizations focused on education, liberation, and community empowerment.

Activities Chair

Mishelle Lundy-Neverson is mother of six and grandmother of 4. Neverson has been a TAAA member for more than 16 years, having held several board positions of the Tracy African American Association as Juneteenth, Membership and Activities Chair.  Mishelle is the owner of "OSSS" One Stop Shop Solutions since 2013, (which is a company that does it all, so you don’t have it). She loves to network and has been a volunteer for many non-profit groups over the years. She is also a member of the Tracy Goldstar Networking Group. Her hobbies are Cooking, Baking, Networking, Shopping and Entertaining. 
Mishelle has been a board member of the Manteca Street Fair, serving as vendor chair with over 500 vendors. She is an advocate for non-profit organizations addressing foster children. Neverson lived in Tracy for over 20 years
She holds a BS in Human Services/Social Services and an MBA.  She plans to obtain a PhD in Sociology. Mishelle has been married for 31 years to Rev. Dr. Michael Neverson, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Los Banos, CA, where she stands by his side as First Lady with honor to serve the LORD, as well as director of the First Lady Corner, and President of the Women Dept. 

Membership Chair

Adina Bullock has been a resident of Tracy, CA since 2002.  Adina was born in Oakland, CA and is a proud graduate of Florida A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Health Care Management.  She has worked in the field of Cancer Registry for over 25 years and has held several positions within the California Cancer Registrars Association, including Secretary and Membership Chair.  She is the proud mother of Ava Bullock, who is currently a student at Merrill F. West High School.

Adina's hobbies and interests include traveling, reading, and spending time with her extended family and friends.