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Black History Month YP | 2024 Speaker Biographies

Mrs. Harriet Thornhill is a values-based business leader with extensive leadership and business experience with the Royal Bank of Canada (RBC). In addition to an exceptional and distinguished career that has taken her throughout Quebec, Ontario and the Caribbean, Harriet has tirelessly coached, mentored and served others. Always an ambassador for growing the next generation of talent, she has inspired and supported thousands of individuals to unlock their full potential.

Prior to her retirement in 2022, Harriet's business leadership included Vice President, RBC Contact Centre, a multi-business, multi-geographical channel with over 3500 employees, Head of Personal Banking, RBC Caribbean for 19 countries, and Regional Vice President for a key growth market in the Greater Toronto Area.

She has participated in several youth mentorship programs including the Outside Looking In - Future Leaders for Indigenous youth, Afroglobal Television Crossover Program, the Francophone Workforce Development Council and The Cultivate Group Mentorship sponsored by RBC Future Launch and BPTN.

As a community champion Harriet has volunteered at Assisted Senior Living Homes with her local Church, A Women's Shelter in Mississauga, and currently volunteers with her local Church for ‘Hope Meals' to help families in need.

Harriet has also served on several not-for-profit boards and advisory councils including the Charity Trust Leadership Cabinet, Executive Cabinet member for the William Osler Health Centre Foundation, and Chair of the Black Business Professionals and Associations (BBPA) National Scholarship Fund. During her time in the Caribbean, Harriet served as a director on several RBC subsidiary boards.

In recognition of her professional achievements and service to the community she is the recipient of numerous awards including being named one of the 100 Most Influential Black Canadians in 2022, the Power of Inclusion Award in 2021, and the Martin Luther King Award, Community Impact in 2020.

Harriet holds an MBA from Athabasca University and is a recent ICD.D graduate of the Directors Education Program at the Rotman School of Management.
 
THE Rev. Jerome J. Washington
Pastor, Mount Vernon Baptist, Durham, NC.

Reverend Washington has previously served as pastor of the Metropolitan Baptist Church of Detroit, Michigan and the First Free Mission Baptist Church of New Orleans, LA.

Reverend Washington holds both a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration from Xavier University of Louisiana. He has done theological studies at the Union Baptist Seminary and the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1995, Pastor Washington was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in Religion and Counseling from Southwestern University. He has done postdoctoral studies at Christ Church College of the University of Oxford and Harvard Divinity School and is an alumnus of that Divinity School's Summer Leadership Institute. He is the recipient of an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the Tennessee School of Religion. Dr. Washington is an inductee into the Martin Luther King, Jr. College of Ministers and Laity at Morehouse College.

He was an adjunct professor of Hebrew Scriptures at Ecumenical Theological Seminary in Detroit and is presently an Adjunct Professor at Apex School of Theology, Durham, NC. Dr. Washington has preached and lectured in religious settings in the United States, Canada, Panama, and England.

Dr. Washington's sermons and articles have appeared both in print and online in the journal African American Pulpit. His other writings include, "Pastoral Care in the African American Church", "The Cross in the Old Testament" "A Survey of Paul's Epistle to the Colossians", "A Strategic Drug Initiative: A Manual for Clergy and Religious Leaders", "A Guide to Biblical Fasting" and "Proclaiming the Old Testament in the Christian Pulpit".

Prior to becoming a minister, Reverend Washington performed as a classical singer throughout the United States and Europe.

He is a former public-school teacher, counselor, and adjunct professor at Delgado Community College in New Orleans. He is a Life Member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and is a 33rd degree Prince Hall Mason.

He serves as a board member of the North Carolina Council of Churches, the Durham Anti-Gang Commission and United Christian Campus Ministries of North Carolina Central University. He has one daughter, Janel Valerie and a grandson, Avery Lee.

YPBC Black History Month | 2024 >  

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