The Mount Vernon Public Library Board of Trustees meets the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m.(except August)
- The Board of Trustees Members
Trustee Board President
Chanese V. Coleman – Term ends June 2025
E-mail: mtvtrustee1@wlsmail.org
Chanese Coleman was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY. She attended St. Joseph’s Montessori School and Our Lady of Victory Catholic School, both in Mount Vernon. Chanese moved to Brooklyn in her teens, and she graduated from New Utrecht High School. Chanese follows in the footsteps of her father, James Earl Coleman, who was very active in the community and was named a top athlete in Mount Vernon in 1964. Chanese was employed at the Mount Vernon Public Library as a clerk in the mid-1970’s, and she fondly recalls the wonderful time she had with patrons and staff. Ms. Coleman is the owner of Coleman & Coleman. Two of Ms. Coleman’s many accomplishments were organizing and presenting the first-ever job fair, and first book bag giveaway in collaboration with former NBA superstar Stephon Marbury; both events were held in the City of Mount Vernon. Chanese Coleman is dedicated to her community. Ms. Coleman is a Democratic District Leader, and a board member of LPS Group, and the New Flex Youth Program, as well as being the Chairperson of the CDC Board for the Mount Calvary Church.
Trustee
Hope Marable – Term ends June 2028
E-mail: mtvtrustee4@wlsmail.org
Hope’s first library was the “upstairs nook of my grandparents home in Henderson, North Carolina”, when spending childhood summers away from Mount Vernon, New York. The remainder of the season was usually spent with her maternal grandparents in Fauquier County, Virginia, where far less time was devoted to the adventures found in books. Virginia was a place of wide open spaces, fit for exploring the wonders of nature with her three siblings and “dozens of cousins”. According to Hope, it was the best of both worlds. North Carolina was a refuge; a place where she came to appreciate solitude and “me time”. It all began by memorizing every syllable and verse of Watty Piper’s, “The Little Engine that Could”. Hooked on words since the ripe ol’ age of 3, Hope went on to write her very first poem, “Today is Sunday”, while a fourth grader in Mrs. Brown’s class at Robert Fulton School; now named in honor of her former Principal and mentor, the late Edward Williams. Fueled by a quiet passion for reading, Hope’s spare time from late teens through young-adulthood was spent as a Literacy Volunteer at the Mount Vernon Public Library, where she has served as a Board Trustee since on or about June 2020. Like countless others from a far away era in time, Hope admits to having come a long, sharp distance from the “upstairs nook”. “…while for me, the little engine may have lost its luster, I am now in awe of worldwide educators whom, by embracing today’s technology, inspire new generations to fall in love as I did, with the beauty of literary works”. She believes the fostering of global partnerships, initiatives, and expansion of public library services, will eventually empower us to define cultures and redefine communities. Hope Marable is a lifelong resident of Mount Vernon, New York and is an alumni of New York University. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Behavioral Science, and Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies. She is a published songwriter, and Licensed ASCAP Music Publisher.
Trustee
Jonathan Michael Davis – Term ends June 2027
E-mail: mtvtrustee5@wlsmail.org
Jonathan Michael Davis was born in Greensboro, NC and grew up in Atlantic City, New Jersey where he attended public schools and graduated from Atlantic City High School in 1971. He attended Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. He attended Rutgers School of Law- Newark graduating in 1980 with a Juris Doctorate degree. He is a life long political activist beginning in high school where he was a member of the NCCF, the political wing Black Panther Party serving as Lieutenant of Information. He has championed such causes as anti-apartheid, criminal justice, prison reform, environmental justice among others. He has traveled to the West Bank and Gaza Strip, Belfast, Northern Ireland, and Cuba as a member of the National Conference of Black Lawyers on various delegations.Jonathan entered the environmental/construction/safety industry in 1988. He teaches all asbestos/lead/mold remediation courses and has taught over 15,000 individuals in the tri-state area. He is also an OSHA Outreach instructor for both General Industry and Construction. Through his company JOMIDA Associates, LLC he conducts training for several clients including WEACT, St. Nick’s Alliance, Pathways to Apprenticeship, and various other training providers. His passion is serving at-risk youth, returning citizens and those seeking entry into the environmental/construction industry.
Jonathan moved to Mount Vernon in 2017 after marrying former Mount Vernon Human Resources Commissioner Judy Williams-Davis. He has four children Khadija, Naja, Mikal and Osaze and three grandsons Najee, Isa, and Dhakiy. Since coming to Mount Vernon, he has continued his community activism. He is presently a Mount Vernon Democratic Committee district leader (District #1). Served as a member of the Cable TV Advisory Committee and has been an active supporter of the MVPL. His hobbies include reading, gardening, and travel. He is a freemason and a member of Historic Alpha Lodge #116 F&AM under the Grand Lodge of New Jersey where he is a two-time Past Master and presently serves as the Secretary.
Trustee
Loretta Thomas – Term ends June 2028
E-mail: mtvtrustee3@wlsmail.org
Born and raised in Mount Vernon, New York, Loretta Thomas is the youngest of 11 siblings. Ironically, Trustee Thomas’s Mother, the late Rosalie Swain-Thomas, was the first of William and Queenie Phelps-Swain’s 12 children to be born in the City of Mount Vernon, after the family’s 1929 arrival from North Carolina. Trustee Thomas, a product of the Mount Vernon Public School District, is an alumni of Mount Vernon High’s graduating class of 1984. She is a lifelong resident of the City, and proud District Leader of 55, Mount Vernon. Ms. Thomas has an Associate degree in Accounting from Monroe College, as well as an Associate degree in Secretarial Science from Monroe Business Institute. Her 30+ years of career experience in the field of finance and accounting, enables her to boast of the following credentials:
– Audit procedures for internal controls.
– Internal controls; positive pay.
– Implementation of policies and procedures.
– Hiring, development, and evaluation of staff performances.
– Payroll administration; 401k, Health benefits.
– Full cycle accounts payable management.
– Staff accounting and management.
– Cash Sheets, Bank reconciliations, Journal entries.
– Y/E 1099’s, Month-end close.
– Trustee Thomas is a licensed notary (01TH6265161), and is the long-standing employee of a nonprofit organization based in Westchester County, New York.
Trustee
Dolores Mack – Term ends June 2028
E-mail: mtvtrustee2@wlsmail.org
– Long-time Community servant and advocate for over 50 years .
– Employed by the Mount Vernon School District for 28 years .
– District Leader in the Mount Vernon Democratic City Committee for 48 years .
– Served on various boards, committees, and organizations.
– Served as President of the Mount Vernon Housing Authority .
– Served as President of the Mount Vernon Women’s League.
– Friends of the Mount Vernon Public Library for (20 years) .
– President of Library Progressive Services Inc Food Pantry Board .
– Life Time member of the NAACP.
– Charter member of the National Museum of African American History.- Library Board of Trustees Committees
- Policy & Governance
- Finance