Ernest McMillan

Mr. Ernest McMillan is a veteran human rights activist with a history of working through the 60's in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia with the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), and throughout the 80’s with the National Black United Front and the United League of Mississippi. McMillan served as the Chairman of the Dallas SNCC from 1967- 1969.

Mr. McMillan received an Associate of Arts degree in History and Government at Brazos Junior College in Texas and has completed further study in history, government, and political science at Morehouse College in Atlanta, UT Arlington, and the University of Houston at Clear Lake City, Texas.

He has extensive experience in counseling of both youth and adults. Additionally, he has worked successfully in management positions involved with the delivery of social services, organizing and planning resources, and coordinating activities to meet specific objectives. Mr. McMillan initiated the first Drug Prevention Program for African-American youth in Houston in 1981. He has developed support systems for ex-offenders and drug abusers as founder of People United for Justice for Prisoners in Dallas, Texas, and as a counselor for the Alternative Drug Abuse Program of VGS, Houston, Texas. Mr. McMillan also served as project manager at the Communities-In-School program at Wesley Elementary School, Houston.

In 1984, McMillan founded the Fifth Ward Enrichment Program, a non-profit, community based, youth development initiative. He served as its Chief Executive Officer, and after twenty-three years at the helm, he became its Executive Coach and Senior Adviser.  The FWEP continues to operate in Houston’s inner city as an effective support and intervention system for young African-American and Hispanic males to this day.

McMillan most recently lived in Dallas, Texas where he volunteered extensively with several local and international efforts including the Dallas Peace Center, IFCO/ Pastors for Peace, and the Owenwood Farm and Neighbor Space—engaging with area residents and stakeholders to build and sustain a community garden. McMillan also served as a 2011 delegate to Witness for Peace’ Human Rights Delegation to Honduras.

Professionally, in 2012, McMillan became the Director of Educational Programs at Youth Believing in Change (YBC) after serving as a volunteer mentor, coordinator of the boys’ mentoring program and as a classroom facilitator there. Most recently, McMillan served as Curator for Community Action with Cara Mia Theatre Company. He is excited to be involved routinely in the work of connecting arts with the community and developing avenues to foster and engage multigenerational, multicultural bridges for community uplift.  Currently, McMillan resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico.