| William C. Beverly, Jr. | James Edward Alexander, Esq. | Joseph H. Duff, Esq. |
| Mona Beverly | Dr. Millicent Powell, CEO |
William C. Beverly, Jr. is a native of Los Angeles. His great grandfather, William H. Shores, arrived in Los Angeles with his wife and four children in 1897, to become the first African American employee of what was then Security Trust and Savings (later Security Pacific Bank) at 5th and Spring Streets in Los Angeles. His maternal grandfather arrived in 1920 to practice law.
Judge Beverly received his undergraduate degree at Pepperdine University, and his juris doctor degree from Southwestern University School of Law. He has served as the vice president of the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, Presiding Judge of the Long Beach Municipal Court, Supervising Judge of the Southwest District of the Los Angeles Superior Court, and Presiding Judge of the Appellate Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court. He has been honored by the Betty Hill Senior Citizens Club for his involvement in pursuing the history of the African American community, and by Southwestern University School of Law as the outstanding judicial officer of 1996.
After ten and a half years practicing law and twenty three years on the bench, Judge Beverly retired in 2003 to devote his time to Eighth & Wall and the Los Angeles community. He is a member of the History Council of the California African American Museum and the African American Heritage Society of Long Beach.
After retiring from the United States Air Force and from a second career of broadcasting, James Edward Alexander attended Whittier Law School, and began the practice of law in 1990. While in law school, he operated the Beverly Rubens Bar Review Course. His commitment to history extends from Georgia to California, and has led him to undertake the capturing and preservation of Los Angeles history at his own expense while maintaining a full time law practice.
After receiving his undergraduate degree from Occidental College, and his juris doctor from the University of California Los Angeles, Joseph H. Duff began a career in the civil rights field that extends to this day. This includes service at the Western Center On Law and Poverty, the Los Angeles Neighborhood Legal Services Society, and representation of the plaintiffs in the implementation phase of Crawford v. The City of Los Angeles, a case brought to desegregate the Los Angeles Unified School District. He currently serves as staff counsel for the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.
A native of Denmark, Mona Beverly received her undergraduate degree in accounting from California State University Long Beach. After serving as a certified public accountant with the State Board of Equalization in the field of auditing, she has retired, serving Eighth & Wall as a director as well as its secretary and treasurer.
Dr. Powell received her doctorate degree in education from the USC Rossier School of Education. Her practical experience includes over 17 years as a teacher, school site and district administrator and educational consultant. As a consultant, Dr. Powell worked with highly selective private schools on cultural diversity and inclusivity. She also worked closely with public school district superintendents, directors, and principals.
As an educator, Dr. Powell believes it is important to promote collaboration through individuals, institutions and communities to foster an understanding and commitment to lifelong reflection. Her research interest includes an exploration on how global education influences students' academic persistence and cultural engagement.
Her goals encompass the overall mission of Eighth & Wall, Inc., and have made her a valuable addition to our team. She assists in the overall running of our day-to-day operation and facilitates our interaction with the education community.