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Dr. Darryl Gordon

Dr. Darryl D. Gordon has been at the University of Central Florida for more than six years. He currently leads the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean in the College of Undergraduate Studies and manages strategic college-wide and university-wide

projects in close collaboration with the Vice Provost and Dean.

 

Gordon also has served as president of the UCF Black Faculty and Staff Association for almost five years. The mission of BFSA is to promote an environment that fosters cultural awareness and enrichment through advocacy, mentoring, professional

networking and quality programming. Prior to his current position, Gordon was an adjunct professor, teaching first-time college students how to develop the academic skills necessary to succeed in college and in their careers.

 

Gordon earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration & Policy at UCF and graduated with a master’s degree in higher education from Georgia Southern University. He graduated with a bachelor of science/pre-law degree from Florida Agriculture and Mechanical University.

Tadar Muhammad

 

As chief operating officer and first vice president of CareerSource Central Florida (CSCF), Tadar Muhammad delivers strategic oversight on administration and workforce operations for all federal, state and local workforce development programs and grants. He spearheads all operational aspects of the organization that invests $35 million to serve more than 27,000

career seekers with career development opportunities and nearly 3,500 businesses with skilled talent annually. He helps forge new partnerships within CSCF’s five-county footprint in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake and Sumter counties.

 

Prior to joining CSCF, Tadar was the chief development officer with the Heart of Florida United Way, where he was responsible for driving and growing revenue for the organization and creating new partnerships. Muhammad is also on the faculty at Valencia College, teaching life skill courses to advise and prepare new students to all aspects of college and career opportunities.

 

Tadar’s success comes from his commitment to understanding the community he serves through his board service and active participation in many Central Florida organizations.

  

He is a member of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), Route 7 Orlando and Evans High School Giving Back programs. He also currently serves as the Chairman of the Board for the Orange County Citizens Commission for Children, secretary for the Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc. (PRIDE) Board of Directors; Member of Sunshine Charter High Schools in Orange County and is a board member for The Poinsette Foundation.

 

A native Chicagoan, Tadar moved to Orlando in 1983. After receiving a scholarship to Valencia College and a B.A. in Organizational Management from Warner University, he earned his Executive MBA from Rollins College & Crummer Graduate School of Business.

Kimberly Rankin

 

Kimberly Rankin is the human relations manager for the City of Orlando Office of Human Relations. Kimberly has a law degree from Cumberland School of Law and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of Alabama. She is a State of Florida Supreme Court Certified Mediator and a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional.

 

She currently manages the City of Orlando Office responsible for the civil enforcement of local anti-discrimination ordinances. The Office is also a Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) and a Fair Employment Practices Agency (FEPA) contracted with the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to dual-file and investigate complaints simultaneously under federal employment and housing anti-discrimination laws.

Rhonda Reaves

 

Rhonda Reaves joined FAMU College of Law in 2005 after teaching for six years at Loyola University School of Law in Los Angeles.

 

Professor Reaves has written multiple articles focusing on race and gender discrimination in employment. At FAMU College of Law, she teaches employment law, employment discrimination and property law.

 

She has a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School and a B.A. degree in economics and political science from Yale University.

Curtis McCloud

As one of the original Spectrum News 13 Watchdog investigative reporters, Curtis McCloud has made an impact covering major stories like the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trail in Minneapolis, Wisconsin and tackling a number of important issues across our communities including guardianship abuse, and uncovering the racial disparity that exists within Central Florid home lending.

Throughout his career as a seasoned award-winning investigative journalist, Curtis has covered some very memorable stories working in newsrooms all around the country including Virginia, Tennessee, Washington, D.C and Georgia. His favorite is probably a story about saving Cedar Grove, a historic African-American slave cemetery in Tennessee. Through a series of in-depth reports, Curtis help launch a region-wide initiative to clean up the forgotten cemetery. He took concerns to city and state leaders, who stepped in to help find out why this cemetery was forgotten and who was responsible for it. This is the kind of work Curtis has loved since he was in third grade, and he’s been crafting his skills ever since.

 

Curtis and his wife have two young boys. When he’s not on the air, he likes to spend time with his family and friends and as a self-proclaimed foodie, he enjoys trying new restaurants.

Curtis values community engagement and is a proud member of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, Investigative Reporters & Editors and the National Association of Black Journalists

Black History Month Hot Topics Feb 12, 2025
“Voices of Labor: The African American Journey
By Virginia Meany
Work has always been at the center of African American history and culture, according to the
Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), which chooses the
theme for Black History Month. At our 2025 Black History Month celebration, the League of
Women Voters of Orange County honored the labor of African Americans and the many ways
that their work and working of all kinds — free and unfree, skilled and unskilled, voluntary and
forced — tells a uniquely American story of both struggle and resilience. African American
history is, after all, American history.
Lee Rambeau Kemp, LWVOC First Vice President, opened the program with a personal
anecdote that honored the contributions of a skilled and diverse federal workforce. She also
recognized Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman to serve on the Board of the NLRB whose
position was recently terminated unexpectedly.
We were challenged to remember the labor of African Americans, not as an historical footnote,
but as a continuous force that “shapes and strengthens the fabric of our society.” Ms. Kemp
added that African Americans have always fought for their rights to ensure their achievements
are acknowledged and their voices are heard.
Returning special guest, Dr Ethel Wellington-Trawick, soloist and educator. Dr. Trawick asked
the audience to join her in singing the hymn, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” Originally written as
a poem by Florida native, James Weldon Johnson, the song is known as the Black National
Anthem. Guests were provided the lyrics at their tables. Participation was enthusiastic and
heartfelt.
We were ready for the “Hot Topic” of the day to begin: “Voices of Labor: The African
American Journey”. Ms. Kemp welcomed moderator, Curtis McLeod, Spectrum Evening
News Co-Anchor and award-winning investigative reporter, to the podium. In initial remarks, Mr.
McLeod urged the audience to remember the contributions of the many local Black owned
businesses (life insurance, dry cleaners, beauty stores, food markets) that once thrived in
Central Florida. The labor of these Black entrepreneurs has made many of today’s opportunities
possible.
Mr. McLeod then welcomed and introduced an outstanding panel of experts:
Dr. Darryl Gordon serves as Project and Program Manager in the Office of the Vice Provost and Dean
in the College of Undergraduate Studies. For nearly four years, he has also served as president of the
UCF Black Faculty and Staff Association. Prior to his current position, Dr. Gordon has served in several
administrative and faculty roles at Daytona State and Seminole State Colleges, cultivating a 10-year

higher education career. Dr. Gordon earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration & Policy at
UCF. Go Knights!!!
Tadar Muhammad is the chief operating officer and first vice president of CareerSource Central
Florida. Prior to joining CSCF, he was the chief development officer with the Heart of Florida United
Way. Tadar previously served as adjunct faculty at Valencia College, teaching life skill courses to advise
and prepare new students to all aspects of college and career opportunities. He earned his Executive
MBA from Rollins College & Crummer Graduate School of Business. Go Tars!
Kimberly Rankin is the manager for the City of Orlando Office of Human Relations which is
responsible for the civil enforcement of local anti-discrimination ordinances. She is a State of Florida
Supreme Court Certified Mediator and a Society of Human Resources Certified Professional. Kimberly
has a law degree from Cumberland School of Law.
Rhonda Reaves joined FAMU College of Law in 2005. She has written multiple articles focusing on
race and gender discrimination in employment. At FAMU College of Law, she teaches employment law,
employment discrimination and property law. She has a Juris Doctor degree from Stanford Law School.
Each of the panelists was asked to comment on how their work related to this year’s Black History
Month theme: African Americans and Labor.
Ms. Reaves spoke about how the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and, in particular Title Vll of the
law, prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex or national origin in both
the private and government sectors. Passage of the act created opportunities for those who had
historically been ignored, and the need still applies. Ms. Reaves commented on the fact that without
passage of the Civil Rights Act, it would have been unlikely for her to become a law professor.
African Americans are overrepresented in lower wage work, which is a legacy of slavery. A stubborn
racial wage gap continues today; studies show that African American men are paid $.74 for every dollar
paid to white men.
Ms. Rankin represents the Orlando City Department of Human Relations which investigates
discrimination complaints and enforces anti-discrimination law. The DHR will take employment and
housing complaints from any party and determine appropriate action. History proves that anti-
discrimination laws must be enforced to be effective. Her office is charged with that task.
Mr. Muhammad noted that CareerSource is one of a number of nonprofits that supports both job
seekers and employers seeking candidates. They are in the business of employment “matchmaking.”
With the unemployment rate so low, the quest for qualified candidates is competitive. CareerSource’s
goal is to assist both sides in finding a good match, as well as helping African Americans “upskill” to find
better jobs.
Dr. Gordon recognized a correlation between higher education and the labor market. Those with a
bachelor’s degree earn significantly more over a work lifetime than noncollege-educated people.
Despite that fact, African American workers with a college degree earn 20 percent less than white

workers with a college degree. Workforce development programs, like those offered by CareerSource,
can help close gaps.
Mr. McLeod next asked panelists to define DEIA; “What is it and what isn’t it?” and why is it a topic of
such disagreement?
Ms. Reaves believed that a lack of common understanding of the different terms (Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion and Accessibility) leads to confusion. She compared a commitment to DEIA to having a set of
shared values and behaviors. None of the terms is a bad term and together they describe a culture of
outreach, seeking variety in talent and background and a commitment to educating employees.
Ms. Rankin defined the term simply as a set of policies put in place to make employment policies fair.
DEIA policies are NOT an invitation to promote unqualified candidates; rather, a commitment to fair
hiring practices can remove barriers. The recent executive order signed by the Trump Administration
rescinds the executive order that had mandated that federal contractors prohibit discrimination in order
to do business with the federal government. Title Vll, the ADA and nondiscrimination protections are not
affected by the executive order.
Ms. Reaves noted that the number of organizations backing away from committing to DEIA policies is
real. There is no legal mandate for corporations to dismantle DEIA organizations. Rather, there is a
chilling effect from the number and content of executive orders. However, one unintended
consequence of the elimination of DEIA programs and training is that corporations will no longer be able
to refer to anti-discrimination programs as a shield when sued for discrimination.
Both Ms. Rankin and Ms. Reaves agreed that journalists play a critical role in delivering factual and
truthful information to audiences.
Mr. McLeod then turned to a question about employment trends and what the data shows us about the
African American workforce.
Mr. Muhammad noted that African Americans make up a significant portion of the workforce in every
demographic. Their workforce participation rate is higher and the unemployment rate is higher. African
Americans are well represented in service and community-based jobs and less represented in higher
paying jobs like advanced manufacturing and finance. African Americans are also less represented in
management level jobs.
Dr. Gordon spoke of confusion about the freezing and unfreezing of grant money. (It’s flowing.)
Students need federal government support beyond Pell grants. Funding is also granted for student
loans, in-state tuition subsidies and mentoring programs. There is a correlation between having an B.A.
and then having an opportunity to compete for high tech and highly skilled positions. If the cost of
education goes up, the impact is greater on African Americans since higher tuition costs act as a barrier
to attending college. Workers without a degree can limit a family’s ability to accumulate generational
wealth. Diminished wage prospects have long-term implications for home ownership, health and
educational opportunities.
Ms. Rankin spoke about numerous studies that demonstrated a high correlation in Orlando between
low rates of home ownership and low wage employment. Many African Americans are underemployed
as because of subtle yet decisive barriers.

Mr. Muhammad noted that access to high quality education and exposure to opportunities can make
inroads in closing the racial wealth gap. Small businesses create employment opportunities for most
Americans, including African Americans.

We also enjoyed a lively Q & A session. Some of the major themes that emerged include:
— African American males are particularly vulnerable in the labor force. Early intervention,
mentorship programs, internships and apprenticeships can create pathways.
— Employers should ask if a degree is necessary for each job. Frequently special certifications and
short-term training programs will suffice and provide a path for a high skilled technical position.
In her closing remarks, League President Kathy Schmitz reminded League members that this is OUR
work. Each of us must figure out what that work is.
We thank Dr. Trawick for a lovely ending to our Black History Month program. We joined hands and
sang “We Shall Overcome.”

Our Call To Action
The final question from Mr. McLeod involved a call to action for the 700+ members of the LWVOC. What can League members do to help?

Dr. Gordon: It starts with self. What personal actions can you take at your place of employment, in your communities to create opportunities for African Americans?

Mr. Muhammad: Become an advocate for state and federal support for education and training programs. Invest in organizations that invest in employees; become a mentor, offer/sponsor an internship.

Ms. Rankin: Do the right thing. You don’t need to name a program a fancy name to take action. When hiring, look at different candidates and treat everyone fairly and equitably.

Ms. Reaves: Resist. There are precedents for this period. To protect Obamacare, people called , wrote and marched. Vote to change your elected officials if you don’t like what they are doing.