AJFC names new board chairman, CEO for agency

NATCHEZ — The leadership structure of the AJFC Community Action Agency has changed with the recent election of a new board chairman and the selection of a chief executive officer to oversee the direction of the entity that serves residents of Franklin and six other Southwest Mississippi counties.

Kenneth Thrasher was selected by his peers on the organization’s tri-partite board in March to serve as the group’s chairman. He replaced Regina Reed, who had served as AJFC’s previous board chairman since 2015.

In a statement issued by the organization on Wednesday, April 26, Thrasher was cited as having a “wealth of experience working across numerous organizations coupled with his driving commitment to serve others, which will assist in strengthening AJFC and its service areas.”

Thrasher’s background includes serving in the United States Army and was deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom-Operation Enduring Freedom. He also worked for the U.S. Department of Justice, Trustmark National Bank and the Mississippi Achievement School District.

Most recently, Thrasher has been involved in education as a teacher and director of bands for the Hazlehurst City School District. His teaching endorsements include both music and business education.

He is presently chairman of the Hazlehurst Municipal Democratic Executive Committee, secretary of the Copiah County Democratic Executive Committee and pastor of Apostolic Worship Center Church in Jackson.

He had previously served on Hazlehurst’s school board and is founder and co-owner of Safe Place Daycare and Learning Center in Hazlehurst.

In April, with Thrasher at the helm of AJFC’s board of directors, the panel named Zadier Thomas as its newest CEO after she had served in the position in an interim capacity since December, 2022.

Thomas succeeds former CEO Carmen Drake, who resigned from the post after being elected as the Mississippi Sixth Judicial District’s newest circuit court judge.

“The AJFC board is extremely pleased to select Ms. Thomas as our new CEO,” Thrasher said. “We are fortunate to have someone of her caliber leading our agency.

“While there are many challenges ahead of us, we find comfort in knowing the state’s Department of Human Services fully supports the board’s selection. We believe we are well-positioned to develop successful strategies and continue to strengthen the agency — especially with Ms. Thomas’ leadership.”

Thomas had previously served as AJFC’s human resources director and has experience in leadership management.

The AJFC Community Action Agency, a 501c3 nonprofit organization chartered by the State of Mississippi, seeks to promote self-sufficiency for low-income individuals and families through a wide-range of program offerings in Franklin, Adams, Copiah, Claiborne, Jefferson, Lawrence and Lincoln counties.

The outreach, which has been in operation for 57 years following federal passage of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, is governed by a 21-member board which represents the public, private and poor sectors of the counties in its service area with each county represented by three members — one from each of those sector.

AJFC administers a number of federal programs geared toward reducing poverty, revitalizing communities and empower citizens to be self-sufficient including Community Service Block Grants, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance and Low-Income Household Water Assistance.

The organization has announced plans for its annual “Community Action Awareness Day” program from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday, May 11 at the organization’s Franklin County office at 38 Walnut Street in Meadville — between the Mississippi State University Extension Service office and Farm Bureau Insurance.

The public hearing seeks to inform area residents — especially those considered to be low-income or who live in poverty — of the various human service programs offered through the agency.

For information on the local meeting or the work of the entity, contact AJFC by calling 601-442-8681 or visit www.ajfccaa.org on the Internet.