About Us
The MLK F.A.M.E. Community Center was founded in 2011 by members of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church with an eye toward transforming the former MLK Elementary school into a vibrant cultural center in the heart of the Central District in Seattle. MLK is now achieving its mission of promoting social, cultural, economic and community services for Seattle residents of all ages, races, cultures and ethnicities.
Meet Our Staff
Executive Director - Bert Williams, Jr.
Bert (Buddy) Williams, Jr. is a former Engineering leader at the Boeing Company with over 34 years of experience in project and program engineering and leadership.
Dedicated service is important to Buddy and he firmly believes that active community involvement is essential to maximizing Christian growth, career opportunities, and leadership development. Professionally, he has served on the Boeing Long Beach Management Association Board of Directors, is an alumnus of Boeing’s Leadership Development Program, and has worked with several professional and community concerns, including National Society of Black Engineers student chapters and the Youth Motivational Task Force of Los Angeles County.
An avid music lover, Buddy is a worship leader, director, and member of several choirs and musical groups, including the Shades Fellowship Singers, Ellis H. Casson Men’s Chorus, and the First AME Church Praise Team. He served as a Trustee and Steward for over 10 years before being appointed worship leader/coordinator at First AME and remains active with the Richard Allen Brotherhood.
Buddy holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from Seattle University, and a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Redlands. His postgraduate education includes graduate certificates in Environmental Systems Engineering from California State University, Long Beach, as well as a “Champions of Change” certificate from Pepperdine University. His interests include weightlifting, basketball and gospel music. Buddy was born and raised in Seattle and resides in Lynnwood, WA. with his wife, Denise, daughter Kelsey, and their beloved dog Cleo.
Our Board
Committed through their hours of volunteer time, personal financial support and deep interest in assuring the Center stays a vibrant, active, and involved pillar of the greater Seattle metropolitan community.
Board and Staff: (Seated): Dr. Norward Brooks - Board Advisor, Frances Stephens - Director and Board Vice President, Bettye Scott - Assistant Recording Secretary, (Standing): Kevin Herd -Custodian, Faye Williams - Recording Secretary and Publicity Chairperson, Iva Tolliver - Board Treasurer, Bobby Brown - Board Member and Facilities Assistant, Mabel Alexander - Board President, Peggy Foxx- Office Manager and Ron Flynn - Facilities Manager
In memory of our Founder - Mrs. T. Marie Floyd
The Martin Luther King Family Arts Mentoring Enrichment Community Center Board and Staff pay tribute and honor to Mrs. Theresa Marie Floyd - the Founder of the MLK FAME Community Center and Board Member. The board feels blessed to have served with a woman of wisdom that loved the Lord, her family and her community.
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There would not be a MLK FAME Community Center had it not been for the vision of Mrs. T. Marie Floyd. When the MLK Elementary school became unoccupied as did many Seattle Public Schools in the community, Mrs. Floyd took action because she had history with the MLK Elementary School. Her children and grandchildren had attended the school. Mrs. Floyd was always a dedicated educator at heart serving as teacher, principal and other positions in the Seattle Public School District. In her retirement she still had a passion to enrich her community.
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Mrs. Floyd lived many years in the Madison Park Community only blocks away from the MLK Elementary School and would often drive pass the school and was bothered that it was unoccupied. She set out on a mission to obtain the building in some capacity and in 2008 Mrs. Floyd and the School Advisory Committee met with the Madison Valley Neighborhood Organization. She then brought in the right people to assist in her mission. Under the leadership and blessings of Pastor Carey G. Anderson of First AME Church along with nine of its members, in 2011 the church was able to acquire the building from the Seattle School Board with funds from the State of Washington Commerce Department with the leadership and encouragement of Mrs. Floyd.
Acquiring the Center shows her leadership ability, compassion for her community and the resilience of what a strong Black woman can do when on a mission to do good.
The Board will also honor Mrs. T. Marie Floyd by naming the conference room at the Center in her honor, since this is where she attended many board meetings sharing her wisdom and her famous homemade monkey bread and other home-made treats. But mostly we appreciate the love she shared with each board member.
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We say thank you to Mrs. T. Marie Floyd.
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The Board and Staff of the MLK FAME Community Center