Vernon Rawls
Presentation Topic | Local Community Engagement
Vernon Rawls is a graduate from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in Business Management. He began his career in sales and marketing and later moved on to Warehouse/Supply auditing for a Non-Profit Organization before transitioning into Corporate Finance. In his role as co-founder and Chief Financial Officer at eXclusive Services Inc. Vernon oversees an annual multi-million dollar budget and has developed strategies in eXclusive Services’ capital structure that align with the organization’s long-term financial goals. He enjoys his role as CFO and is well respected in the community and by his peers. Mr. Rawls is also a Chemical Dependency Counselor Assistant certified by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board. He specializes in Psychoeducation and Reality Therapy with a proactive approach to recovery. Mr. Rawls is an avid community activist and volunteer who has been recognized by the City of Cincinnati Human Relations Commission as a 2014 “Youth Service” award honoree. Vernon is currently serving as a Youth Advocate for the Hamilton County Youth Advocate Program, where he engages at-risk Black males ages 13-18 who are involved with the Hamilton County Juvenile Courts.
In December of 2014 Vernon participated in a traditional African naming ceremony to re-introduce himself to his extended family, friends, and community as “Chuma Lumamba.” He has traced his African ancestry to Nigeria and the Congo, which he visited in November 2021. In 2011 Chuma co-founded the “Conscious Mind Study Group where he is the current Chairman. The Conscious Mind Study Group promotes the continued study of world history from an African lens, beginning with pre-dynastic to the current. The Former Mayor of Cincinnati John Cranley issued him a proclamation on behalf of The City of Cincinnati proclaiming June 17th, 2017 as “The Conscious Mind Study Group Day” for his continued commitment to the Afrikan Community as the founder of The Conscious Mind Study Group initiative.
Chuma is also the current Chairman for “CPAC” (Cincinnati Pan-Afrikan Coalition). The coalition creates & implements activities designed to connect the Cincinnati Pan-Afrikan Community with the rest of the Afrikan Diaspora. The coalition is also dedicated to establishing independence for All Afrikan Nations and cultivating unity among Afrikans at home and abroad. CPAC has working partnerships in several Afrikan nations including Ghana, Gambia, Nigeria, Zambia & Congo. The coalition has established contacts within the AU (African Union) and plans to broaden its international efforts to promote the total sovereignty of all Afrikan countries.
Chuma combines resources from both aforementioned organizations to carry the “Cultural Torch” locally by serving on committees responsible for citywide programming related to: Rites of Passage Training, Afrikan Liberation Day, Juneteenth, Marcus Garvey Day, and Kwanzaa. Recently, he responded to a request to bring “Black History Month” programming inside of Lebanon Correctional Institution were more than 50 incarcerated Black Men were able to participate in the cultural experience. Most recently, Chuma facilitated the raising of the Red, Black & Green Liberation Flag at Cincinnati City Hall on February 11th, 2022.
Chuma considers himself to be a humble servant and soldier for each of his community endeavors as well as the epitome of a leader whose primary mission is “Community Engagement.”