Juneteenth Muncie 2022 - 2023 Committee
Committee Chairs
Anitra Davis
Anitra Davis is a Muncie native who serves as a supervisor for the Department of Commerce. She prides herself on being positive, professional, and helpful to all she encounters. Anitra has great admiration for community focused initiatives and that admiration is one of the many reasons she revitalized and has been dedicated to the success of the Juneteenth Muncie Celebration since 2020. Anitra previously held a position on the Muncie City Council. Although Anitra moved from Muncie in 2022 to pursue a different career, she has been determined to make the commute to Muncie during the planning and implementation of the annual event.
Even while living in another state, Anitra is grateful to serve and give back to the community that has poured into her life. She credits the Muncie community for helping her to become the confident woman, advocate, servant, and leader that she is today. Anitra is a mother, wife and “Lolli” to her grand babies. She serves as the co-chair for Juneteenth Muncie.
Dorica Watson
Dorica Young-Watson is a social worker, certified Life Coach, Community Advocate, Trainer, owner of Own Your Change Coaching & Consulting and serves as the Director of Community Engagement at Open Door Health Services. On top of all of those roles, she is also a proud Ball State University Alum. She holds many professional certifications and has been awarded numerous honors including Social Worker of the Year Indiana Region 6 and ATHENA International Leadership Awardee.
Dorica is passionate about people having served on many youth/family focused boards and committees in Delaware County. She is a member of The Church of the Living God, Immediate Past President of Women In Business Unlimited, WIBU and Co-Chair for Juneteenth Muncie. She is a wife, mother and holds the special title of GiGi.
Committee Members
Anitra Montgomery
Anitra Montgomery is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at Ivy Tech Anderson. With over 16 years of social work experience, Anitra has a deeply rooted passion for the communities she lives and works in. Anitra’s dedication shows through her volunteerism with Muncie Youth Programs such as Concrete Rose and Muncie Youth Empowerment.Anitra is a proud member and 2nd Vice President of the illustrious sorority of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,INC.- AMAC Chapter. AMAC has held her to a high standard of serving her community which is demonstrated through her various boards and committees such as NEGASI Gardens and Agriculture, Muncie Branch NAACP and most recently, the YWCA of Muncie.
Anitra was born and raised in Muncie, IN. She is a devoted big sister to all her younger brothers and a proud mother to her son, Malikai Perry, also known as, ‘Gods Handsome Messenger’. Although her commitment to service within the communities she resides and works in is important, her faith takes precedence. On Sunday mornings you will find Anitra being spiritually fed by her Pastor and First Lady, Andre and Devon Mitchell at Deliverance Temple Church in Muncie, IN.
Alisa Wells
Alisa Wells is the Executive Director of Community Engagement & Wraparound Support for Ivy Tech Community College in Muncie, Indiana. With over a dozen years’ experience in Higher Education, she is focused on empowering others to be the best representation of themselves, helping teams thrive and organizations maximize performance. She currently leads the college’s Single Mom Success initiative designed to improve completion rates for single mothers by intentionally addressing the unique needs of this population. She holds a M.A. in Organizational Leadership from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a bachelor’s of Social Work degree from Ball State University.
She has over twenty years’ experience working with under-represented individuals, communities and serves on various boards of directors in the Muncie community and beyond. Alisa married to her husband of 17 years, Gawen Wells and they have a blended family of 8 children.
Jasmine Taylor
Erika Serf
B. Simone Kendrick
Belinda King
Belinda King has a long time Muncie residence and is married to Neil King Senior. Together they have five wonderful children, fifteen grand-babies, and two great-grand-babies. Belinda’s passion is to bring about change in the community which is why she became a part of the Juneteenth Muncie committee. She has been a member for the past four years and has worked to bring awareness to the community and the people that live in the community.
Dr. Dominyse Carey DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Dr. Dominyse Carey is a family-nurse practitioner in Muncie. She is the owner of Rejuvenate Muncie LLC and is also a Nursing Faculty member at Ball State University. Dr. Carey is very passionate to represent her community and peers on several boards in addition to this committee: Muncie Community Engagement Council, Ball State Nursing Alumni Board, Central Indiana Red Cross Board, and the Motivate Our Minds Board. Dr. Carey received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing (2015) and Masters of Science in Nursing (2018) from Ball State University, and her Doctorate of Nursing Practice (2021) from Indiana State University.
Dr. Carey was the 2022 recipient of the Young Athena Award. She is a mother of 2 children and lives in Muncie with her fiancé, Josh. As a Muncie native, it is her passion to make this city a pleasant home for herself and others, by working to better the community and provide positive opportunities for all.
Lanisha Huggins
Lanisha Huggins is a dedicated and accomplished professional who received her Bachelors degree from Ball State University and her Masters degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, Lanisha moved to Muncie to attend Ball State University. Throughout her career, Lanisha has gained valuable experience through her work with numerous volunteer organizations, demonstrating her commitment to giving back to her community.
Her passion for service and dedication to excellence have earned her the respect of her colleagues and peers. She is a dedicated wife and has made Muncie her new home by her investments in the community.
Tara Gudger, BSW
Tara Gudger is a proud mother of five wonderful children: Raymond Gudger, Taryn Williams, Nathaniel Williams, Tamera Williams, and Brendon Barker. She is a social worker, who serves as the student assistance coordinator and athletic Director at Northside middle school. Tara serves on several boards in Muncie. She expressed that serving on the Juneteenth committee with all of the talented, accomplished and beautiful black women, since it’s inception has been and continues to be a joy.
As a Muncie native, Tara has always been deeply invested in her community and everyone who has met her speaks on what a positive impact she has made in their life.
Krista Garrett
Krista Garrett has worked in the field of Social Work specific to children, families, and child welfare for the past 25 years. For 19 of those years Krista has served proudly with the Indiana Department of Child Services in many facets. Krista is the current Local Office Director of the Indiana Department of Child Services, Delaware County where she leads a team dedicated to partnering with families and our community in ensuring the safety of our children and best outcomes for families. Krista is an alumnus of Ball State University’s School of Social Work and is currently working towards her Master of Social Work degree and will graduate in July 2023. In 2022, Krista was the recipient of the Vivian Conley award specific to Protection of Children.
While Krista has dedicated her personal and professional life to helping others, her most important and cherished role is that of a wife to her husband, Douglas Sr. of 19 years and mother to Kalyse, Jaden, and her three bonus children, as well as being a member of Deliverance Temple Church.
Krista serves on countless boards and committees either as a representative of the Indiana Department of Child Services, Delaware County or as a member of the Muncie community. To name a few, Krista proudly serves as a staff board member of Deliverance Temple Church, is the current Chair of the YWCA Central Indiana Board of Directors, and member of the Muncie Juneteenth Committee. Krista is a lifelong Muncie resident and strongly believes in strengthening and supporting the community.
