officers

Officers

Sarah O’Neal Rush, MA – Great-granddaughter of Booker T. Washington
BTWEN Founder and Executive Director

Sarah earned an AA degree in Business Administration from the College of Alameda,
a BA in Business Management from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA, and an MA
in Professional Psychology from JFK University in Pleasant Hill, CA. Sarah has
worked in the field of psychotherapy, as a counselor for individuals, couples, families,
and groups. In 2002 she began working in a nonprofit counseling agency funded by
Alameda County Probation to divert “at-risk” youth from entering the juvenile justice
system by providing them with counseling, case management, and crisis intervention
services. She has been an administrator for a youth crises receiving home, and also
provided social work for a level 12 foster group home.

Sarah is the founder and executive director of Extraordinary Legacy, and BTWEN,
Inc. Both organizations were created to carry on the legacy of her great-grandfather,
Booker T. Washington, of uplifting people. She is the coauthor of “Timeless
Treasures – Reflections of God’s Word in the Wisdom of Booker T. Washington."
Like her great-grandfather, Sarah has a passion for lifting those who have strong
desires, but trouble lifting themselves.

Her famous family legacy also includes her maternal great aunt and her namesake,
Sarah Meriwether Nutter, one of the founders of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. And
she is a first cousin of a U.S. Congresswoman, the Honorable Diane E. Watson.

Sarah is a native of California. She was raised in Oakland. She currently lives in San
Lorenzo with her husband Anthony, and daughter Iesha.

Speaking/Writing Resume Mental Health Resume

Jacqueline Bautista, MS, “Jacque”
Director

Jacque earned an MS degree in Psychology. Currently she is working as a Marriage
and Family Therapist, MFT, Intern with the City of Hayward Police Department,
working towards MFT licensure. She works with “at-risk” youth and their families in a
program funded by the Alameda County Probation department, designed to divert
youth from ending up in the juvenile detention system.

Jacque is passionate about working with “at-risk” youth, and conducting counseling
and workshops with families, parents and couples. She currently lives in Oakland, CA
with her husband, and three children.

A. Joyce Grant, MBA, “Joyce”
Director

Joyce is the controller and a partner with ARES Corporation in Burlingame, CA. She
has over 20 years of accounting experience. She earned a BS degree in finance and
accounting, and an MBA from Holy Names University in Oakland, CA.

Joyce is a native of Dallas, TX. She has lived in the San Francisco/Bay Area all of her
adult life. Joyce is the mother of three adult children, and step mother of 2 adult
children. She currently lives in San Leandro, CA with her husband Olen Grant. They
are both active members of Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, where her
husband is a member of the deacon board.

Ronald Milton Abernathy, Esq., “Ron”
Director

Ron is the parking supervisor for the City of Oakland, where he oversees the
enforcement unit and the hearing officers. He earned a BA degree from Ottawa
University in Ottawa, KS, and a JD degree from Hastings School of Law in San
Francisco, CA.

Among several memberships, he is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and
the Allen Temple Baptist Church deacon board. He lives in Oakland with his wife Lisa.
Ron facilitates the annual J. Alfred Smith, Sr. golf tournament to raise money for
charity. Ron is also the nephew of the great civil rights activist, Ralph Abernathy.

Anthony W. Rush, “Tony”
Director

Anthony attended North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, NC before joining
the United States Air Force. After four years of service in the Air Force, he went on to
work for United Airlines where he has been employed since 1989. Anthony is also the
president and CEO of A&S Enterprises, an umbrella company involved in acquiring
investment property, and setting up merchant service accounts, and legal service
plans.

Anthony often volunteers his time to help organizations which serve disadvantaged
populations, including the Junior League, the NBA Player's Association's Feed the
5000 Program, and San Leandro High School's annual career day.

Anthony is one of the original members, and the co-chair of the San Leandro African-
American Business Council. He is also a member of the Allen Temple Baptist Church
deacon board. He is a native of Laurinburg, North Carolina. Currently he lives with his
wife Sarah, and their daughter in San Lorenzo, California.

OFFICERS

		Sarah O'Neal Rush, MA
		Jacqueline Bautista, MS
		A. Joyce Grant, MBA
		Ronald Milton Abernathy, Esq
		Anthony W. Rush

A 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

We should not be discouraged . . . No man discouraged ever wins a victory.
Booker T. Washington

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON
EMPOWERMENT NETWORK, Inc., BTWEN
presents . . .
The Up From Freedom Project
and the future
Booker T. Washington Dream Center™