Chris Canale, Jr. , Chairman, Old Dominick
David Work, Treasurer, Financial Services Industry
Frank Crump, FHN Financial
Charlotte Henderson, Reynolds Bone & Griesbeck, PLC
Betty Isom, Community Representative, Emmanuel Center
Anthony Norris, YMCA
Dr. Rebecca Scott, The University of Memphis Campus School
Faith Watson, The University of Memphis

Meet the people who promote our mission

Emmanuel Center was born as Emmanuel Episcopal Center, an outreach of the Episcopal Diocese of West Tennessee. It was 1989, and the Rev. Colenzo J. Hubbard was hired as Executive Director to serve the residents of South Memphis – one of the poorest neighborhoods in the nation. Emmanuel Center started in the most common of places – a game of touch football on a strip of dry dirt and dead grass. That game started as a simple way for Father Hubbard to pass a warm autumn afternoon with five young boys. What followed was more than an afternoon of fun – it was the start of one of the strongest inner-city outreach programs Memphis has ever seen. In 2016, Emmanuel Center was launched as a 501(c)3 non-profit and today continues to serve the families of the 38126 ZIP code.  After 30 years faithfully serving as Executive Director, Father Colenzo Hubbard retired in 2020.

Board of Directors

Joi Biddle,

Joi Biddle serves as the Executive Assistant to Executive Director at Emmanuel Center, where she supports daily operations, communications and program coordination. A former participant as a teen, Joi was actively involved in the Center's former "Prime Time" program. Prime Time was a space that provided support, connection and enrichment for high school students and was a highlight for many during her generation. This full-circle experience fuels her passion for creating the same safe, supportive environment that once impacted her own life. With a background in administrative support and behavioral health, she plays a key role in supporting youth development programs and strengthening connections with families in the South City community. In her spare time, Joi enjoys spending time her dog, Pink.

Angie Johnson, Executive Director

Our history

Roslyn Crayton, Director of Programming

Angie Johnson became the Executive Director of Emmanuel Center in 2020, bringing more than two decades of experience and a deep commitment to the organization’s mission. A native Memphian, Angie began her work with Emmanuel Center in 2004 as Development Director.
Prior to joining the Center, Angie worked in the Development Office at Crichton College and later served as a consultant for a local firm. It was during her time as a consultant that she first became connected to Emmanuel Center. After witnessing the life-changing impact of its youth programs, she knew she had found her calling.
Today, Angie leads Emmanuel Center with passion and dedication, serving children and families in the community. Outside of her work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and takes great pride in her sons—one a graduate of University of Memphis and one currently pursuing his degree