About Us

Welcome to The Gilliam Foundation, where we believe in creating equitable opportunities for all.

About The Gilliam Foundation

Community service and servant leadership are two key values that James H. Gilliam, Sr. and his wife Louise Hayley Gilliam instilled in their children, James Jr. and daughter, Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson. As a reflection of the importance of giving back to the community, The Gilliam Foundation was formed in 1998 by James Gilliam Jr, to serve as the vehicle for the Gilliam family to providing capital resources to the Wilmington community and more specifically, to nonprofit organizations focused on improving the lives and conditions of communities of color.

Our History

A family foundation from the beginning, Jim, Jr. served as Chairman of the Foundation until his untimely passing in 2003. Currently, Jim’s sister Dr. Patrice Gilliam-Johnson serves as President and Chair of The Foundation; cousin, Dr. Cydney Teal, serves as Vice-President, daughters of Jim Jr,-. Leslie Gilliam and Alexis Gilliam Lerner serve as Treasurer and Director, respectively; Micah Johnson, nephew of Jim Jr. also serves as a Director.

At its’ inception, Jim Jr. contributed more than $7 million dollars to fund the operation. To date, The Gilliam Foundation has provided over $10 million in grants to Delaware based community organizations and continues to be a thriving grantfunding pipeline for nonprofit organizations in need of financial resources.

Meet Our Board of Directors

Every member of our board of directors is a thought leader who has made significant contributions to our society. Each one brings a unique set of skills and expertise to our organization.

Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Ph.D.

President and Board Chair

Dr. Gilliam-Johnson is serving as Interim Provost and Chief Academic Officer at Delaware State University. Before coming to DSU, Dr. Gilliam-Johnson served as Secretary of Labor for the State of Delaware. She earned her BS in Psychology from Morgan State University, and both an MA and Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at the University of Maryland, College Park. She has worked as a consultant for many types of organizations in the areas of leadership, systemic transformation, cultural competency, and human resilience.

Dr. Cydney Teal

CO Founder of Delaware Health Equity Coalition

Cydney Teal, MD is a primary care physician, Certified Physician Executive and Chief Medical Officer for Reciprocity Health.

Dr. Teal holds dual board certifications in Internal Medicine and Family Medicine and has been practicing for over 20 years.

Leslie Gilliam, LMFT

Director – Treasurer

Leslie Gilliam was born and bred in Wilmington, Delaware and is the daughter of Randilyn Gilliam and James H. Gilliam Jr. and the Granddaughter of Louise and James Gilliam Sr. She has sat on the board and served as Treasurer of The Gilliam Foundation since its inception. Leslie is a licensed psychotherapist in Los Angeles, California, where she works in community mental health clinics as well as private practice. Leslie received her MA from Antioch University and her BA from Clark Atlanta University. Through her work at the Gilliam Foundation, the mental health field, attending an HBCU, and as a former actor, Leslie has developed a passion to help people of color gain access to equal education, mental health services and creative experiences.

Alexis Gilliam-Lerner

Board Member

Alexis G Lerner is the daughter of Randilyn and James Gilliam Jr. She is the granddaughter of James and Louise Gilliam Sr.

She graduated with a BA in Mass Media Studies from Hampton University in Virginia, and holds a MA in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University in Los Angeles. Alexis is a practicing psychotherapist is Los Angeles with a strong emphasis in social justice. She considers her professional life to be a full circle moment, drawing from the values of her parents and grandparents.

Micah Johnson