Bio and Pictures
Modupe Taylor-Pearce is the President of LGCI. He lives in Sierra Leone. He is a business turn-around specialist. He was born and raised in Sierra Leone. He earned his BSc degree at the United States Military Academy (West Point), and is still the only Sierra Leonean to ever graduate from that prestigious institution of leadership. After West Point, he returned to Sierra Leone, where he served during the Civil War. He later returned to the USA to complete his Masters in engineering/Manufacturing at Cornell University. With his business and military leadership background, he has successfully led the financial recovery of various companies in the USA, Africa, and Europe. Modupe is married (Renee), with 3 children.
Modupe Taylor-Pearce is the President of LGCI. He lives in Sierra Leone. He is a business turn-around specialist. He was born and raised in Sierra Leone. He earned his BSc degree at the United States Military Academy (West Point), and is still the only Sierra Leonean to ever graduate from that prestigious institution of leadership. After West Point, he returned to Sierra Leone, where he served during the Civil War. He later returned to the USA to complete his Masters in engineering/Manufacturing at Cornell University. With his business and military leadership background, he has successfully led the financial recovery of various companies in the USA, Africa, and Europe. Modupe is married (Renee), with 3 children.
William “Rusty” Bailey- Since graduating from West Point with a degree in political science in 1994, Rusty has worked in a variety of public service positions and has earned a Master's Degree in Public Policy from UCLA.
Rusty is currently the Mayor of Riverside (California).
Among his many accomplishments, Rusty has served as an Armament Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the U.S. Army, and has served as a Legislative Aide for County Supervisor John F. Tavaglione. In addition, Rusty has worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Riverside County Economic Development Agency. He was a member of the City of Riverside Cultural Heritage Board until he was sworn in as a Council Member in December of 2007.
Rusty is married to Judy and has two young daughters, Elizabeth and Julia. He enjoys coaching his older daughter’s soccer team and is a proud supporter of UCLA athletics.
Rusty is currently the Mayor of Riverside (California).
Among his many accomplishments, Rusty has served as an Armament Platoon Leader and Company Executive Officer in the U.S. Army, and has served as a Legislative Aide for County Supervisor John F. Tavaglione. In addition, Rusty has worked for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Riverside County Economic Development Agency. He was a member of the City of Riverside Cultural Heritage Board until he was sworn in as a Council Member in December of 2007.
Rusty is married to Judy and has two young daughters, Elizabeth and Julia. He enjoys coaching his older daughter’s soccer team and is a proud supporter of UCLA athletics.
Molley Macauley is a seventeen year veteran in the field of education who currently resides in Southern California. She was born in London, England and raised in Sierra Leone, West Africa. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Christian Education from Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Northern Texas. She then attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa Oklahoma, where she graduated with honors and earned a BA in English. After graduation, Molley Macauley moved to Southern California and began her teaching career at West Angeles Christian Academy. In her ten year tenure at West Angeles she won several ‘Teacher of the Year’ Awards and became Academic Dean after six years and later, the Assistant Principal. After completing her Masters of Arts degree in Educational Management from the University of La Verne, she accepted the principal’s position Redondo Beach, California. Molley Macauley now resides with her husband and two children in Rancho Belago, California and has returned to the classroom at the high school level, where she continues to mentor young people. She has served on the board of Educating Young Minds, (EYM), providing academic support and scholarship opportunities to deserving students in the Los Angeles area. Molley and her husband, David, also a seventeen year educator, are owners of Better Grades Now Tutoring Services providing supplemental educational support to kindergarten through college students through out the Inland Empire. Her passion is teaching, and her mission is to use her gifts to educate the whole child –body, mind and spirit. She serves as an encourager and a positive influence for youth and as a motivator of parents in these challenging times.
Wanda Scruggs is the Associate Director for Special Giving at the University of California, Riverside and has been employed for over 20 years serving as Staff Assembly President, Campus United Way Coordinator and past Chair of the Young Women’s Conference. She is also the Praise and Worship Leader and the Director of Music at Cross Word Christian Fellowship.
She is a member of Toastmasters Club 8704 and has served as the past President, and Vice President for Membership and Public Relations. She was one of nine best speakers in the world at the Toastmasters International Speech Contest in 1996. She is also currently the chairperson of the Empowering Young Women’s Conference, sponsored by Riverside Black History Committee, YWCA, and Riverside Community College. She is a current and past member on a number of volunteer boards.
She has been married for 31 years to Melvin Scruggs, musician/teacher, and they have four beautiful daughters, Antoinette, Aretha, Alayna and Adena.
Wanda is a graduate of California Baptist University completing a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Social Science and was voted by professors and administration as the student who exhibited outstanding Espirit de Corp, a prestigious award presented to one evening college student annually.
She is a member of Toastmasters Club 8704 and has served as the past President, and Vice President for Membership and Public Relations. She was one of nine best speakers in the world at the Toastmasters International Speech Contest in 1996. She is also currently the chairperson of the Empowering Young Women’s Conference, sponsored by Riverside Black History Committee, YWCA, and Riverside Community College. She is a current and past member on a number of volunteer boards.
She has been married for 31 years to Melvin Scruggs, musician/teacher, and they have four beautiful daughters, Antoinette, Aretha, Alayna and Adena.
Wanda is a graduate of California Baptist University completing a degree in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Social Science and was voted by professors and administration as the student who exhibited outstanding Espirit de Corp, a prestigious award presented to one evening college student annually.
Renee A. Taylor-Pearce is the Finance and Administrative Director of LGCI. Born and raised in Sierra Leone, Renee came to the US in 1993. She earned her Paralegal degree at Middlesex Community College in New Jersey, her Bachelors degree in Business Management/Economics (Honors) at Kean University in New Jersey, and completed her Masters degree in Business Administration at the California Baptist University in California. She is a passionate advocate of youth education (both academic and spiritual) and supports many educational programs for youth in less fortunate circumstances. She is married to Modupe and they have three young children – Chinua, Mandisa and Makeda.