Co-Founders
Meet Our Co-Founders
Creative visionaries founded PACT in 1963, the time of civil rights unrest and Langston Hughes’ Dream Deferred poems.
Dr. Henry Lucas, DDS
In Memoriam
Dr. Henry Lucas, DDS
In Memoriam
Dr. Henry Lucas was born in Rahway, N.J. He was a graduate of Howard University, earned a degree in dentistry from Meharry Medical College and did his postgraduate studies in orthodontics at the San Francisco campus of University of the Pacific.
He served as a dentist in the Air Force before going into private practice as a dental surgeon at the Sutter Place Dental Office Group in San Francisco as an associate with Dr. Daniel Collins.
As part of his professional achievements, Lucas was a past president of the California State Board of Dental Examinations and Licensing, and was a lecturer at the University of California School of Dentistry. He was also a longtime member of the boards of Charles Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, and of his alma mater Meharry Medical College, where he endowed the Henry Lucas, DDS Scholarship Fund in 1997 to assist promising dental students.
Lucas was one of the first African Americans to serve on the Republican National Committee, which then stood for the socio-economic development of middle class America. It is his interest in the stock market that drew Lucas to San Francisco’s Financial District, where he eventually befriended Everett Brandon, a stockbroker at the time. They co-founded PACT in 1963 to change the status quo: armed with a doctor’s business card and a great deal of persuasion, the co-founders literally and figuratively opened the doors of downtown employment to their community, essentially starting PACT as a free job placement office.
A steadfast advocate for minority economic and educational advancement, both at the national and local level, in addition to PACT, Lucas co-founded and served on the board of directors for the Time Savings and Loan Association in San Francisco.
Lucas remains etched in the memory of PACT as an enthusiastic supporter and leader of the education, business, and workforce development efforts of PACT, advocating for underrepresented communities.
Everett Brandon, J.D.
Co-Founder & Board Chair
Everett Brandon, J.D.
Co-Founder & Board Chair
Everett Brandon was born in the Panama Canal Zone. He attended high schools in both Gary, Indiana and Los Angeles, California and furthered his education by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in public administration from UCLA and later a Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley School of Law. Before his time at UCLA, he served in the U.S. Army during the onset of the Korean War. While at UCLA, he spent a summer in India through the Project India program.
Upon completing his studies at UCLA, Everett moved to San Francisco to participate in the Coro Fellowship in Public Affairs. This immersive program provided him with valuable internships across various city departments and public institutions. Soon after, he embarked on a journey with the NAACP as a Field Secretary for its West Coast region. During this time, Everett collaborated with eminent figures from the association and played a pivotal role in Sacramento, advocating for monumental legislations such as the Rumford Fair Employment Act, the Hawkins Fair Housing Act, and the Unruh Public Accommodations Act.
Transitioning from the NAACP, Everett made history by becoming the first Black stockbroker in downtown San Francisco. Recognizing the rampant segregation and the disparities faced by minorities, he co-founded PACT Inc. (Plan of Action for Challenging Times) alongside Dr. Henry Lucas. This effort aimed to improve employment, educational opportunities, and support for small businesses for minorities, especially in the heavily segregated downtown and financial districts of San Francisco.
As PACT’s founding Executive Director, Everett’s responsibilities spanned funding, staffing, and program development. His tireless efforts bore fruit when he successfully secured funding from the Economic Development Administration and the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) Act under President Lyndon Johnson’s administration. This achievement led to his appointment by Mayor John Shelley as the inaugural Executive Director of the San Francisco Economic Opportunity Council. After his tenure, Everett returned to PACT, eventually relocating its offices to its current address on Divisadero Street. He later established Everett Brandon and Associates, offering community development consultancy services both locally and nationally.
Everett’s expertise was also sought after by institutions like the Urban Affairs Program at Columbia University. He served on the board of the Phelps-Stokes Foundation in New York and represented the foundation in funded programs across various African countries on both coasts. Additionally, he chaired the San Francisco Mental Health Board, and undertook contracts with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, where he was also a Public Affairs Officer.
In his current endeavors, Everett is Chair of PACT Inc., and an active member of the Marin County Commission on Aging. He has served on the Marin County Behavioral Health Board, the Marin City Community Development Corporation, and was an elected member of the Marin City Community Services District Board
Dr. Daniel Collins, DDS
In Memoriam
Dr. Daniel Collins, DDS
In Memoriam
Dr. Daniel Collins was born in 1916 in Darlington, S.C. and grew up in the segregated South. He graduated from Paine College in Augusta, Ga. And earned his D.D.S. from Meharry Medical College in Nashville.
In 1942, Dr. Collins and his wife DeReath relocated to the Bay Area amidst a tide of war workers. He would later recall the journey with vivid imagery of fellow passengers armed with humble belongings. Advancing his education, he secured a master’s degree from UCSF School of Dentistry, launching a notable 33-year private practice.
Dr. Daniel Collins was the first black professor at the University of California at San Francisco School of Dentistry and was named a Distinguished Alumnus in 1995.
He was an activist in the dental profession, a member of the house of delegates of the California Dental Association and the board of directors of the San Francisco Dental Society, and served as a trustee for four Universities.
Dr. Collins was one of the first black men in the country to serve on corporate boards. He co-founded the San Francisco Urban League, which would become the Bay Area Urban League and the first black-owned savings and loan in San Francisco. He would eventually serve as vice chairman on the board of the National Urban League, which awarded him its highest honor, the Whitney M. Young Medallion, in 1989.
He helped to create the Church for the Fellowship of All People, one of the first nondenominational, interracial churches in the country; and what today is known as Lifehouse, a residential and counseling center for people with developmental disabilities located in San Rafael, Marin County. The Collins fought tirelessly for the mentally disabled and were instrumental in promoting the passage of the landmark Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act of 1969.
In addition to his civil rights activism and dental profession leadership, Dr Collins distinguished himself in education, being appointed by former Gov. Pat Brown to the state Board of Education in 1960. Yet, amidst all these accolades, Dr. Collins’ heart remained with mentorship. Generations of young men benefited from his wisdom, guidance, and stature. He became the inaugural Chair of PACT Inc., cementing his legacy as a luminary in service, education, and mentorship.
In Memoriam
Louis Barnett, In Memoriam
Louis Barnett, affectionately known as “Barney” and a native of Athens, GA, was a passionate advocate for minority small businesses. A proud alumnus of Morehouse College, he earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration from UCLA.
Louis Barnett
In Memoriam
Louis Barnett, affectionately known as “Barney” and a native of Athens, GA, was a passionate advocate for minority small businesses. A proud alumnus of Morehouse College, he earned his Bachelor’s in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration from UCLA.
He joined PACT, Inc., in its early years pioneering its Minority Small Business Assistance and Development Program. In this role, he filled a significant need by bringing vital expertise in financing, business plans, location, insurance, leasing, contracts, and financial planning to minority businesses. He participated in securing grants and contracts from agencies like the US Small Business Administration and the Economic Development Administration to further aid PACT’s Minority Small Business programs. He was pivotal in the formation of the Minority Contractors Association and championed the Section 8A Participation. Due to his leadership, in 1976 PACT contracted with the State of California Department of Finance to operate the Northern California Regional Corporation providing loans similar to the Small Business Administration and the added responsibility of monitoring the loans and providing post loan support. His instrumental role with the Northern California Regional Corporation Program provided for the creation of Time Savings and Loan located at Van Ness Avenue and Post, and First Enterprise Bank located on Montgomery Street in the San Francisco Financial District.
Known for his warm, affable and service-oriented nature, Barney became Executive Director of PACT and later served on its Board of Directors until he was honored with the title of Emeritus. His influence reached political heights, advising luminaries such as Congressman and Mayor Ron Dellums and Congresswoman Barbara Lee. His legacy, built on dedication, expertise, and a genuine desire to uplift others, remains an inspiration to PACT and to all who knew him.