2025 Community Leader's Brunch

Trina K. Ita is the Deputy Executive Commissioner for Behavioral Health Services at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) with over 30 years of experience in behavioral health in the public and private sectors.  She is responsible for overseeing a budget of over $1.5 billion dollars directed towards the implementation of statewide policy and delivery of community-based services and support for people with behavioral health conditions.  She also serves as the Single State Authority Representative for the Texas Mental Health and Substance Use Prevention Treatment and Recovery Services (MH & SUPTRS) Block Grants. 

Mrs. Ita has spent the last 15 years supporting and directing various behavioral health programs at HHSC, the Department of State Health Services, and the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS).  Most recently, she served as the first Chief Strategist of the Office of Behavioral Health Strategy at DFPS, a position created  by the Texas State Legislature to help DFPS better address the behavioral health needs of children and families.  Mrs. Ita is a licensed professional counselor with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from THE Tuskegee University, and a Master's Degree in Community Agency Counseling from Kean University in New Jersey.  She is currently a Ph.D candidate at the Cummings Graduate Institute for Behavioral Health Studies.

She has a passion for service as evidenced by her chosen profession, and in her personal life.  She is a proud member of the Tuskegee Alumni Association of Central Texas (TUACCT), and a Soror of the illustrious Austin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.  She hails from Sioux City, Iowa, and spent a significant portion of her life in Racine, Wisconsin.  Trina currently resides in Austin, Texas with her loving husband Essien Ita, where they rasied three wonderful children, Eyo, Nsa, and Enang.

Rudy is a dynamic, award winning attorney. government relations professional, and community leader, with a passion for helping his clients achieve their goals through a holistic approach.

He leverages his experience representing state agencies and other govermental entities in a broad range of legal matters ranging from federal appellate review of state agency actions, to strategic counsel on multi-billion dollar public procurement contracts.  While at the Texas Capital, he draws on his background in public policy and extensive network to amplify his clients' voices and deliver meaningful results.

The son of Haitian immigrants, Rudy is the first generation in his family to graduate from college, public policy school, and law school.  He has been a tireless advocate in the community, speaking and working on a host of issues ranging from teaching at-risk children, co-authoring an honor code for the University of Texas, helping form a partnership with local law enforcement and the State Bar to address the issue of community policing, and creating pro bono legal advice clinics for U.S. veterans.  He has been recognized numerous times as one of the most infuential young professionals in Texas.

Rudy serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas School of Law, where he advises students in the university's well known Advocacy Program. He also serves as Councilmember of the City of Pflugerville, where he enjoys contributing solutions to the growing city where he lives with his wife Letisha, and their three daughters:  Celeste, Arielyn, and Brooklyn.

In his free time, Rudy enjoys various activities including reading, exercising, and cheering on his beloved Texas Longhorns in whatever sport they are competing in. 

LaKissa Bright's passion for helping children get a good start in life motivated her to start Ladders For Leaders in 2018, the second non-profit founded by her.  In 2007, she created the Helping Hands Austin organization to provide back-to-school clothes and shoes to children in need.  Her years of experience there led LaKissa to recognize that there is a serious need for high school students to obtain meaningful work experience prior to graduation.  LaKissa believes that by giving young people a positive entry into the workforce, the confidence and knowledge they gain will help them throughout their life.

LaKissa is a long-time children's advocate, volunteering with organizations such as Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC), several Parent Teacher Associations, the Round Rock ISD Safety and Security Task Force, and the Round Rock ISD Council of PTA's.  LaKissa also served as the Financial Secretary on the Austin Delta Foundation Board of Directors, has been a committed volunteer with the youth ministry and scholarship committee at her church, Chaired a youth program for males with The Austin Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and is a graduate of the 2016 Round Rock ISD Leadership Class.  LaKissa holds a Computer Information Systems Degree from the University of Northern Colorado and an MA from the University of Denver in Technology Management.  She is also a Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and has held several computer security certificates.

LaKissa is a proud resident of Round Rock, where she, her husband, and their two children relocated from Denver, Colorado in 2007.  LaKissa worked for IBM for 15 years before deciding to pursue her passions in 2015.  In her spare time, LaKissa enjoys downtime with family, socializing with friends, and traveling.

Born and raised in Gulfport, Mississippi, Cameron T. Morgan Sr. embodies the values of community, perseverance, and service.  From an early age he developed a deep appreciation for the power of relationships, and the importance of giving back - lessons that continue to guide both his proessional and personal journey.

After graduating from Harrison Central High School, Cameron earned a basketball scholarship to Huston-Tillotson University in Austin, Texas, where he completed his Bachelor of Business Management and Administration from the School of Business and Technology.  While at Huston-Tillotson, he was initiated into the Delta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Incorporated, a brotherhood that continues to shape his commitment to leadership, scholarship, and service.  He is also an active member of the 100 Black Men of Austin, where he contributes to mentorship, health, and youth empowerment initiatives.

Professionally, Cameron has built a career at the intersection of business, technology, and community impact.  He began in the Information Technology industry, serving as an Account Executive with Toshiba Business Solutions of America, before joining the San Diego based global startup Seismic Software as a Revenue Development Specialist. His experience in corporate business development and technology positioned him to understand both enterprise-level growth strategy and local-level relationship building.

In 2022, Cameron founded Morgan & Associates, LLC. an Austin based business development and strategic partnerships firm that helps organizations expand their reach, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and create meaningful community impact.  Through Morgan & Associates, he has collaborated with local governments, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners to drive equitable economic development and innovative public-private partnerships across Central Texas.

Beyond his professional pursuits, Cameron is deeply committed to mentorship and family.  A proud Head Start graduate and first generation college graduate, he credits his parents and family, positive role models, and mentors for shaping his path - and now dedicates his time paying it forward through initiatives that empower youth, strengthen families, and foster community leadership.

Cameron is married to Amber Simone Morgan, and together they are proud parents of Cameron T. Morgan Jr. (8) and Samara Jae Morg