Jose Raul Carrillo was born on St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands on September 16, 1951 in the area known as Downstreet.  During his formative years he lived in Savan where his parents owned and operated the Red Ball Grocery.  Raul is the sixth of seven children born to Jose Ismael and Leonor G. Carrillo. Educated at Sts. Peter and Paul grammar and high schools, Raul earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1975 from the College (University) of the Virgin Islands in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Raul lives by the philosophy that one has to invest in the community in which one lives.  He has always managed to give back of his free time.  Raul has been a member of various civic organizations and has served on the Board of Directors of the St. Thomas-St. John Arts Council, Chaired the  Relay for Life Committee of the American Cancer Society St. Thomas-St. John Chapter for three years and the Environmental Association of St. Thomas-St. John.  He is currently serving as Vice President of the Family Resource Center (previously served as President) and as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Virgin Islands Council on the Arts and board member of Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, a regional Arts Agency located in Baltimore, Maryland.   He was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Virgin Islands Public Television  System.   (back)

April Moran Newland is no stranger to public service.  She has been a resident of the Virgin Islands since 1969. Ms. Newland owns and operates a real estate brokerage firm, Newland Real Estate. April has served on the St. Thomas/St. John Board of Realtors and the Virgin Islands Territorial Association of Realtors, Inc. as a Past President. She has also served on the National Association of Realtors.

April Newland is the recipient of several public service recognition awards, including:

• Business Woman of the Year

• Realtor of the Year

• Governor’s Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Community Service

• Realtor of Distinction

• Chairman, Operation Impact

Michelle Smitherman moved to St. Thomas in January 2004, after living three and a half years as an international volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Botswana. Before moving to Botswana, she worked at the Washington Post newspaper for approximately 13 years. This is her second year on the Family Resource Board of Directors and was recently elected as Board Secretary. She is also a member of the Habitat for Humanity Virgin Island Board of Directors. Ms. Smitherman is a volunteer at heart. Some of her work includes being a foster parent with Catholic Charities in Washington, D.C., volunteering at the Whitman Walker AIDS Clinic, assisting nursery staff at the St. Louise Home for Children, working with the United Way, and tutoring at risk children in English at the Maya Angelou School for Urban Youth, all in the D.C. area.

Ms. Smitherman has a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Maryland, College Park and is currently working at the University of the Virgin Islands in the Office of Institutional Advancement.