Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons and Leadership

Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus: Life, Lessons, and Leadership is a collection of inspiring and instructive memories compiled from the decade that Mrs. Parks was a guest in author H.H. Leonard's Washington, DC home. During those years, Mrs. Leonards was able to know the heart, mind, and spirit of the woman who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama city bus on December 1, 1955. The author shares her remembrances, both delightful and somber, in a way that offers readers an intimate and personal glimpse into the personhood of Mrs. Parks.

Mrs. Parks is a seminal point in the history of civil, human, and women's rights. Her story, as told through the eyes of H.H. Leonards, also touches on the journey of African-American women who have somehow managed to survive a system that cared little about the indignities they suffered―from discrimination to sexual assault. While many of her contemporaries attempted to define her as the woman who refused to give up her seat on the bus, she was more than the sum of one pivotal decision. She was decidedly multi-dimensional.

Rosa Parks Beyond the Bus is a personal look into Mrs. Parks' life, her thoughts, her beliefs, and her immense wisdom that moved people― from world leaders Nelson Mandela, Deepak Chopra, and Pope John Paul II to the smallest of children―to seek and revere her presence.

Reverend H.H. Leonards is the founder and chairman of the Mansion On O Street, PIR marketing, O Street Museum Foundation, and Beauty Unites.The Mansion was founded in 1980 as an enterprise whose higher purpose is to provide a unique forum where clients come to learn from one another and foster the development of diversity, the creative process, and the human spirit.H.H. Leonards has also been the executive director of a global computer foundation. in this capacity, she was responsible for the distribution of more than $100 million of computer equipment and services. she has also been the CMO of several international corporations. Her expertise is in digital strategies, sustained execution, and return on investment.Throughout her professional career, Mrs. Leonards has focused on making it economically feasible for corporations to leverage their philanthropic contributions for their benefit and the benefit of society. She has tirelessly worked to encourage companies and individuals to translate their personal visions into a mission of service. As a consultant to the chairman of Ogilvy & Mather, she helped them find cause-related marketing for their clients.Mrs. Leonards has been a member of several boards & councils including: -Columbia Women's Hospital, Washington, D.C.-LV Enterprises, Scottsville, Arizona-Mildred Alberg Trust in Miami, Florida-Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum in Cleveland, Ohio-Rosa Parks Museum and Library in Montgomery, Alabama-Sequoia Foundation in New York City, New York-DC Chamber of Commerce, Washington, D.C.-Sandy Spring Bank - Client Experience Council in Washington, D.C.- Purdue University College of Health and Human Sciences Distinguished Service Award (2020)- DC Chamber Of Commerce Lifetime Legacy Award (2018)- Purdue University's alumni of the year award (2000)

Bishop Vashti Murphy McKenzie serves as the 117th elected and consecrated bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church. Her historic election in the year 2000 represents the first time in the over 200-year history of the AME Church, that a woman had obtained the level of Episcopal office. The firsts continue as she served as the first woman President of the Council of Bishops, Chair of the General Conference Commission, and was the first woman Host Bishop for the 49th Session of the General Conference of the AME Church in June 2012, with more than 30,000 in attendance. Her husband, Dr. Stanley McKenzie serves with her as Episcopal Supervisor.Currently, she is honored to serve as the presiding prelate of the 10th Episcopal District, where she provides leadership to all of the AME Churches in the entire state of Texas. She exercises ministry and administrative responsibilities for over 200 churches. This includes Paul Quinn College, a 140-year-old liberal arts historically black college where she serves as the vice-chairwoman. In the past four years, $8.5 million dollars have been contributed from philanthropic donors to undergird the Work College Program, We Over Me Farm, and a new dormitory. She is also the founder and chair of 10th Future Inc., a 501c3 non-profit that gives scholarships to students and grants for the local church and community service projects. The 10th Future Inc. Annual Golf Tournament has raised over $200,000 for special projects in Texas.Bishop McKenzie was appointed by President Barack Obama to serve on the inaugural President's Advisory Council of the White House Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She recently was invited to preach at the annual White House Easter Prayer Breakfast at the invitation of President Obama.Bishop McKenzie is the author of five books. The first two, Not Without A Struggle and Strength in the Struggle are concerned with leadership and professional growth for women. Journey to the Well helps women seek new directions for personal growth and transformation following the footsteps of the Biblical Samaritan woman. Her book, Swapping Housewives, tells the stories of Rachel, Jacob, and Leah and shares the 21st-century implications for married and unmarried love. A revised and updated version of Not Without A Struggle was released in 2012. In 2013 her newest book Those Sisters Can Preach! was released. It includes 22 sermons as pearls of wisdom from nationally known preachers who happen to be women.Bishop McKenzie, well known as an electrifying preacher, has been honored for her leadership, community service, and outstanding achievements by a number of diverse civic, educational, business, and governmental organizations and leaders. She was named in 2015 by Huffington Post as one of the 50 most powerful women religious leaders in the world.