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Little Rock, Ark. – Southern Bancorp Community Partners (SBCP), a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and partner of Southern Bancorp, Inc., has named Kenya Gordon-Davenport as President of the 501(c)3 loan fund and financial development organization. She additionally serves as SVP of Stakeholder Engagement. Gordon-Davenport previously served as Interim President of SBCP.
“Kenya’s work has been invaluable in supporting the growth of our organization, and I’m excited to officially welcome her into this new role.” said Darrin Williams, CEO of Southern Bancorp, Inc. “As our nonprofit loan fund and financial development partner, SBCP leads high-impact lending, programs, and services that help create paths to economic opportunity for everyone in the communities we serve, and Kenya’s leadership will be instrumental in expanding those efforts to more people and places across the South.”
Gordon-Davenport joined the Southern Bancorp organization in 2022 as its Chief of Staff and SVP of Stakeholder Engagement, roles in which she serves as advisor to the CEO as well as manages investor relations, fundraising and development, stakeholder engagement, and strategic project management. The Memphis native began her career as a teacher in Memphis Public Schools before transitioning to financial advising and eventually attending law school. As an attorney, she practiced complex civil litigation and family law, first through her own law practice and later serving as of Counsel at the law firm Gill Ragon Owen, P.A., in Little Rock.
In her new role as President of SBCP, Gordon-Davenport will lead the organization’s vision of providing flexible lending options, asset-building strategies, and financial empowerment services to help individuals, families, and businesses build wealth, particularly in under-resourced rural and urban communities where access to economic opportunity is often out of reach.
In addition to these new responsibilities, Gordon-Davenport will continue to serve in her role as SVP of Stakeholder Engagement, leading investment strategies and shareholder relations for Southern Bancorp, Inc.
As a nonprofit CDFI loan fund and financial development organization, SBCP provides added flexibility to Southern Bancorp’s overall mission. In addition to providing specialized lending and access to capital, SBCP also oversees the institution’s free tax assistance program, offers free HUD-certified financial counseling, operates a no-cost technical assistance program for micro-businesses, provides down payment assistance for low-income homebuyers, and more.
“I am honored for the opportunity to lead Southern Bancorp Community Partners and build upon its decades-long legacy of impact,” said Gordon-Davenport. “SBCP serves as a catalyst to homeownership, entrepreneurship, and financial stability for many families, no matter one’s zip code or position on the economic ladder. I look forward to helping us grow the reach and impact of this important work in the months and years to come.”
Gordon-Davenport received her bachelor’s degree from Tennessee State University, an HBCU in Nashville, and her master’s degree from Christian Brothers University in Memphis. She earned her Juris Doctorate from UALR’s Bowen School of Law in Little Rock, where she graduated with honors. She is active in several local and national community organizations and professional boards, including the Westwind School for Performing Arts and the William H. Bowen School of Law Alumni Board.
About Southern Bancorp
Founded in 1986 by some of the nation’s leading political, business, and philanthropic leaders with an initial investment of $10 million, Southern Bancorp, Inc., along with its development partners – Southern Bancorp Bank and Southern Bancorp Community Partners – has grown into a $2.8 billion asset organization with 56 locations serving customers throughout the South. Southern Bancorp has a unique array of financial products and services designed to help individuals at all stages of life’s financial journey – from teaching kids how to save to helping entrepreneurs and families realize the American Dream. Southern Bancorp is a certified Community Development Financial Institution, certified B-Corp, and proud member of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values. Learn more at www.BankSouthern.com and www.SouthernPartners.org.