American Change Agent: A Life & Legacy of Seeking Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion
by Dr. John F. Leeke
with Ananda Kiamsha Madelyn Leeke
Fall 2026 Events
September is International Underground Railroad Month. During this special month of remberance, Dr. John F. Leeke and Ananda Leeke will lead the “Footsteps to Freedom” discussion on September 12th from 12 noon to 1 p.m. at the Caroline County Public Library, 100 Market Street, Denton, Maryland.
During the event, they will discuss our book, American Change Agent: A Life & Legacy of Seeking Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion and the Underground Railroad journey their family took to escape slavery in Hagerstown, Maryland, and build a new life as free people in Amherstburg, Canada.
Highlights from Spring and Summer 2026 Events
Read blog post about April book event for local authors at Busboys and Poets.
Read blog post about May book reading and community conversation at Next Chapter Book Shop and Cafe in Hagerstown, Maryland.
Read blog post about June book discussion with Two Rivers Unity and Presence Book Club.
Read blog post about June book talk and signing at a DC senior assisted living residence.
Read blog post and watch video of June virtual event entitled “Celebrate Your Family History As American History: Book & Group Discussion.”
Read blog post and watch video of meeting with the Mayor of Hagerstown, Maryland and the City Council in August.
Press Release
Media Coverage & Event Videos
American Change Agent Presentation for Mayor and City Council of Hagerstown, Maryland (August 11, 2026; Start watching at 3.10 minute mark : presentation ends at 15:15 minute mark)
Busboys and Poets’ Author Next Door Series (April 19, 2026; Start watching at the 1.18 minute mark)
The Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Virtual Black History Series Presentation on The Leeke Family’s Legacy of Freedom Seekers from Hagerstown to Amherstburg (January 26, 2026)
American Change Agent Featured in The Aurora Magazine (Fall/Winter 2025 Issue) published by Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority
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Learn More About the Book
Discover the rich, inspiring journey of Dr. John F. Leeke, a descendant of the Akan people of Ghana, the Yoruba people of Nigeria, Indigenous Turtle Island nations, European settlers, and freedom seekers who escaped slavery in Hagerstown, Maryland. This collection of stories spans 85 years of Dr. Leeke’s life, showcasing his family, career, and dedication to diversity, equality, and inclusion.
Explore Dr. Leeke’s early years in Indianapolis and Terre Haute, Indiana, his Catholic education in Washington, DC, and his academic pursuits at Indiana State Teachers College. Follow his career as a teacher and guidance counselor in Flint, Michigan, his graduate studies at the University of Michigan, and his impactful work in community organizing and organizational development.
Learn how Dr. Leeke’s leaps of faith in various roles, including his tenure at the National Education Association and his entrepreneurial ventures, solidified his commitment to diversity, equality, and inclusion. His reflections on six decades of diversity, equality, and inclusion work reveal the institutional changes he championed and his ongoing influence in retirement through church involvement, civic engagement, and online activism.
Dr. Leeke’s stories are an invitation to reflect on your own journey, embrace humanity’s diversity, and become a change agent in your community.
Read Author Bios
Ananda Leeke 