Empowering Growth. Elevating Leadership. Strengthening Communities.

DHB & Associates, Ltd. is a community education, professional consulting, and leadership engagement firm dedicated to empowering students, families, and organizations across Northwest Indiana and beyond.

Founded by Deborah Hendricks Black, DHB & Associates has built a legacy of transforming schools, strengthening families, and guiding organizations toward measurable success. With over five decades of combined expertise among our associates, we specialize in strategic planning, professional development, and family engagement models that bridge the gap between communities, schools, and opportunity.

What We Do

Our work is rooted in equity, empowerment, and sustainable growth. DHB & Associates provides:

• Family & Community Engagement Training: helping schools and organizations build trust and shared responsibility through data-driven engagement strategies.

• Leadership & Professional Development: equipping educators, administrators, and community leaders with the skills to lead high-performing, collaborative teams.

• Parent Leadership Development: empowering parents to become advocates for their children’s academic and emotional success.

• Cultural Competency & Leadership Training: fostering understanding and inclusion across diverse student and family populations.

• Grant Development & Strategic Planning: securing millions in funding for nonprofits, small businesses, and community-based programs.

Our Impact

For more than 15 years, DHB & Associates has worked alongside partners including the Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Indiana Department of Education, Comcast, NIPSCO, The Mind Trust, and Lavinia Group to deliver life-changing outcomes through initiatives like the Northwest Indiana Summer Learning Labs (NWSLL), a model that has served over 3,500 students through year-round academic enrichment, STEM programs, and leadership training.

Our approach is guided by the belief that every child, parent, and educator deserves the tools to succeed and that community collaboration is the key to long-term achievement.

Our Mission

To help schools, families, and organizations achieve measurable results through innovation, collaboration, and leadership development; empowering communities to thrive for generations to come.