Elaine Eason Steele Biography

Elaine Eason Steele co-founded Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development in 1987.  It was Mrs. Parks’ desire to honor her husband Raymond (1903-1977) and the two women’s dedication to making a difference in the lives of children and America’s struggle for civil rights.  The two shared a vision that every child deserved to live up to their highest potential.  They shared a passion for civil rights and the courage to do something about it.

Born in Tuskegee, Alabama with strong family roots, Elaine Eason as a first grader moved with her family to Detroit, Michigan where she was educated in the Detroit Public Schools.  Her father, Frank C. Eason, a Tuskegee Airman, owned a collision business after having suffered discrimination in the factories and as a bus driver in Detroit in the nineteen fifties.  Her mother, Bertha Wallace Eason, was educated in parochial schools in Augusta, Georgia, graduated from Spellman College in Atlanta, Georgia and taught school before relocating to Detroit.

Elaine and her only sibling, Anita, were taught from a young age that education, respect and commitment were next to Godliness.  Being proud of your heritage, making a difference in your community, and standing up for others were the lessons that Bertha Eason laid down as law for her daughters.  They were taught the beauty and the racial strife of the south.  They were also exposed to the segregation and integration of the north as they participated in the social culture of church, education and recreation.

It was at her after school job in a sewing factory, while attending Cass Technical High School in the early sixties that Elaine met and became friends with Mrs. Rosa Parks.  Elaine went to work following graduation and took night courses in college.  She received a Bachelor of Arts Degree at the University of Michigan-Dearborn, while working for the government, being active in church, civic organizations and following her marriage and birth of their daughter.

For many years as a volunteer Executive Assistant to Mrs. Parks, Elaine Steele traveled and coordinated all appearances for Dr. Parks with leaders, heads of state and organizations throughout the world.  She gained national recognition as the co-founder and developer of the Pathways to Freedom program.  Pathways traces the Underground Railroad through the civil rights movement and beyond; involved young people travel by bus throughout North America and other continents, performing educational and historical research.  Ms. Steele, in partnership with Dr. Parks, often accompanies the students on their journeys and provides many opportunities for youth to discover and implement the theme of the program: “Where Have We Been?  Where Are We Going?”

As an advisor and consultant, Elaine Eason Steele has served on boards and committees for buildings and organizations that honor Dr. Parks by using her name.  Ms. Steele has been requested as a visiting lecturer for organizations and institutions of learning. Elaine has also assisted in producing several films highlighting Rosa Parks.  “The Rosa Parks Story”, a made for television film in 2000 provided a capsule of Mrs. Parks’ life through the eyes of Hollywood.  It was Elaine Steele who advocated on Mrs. Parks’ behalf to feature youth from the Pathways to Freedom program and her family in the movie.  An alumnus of PWF interned for the production. Earlier, Elaine helped coordinate Mrs. Parks’ television appearance in an episode of “Monica, Black Like Me” in the series “Touched By An Angel.”  The young people were participants.  Mrs. Parks received an image Award for her appearance.

Ms. Steele has participated in many interviews and has worked on or appeared in documentaries about Mrs. Rosa Parks and the Institute they co-founded.  She helped edit all books authored by Rosa Parks and one authorized biography on Rosa Parks by historian Dr. Douglas Brinkley.  

Recently, in addition to working with the youth of the Institute and networking with other organizations, Ms. Steele is now assisting student leaders, young professionals and adults in Diplomacy, Protocol and Style, honoring the era of the poise, dignity and charm of Mrs. Parks and Mrs. Eason while incorporating modern techniques of confidence, courage and composure.  Accomplished representatives from various disciplines lecture and appear on field trips.