The Brooklyn Org 25

Brittany Bellinger is a Brooklyn native, writer, educator, and Learning architect with over a decade of experience in youth development, non-profit management, and community engagement. Currently serving as Program Director at Youth Design Center, a non-profit that prepares urban youth for careers in STEM through the intersections of art, urbanism, and social justice, Brittany is passionate about creating programs that empower young people to drive meaningful change.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs with a concentration in Urban Planning and a Master of Science in Industrial-Organizational Psychology from Baruch College. Throughout her career, she has designed and implemented innovative apprenticeship programs, equipping underrepresented youth with the skills and mentorship needed to thrive in STEM careers. She has also worked extensively with organizations such as Harlem Children’s Zone, where she served as a Curriculum Coordinator.

Brittany is known for her ability to collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including community organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies, to expand access to STEM education. Her work champions diversity and inclusion, ensuring that young people from all backgrounds have equal opportunities to succeed.

Carolyn A. Butts is the publisher/founder of African Voices, a leading arts magazine devoted to publishing fine art and literature by artists of color. Spelman College will house African Voices’ arts collection, which includes the work of more than 4,000+ writers and visual artists. In honor of the organization’s 32nd Anniversary, African Voices has launched a national membership campaign to support its operations and archives at Spelman: Support AV. Carolyn oversees a pop-up art gallery in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn where the magazine is published and continues to serve artists.

Carolyn is also the founder of the Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Film Festival & Lecture Series, the first Academy Qualifying Film Festival for Shorts devoted to women filmmakers. There are only 26 film festivals in the U.S. with Oscar accreditation. Reel Sisters provides opportunities for women of color in the film industry. She was featured in Black Enterprise for her business acumen and spotlighting the importance of hiring women behind the camera in the film industry. Reel Sisters 27th Anniversary season will be held on Oct. 19-20, 2024 in Brooklyn with a month-long celebration kicking off on Oct. 4. Visit www.reelsisters.org | www.africanvoices.com.

“Storytelling is our greatest gift. Our stories endow us with unimaginable and infinite power to evolve as human beings. Our art and stories will save us. I have invested my life in creating platforms where people can share stories and become catalysts for positive changes in our world,” states Carolyn. She earned her B.A. in Journalism from Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus where she founded Reel Sisters in 1997.

A trailblazer, Carolyn has increased the visibility of BIPOC artists in literature, film and art. Founded in 1992, African Voices continues to be an outlet for emerging artists to publish fiction, poetry and visual art. Carolyn’s work in publishing and the arts has earned her many distinguished honors including the Women In Media Award 2019, Women’s Enews 2019 “21 Leaders for the 21st Century” Award, Total Faith Network Award 2018, National Writers Union’s Louis Reyes Rivera Excellence Award for Educators 2015, 2017 Proclamation from the NYC Council at City Hall, LIU’s Living History: A Tribute to Excellent Award 2013, Women in Media Award 2010 and Spirit of A Woman Firestarter Award 2013. African Voices magazine is a recipient of the 2019 Best Literary Magazine Award for the African American Literary Awards Show. Currently, Carolyn is a finalist for the 2024 Just Brooklyn Prize for her activism in supporting equity for women in film and media. In November 2024, the National Conference of Artists New York, Inc. (NCANY) will present Carolyn with its prestigious Black History Makers Award.

Under Carolyn’s leadership, Reel Sisters has presented over 5,000 films since its inception in 1997 and given more than $60,000 in funds to aspiring filmmakers. Reel Sisters is on Film Daily’s top best 10 women centered festivals list.

Born in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Carolyn currently lives with her husband in Crown Heights.

A proud father of three sons, Chino Hardin is a 20-year seasoned organizer continuing his unyielding journey to dismantle oppression through the creation of an ecosystem of liberation and healing accessible to all, especially youth of color who suffer from the debilitating legacy of criminalization.

Chino was born and raised in East Flatbush and Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn and has 20 years of experience in community organizing and leadership development, campaign strategy, conflict resolution, gun violence/gang intervention, and Human Justice healing praxis. Committed to developing and elevating spiritual wellness and creative leadership in youth and communities hardest hit by crime, violence and incarceration, he has honed his expertise from on-the-ground apprenticeship with noted youth development trainers and practitioners from across the country, as well as his own personal experience in the streets and within the criminal punishment system.

Thanks to the timely, unrelenting and innovative intervention of programs such as Audre Lorde Project, Prison Moratorium Project and Center for NuLeadership, Chino recognized his potential as a leader and visionary in uplifting and transforming the lives of at-risk, gang-affiliated and formerly incarcerated youth. His charisma and pedagogical approach have won success and praise in the field of youth leadership development training, specifically applied to youth labeled “dangerous” and “hopeless.”

Chino serves as a Senior Collective Member of brooklyn boihood whose mission is to create spaces where Black, Brown queer and trans bois* communities can cultivate stories, dreams and creative work. He has appeared in numerous publications and media outlets, including Chasing the Scream: The First and Last Days of the War on Drugsby Johann Hari, Village Voice, City Limits, The AVE Magazine, BET, and Caribbean Life.

Christine Yvette Lewis is a Leader/Secretary/Cultural Organizer with ‘Domestic Workers United’ who have, for the past 23 years, contributed to the movement by encouraging art and culture as strongholds in the work for Social Justice. As a worker-leader and multi-disciplined performance artist, Christine has pulled from her calypsonian roots and skills as a Steel-drum player, spoken word artist, author, actress and poet to get the message out and build power for Nannies, Elder Care-givers and Housekeepers. Primarily Black Caribbean, Latina and African Women. Christine has spoken out on initiatives like ‘Domestic Workers Bill of Rights’ with Brian Lehrer of NPR and on the Colbert Report. She has been centrally involved in organizing partnerships with institutions like Public Theater/Public Works to involve members of DWU to participate in Public Works production of ‘Shakespeare In The Park’ for the past 12 years now. She was recently honored by the Public Theater with the Community Leadership Award In Recognition Of Exemplary Leadership That Embodies The Belief That Culture Belongs To Everyone. Also, with the Caribbean Impact Award and The Brooklyn Heights Lions Club award for Commitment and Dedication to Community Service. Christine has lent her voice to cultural exchange initiatives, like teaching calypso songs to members of Jews for Racial and Economic Justice and participating in their Purim Celebrations. Also, making sure members have a seat at Worker Writers School together with other grassroot communities to write poetry in varying poetic forms, which resulted in a Coronavirus Haiku Book. Christine has authored a chapter in ‘Alien Nation – 36 True Tales of Immigration’ which was launched in 2021.

She is a member of the Arts and Culture movement of the New York State Poor People’s Campaign and the Kairos Center for Religious, Rights and Social Justice. Christine continues to organize Domestic Workers on the grassroot level. Encouraging her peers to bring their voices to the continuous fight for justice through monthly meetings, know your rights campaign and encouraging healthy eating through a partnership with Maple Street Community Garden. Purchasing and overseeing distribution of fresh fruits and vegetable food boxes from the garden to members of DWU and the community at large since the heights of the Covid 19 Pandemic, 2020 till present, 2024.

Christine’s watchwords are, “if your heart isn’t in it, do not put your hands on it.” Which underscores what keeps her going for a community who lives and works in the shadow. When she is not busy organizing and trying to save the world in a handbasket, in her down time, you can catch her at the gym grinding real hard as if planning to compete in Ms. Body fitness at the next Olympics meet. She’d say, “It’s the time I get to have a lil ‘me’ time with myself.”

Coleen Stevens Porcher is the Executive Director of Power of Two, a partner project of the Fund for the City of New York. Power of Two partners with families to address toxic stress and interrupt intergenerational trauma, so families can raise healthy children and thrive. The nonprofit does this by offering a highly effective, evidence-based, home-visiting, parent coaching model, Attachment and Biobehavioral Catch-Up (ABC) to caregivers of children newborn to 48 months all across New York City. Since its founding in 2015, Power of Two has served more than 12,000 program participants, creating lasting impact in high child poverty neighborhoods in partnership with dozens of health and human services organizations. As a result of Power of Two’s work, depressive symptoms were eliminated in more than 60% of caregivers, parental sensitivity increased for 70% of caregivers, and more than 50% children showed improved socioemotional behaviors after program completion.

On a personal note, Coleen understands only too well the importance of loving, nurturing caregiver. As a young girl growing up in Jamaica, Coleen’s mentally ill mother was unable to care for her, so she was primarily raised and greatly influenced by her civically engaged great grandmother. She brought young Coleen with her to rallies and backyard meetings with civic leaders in pursuit of universal primary education, knowing that education is critical for materially poor families to forge a pathway to success. She also taught Coleen the importance of combining forces with others to make the world a better place. Coleen immigrated to the United States as a teen and attended NYC public schools. She later graduated from Vassar College and secured a master’s degree from New York University. In her personal life and career, she has shone a light on and advocated for disinvested and underdeveloped communities. Coleen lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.

For more than 20 years, Derrick Hamilton struggled to survive in prison, bouncing from one correctional facility to another and enduring lengthy stays in solitary confinement.

As a man who claimed innocence despite his conviction, Hamilton was also forced to navigate the complicated waters of the legal system, one tortuous appeal at a time. He resorted to the only person who could effectively and tirelessly champion his cause in the courts: himself.

“The law saved my life,” Hamilton explained in a profile piece in the New Yorker. “That was the one thing I could become fixated upon every day when I woke up and when I went to sleep.”

After earning his high-school equivalency diploma and taking a class on legal research during his time at the Elmira Correctional Facility, Hamilton began studying in the prison’s law library, eventually teaching himself enough criminal law to become “one of the most skilled jailhouse lawyers in the country.” When he wasn’t embedded in the details of his own case, however, Hamilton would also lend help to his fellow inmates, guiding them to passages in legal texts that were relevant to their own cases.

Hamilton was eventually paroled and his case has since been vacated and dismissed after the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) concluded that he was innocent of all charges. Today, he is the founder of Family and Friends of The Wrongfully Convicted, where he provides support and resources to the wrongfully accused and their families. He also teaches Cardozo law students in the Perlmutter Freedom Clinic how to work to the highest standards in defending clients who have been wrongfully convicted or are seeking clemency for unfairly long prison sentences.

Fernando has been an advocate of disenfranchised communities for over 30 years, helping to provide equity to populations that have been historically underserved. His unwavering passion has modeled him as a trail blazer of human services under the Harm Reduction philosophy, as well as established his role as the founder & leader of the After Hours Project. Inc. (AHP).

As President/CEO, Fernando is responsible for providing overall leadership and strategic planning for AHP. He focuses on long-range goals, strategies, and policies, operational management, fundraising and fiscal oversight to ensure the success of the organization.

Under Fernando’s leadership AHP successfully operates an array of HIV related services across Brooklyn and Queens, including: HIV testing, case management, syringe access, harm reduction counseling, medical transportation, overdose prevention, buprenorphine treatment, housing, mobile outreach, Hepatitis screening and treatment.

Fernando serves as the lead spokesperson for this reputable organization in a variety of formats including panels, conferences and in the media. He is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to the care and services they need to live long, healthy lives. He is widely considered a role model for others who are working to make a difference in the world, and he is an inspiration to all who know him.

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, by immigrant parents, Hizam Wahib has been a cornerstone of the Arab-American Family Support Center (AAFSC) for over two decades. Beginning his career in 2001 at the front desk of AAFSC’s headquarters at 150 Court Street, Hizam quickly established himself as a trusted resource for families in need. His ability to navigate the complexities of New York City’s social services and connect individuals to essential programs earned him a reputation as a problem solver and compassionate advocate.

In the aftermath of 9/11, Hizam’s commitment to serving his community deepened. During a time marked by a rise in anti-Arab and anti-Muslim discrimination, Hizam became a critical figure, ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable community members. He played a key role in promoting understanding and fostering a safe environment for individuals facing xenophobia, offering comfort and guidance when it was needed most. His dedication to the AMENAMSA (Arab, Middle Eastern, North African, Muslim, and South Asian) communities solidified his standing as a leader and advocate.

As AAFSC expanded, so did Hizam’s responsibilities. Recognizing a gap in the organization’s legal services, Hizam took the initiative to transition into supporting families navigating the immigration system. His deep understanding of the legal landscape enabled him to improve and strengthen AAFSC’s Legal Services Department, making it more effective in addressing community needs. Whether assisting with paperwork or offering counsel during emotionally charged moments, Hizam’s compassionate approach has been a source of reassurance for countless clients.

Over his 23-year tenure, Hizam became embedded in every facet of AAFSC’s operations. From strategy development to day-to-day problem-solving, his influence has shaped the organization’s growth and success. Known affectionately as ‘Mister Helper,’ Hizam is renowned for his readiness to tackle any issue, ensuring that no need goes unmet, no matter how large or small. His unwavering dedication has made him an irreplaceable part of AAFSC’s culture and mission.

Today, Hizam remains a key figure at AAFSC, continuing to dedicate his time and expertise to uplifting the lives of countless families across New York City. His deep ties to the community, combined with his extensive knowledge of the services available, have made him a trusted figure, with many seeking him out personally for assistance. Hizam’s legacy as a compassionate advocate, a dedicated service provider, and a beloved community leader will undoubtedly continue for years to come. His work has not only shaped the Arab-American Family Support Center but has also had a profound impact on the broader immigrant community he has served so faithfully.

Ivy Gamble Cobb serves as co-founder and current Executive Director of The Family Center (TFC), founded in 1994 in response to NYC children and families being devastated by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The current mission of The Family Center is to create a path to healing, stability, and a fulfilling future for New Yorkers affected by life-altering events through the provision of holistic care and support to individuals and families.  The Family Center envisions a future where all New Yorkers thrive in secure, healthy communities.  Under her leadership, she has grown the agency budget from $3M to $7M. She helped fortify agency sustainability by establishing an Article 31 child and family mental health clinic and an Article 32 clinic, or Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic, which offers substance use and mental health services, and primary medical care under one roof in the heart of Brooklyn.  Over 60% of Family Center clients who live in Brooklyn are affected by life-altering events including illness, crisis, or loss -i.e. not only HIV/AIDS, but also cancer, incarceration, and other factors that destabilize the home. Together with her team, TFC has helped children and adults achieve remarkable outcomes on their road to healing and stability.

Ivy’s vocation to serve vulnerable families is deeply rooted in her own experiences as a child growing up in Brooklyn public housing and as a young, single mother. A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Ivy has called Bedford-Stuyvesant her home for nearly 50 years. She is actively involved in her community, serving on Community Board 3 as First Vice Chair and Vice Chair of the Health and Social Services Committee, representing the Bedford Stuyvesant community.

In addition to her role at TFC, Ivy served as a Member of the New York Academy of Medicine’s Social Work Education for Practice in Health Care Project and was a voting member of the HIV Health and Human Services Planning Council of New York for over 12 years.  She was honored by the Hunter College School of Social Work Alumni Association and served as a Board member of the Susan G. Komen Greater NY Breast Cancer Foundation where she chaired the Grants, Policy, and Education Committee.  She received the New York Life Love Takes Action Award awarded by the New York Life Foundation and was included in the Women in Human Services Hall of Fame 2020 by Strong Nonprofits for a Better New York.

Ivy believes that spiritual growth is equally important and is a founding member of Canaan Missionary Baptist Church (now Jesus Christ Family Church) where she faithfully serves as Elder, Board Chair, and Chair of the Finance Committee.  Ivy received her BS from New York University, and MSW from Hunter College School of Social Work and completed all coursework towards a Ph.D. in Social Welfare.  She is the devoted wife of Ben Cobb and loving mother to Kiara Wallace.

Jeremy Saunders has worked at VOCAL-NY since 2007, and became the Co-Executive Director in 2016. He began community organizing in 2001, working at ACORN, Community Voices Heard and Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. Mostly recently, Jeremy has helped to launch VOCAL-KY, VOCAL-TX and VOCAL-US in hopes of building a stronger national movement to end homelessness, the drug war, mass incarceration and the AIDS epidemic.

Jo-Ann Yoo is the executive director of the Asian American Federation (AAF). AAF is the strongest leadership organization in New York that collaborates with nearly 70 member and partner organizations to raise the influence and well-being of the 1.5 million-strong Asian community.

Under Jo-Ann’s leadership, AAF has emerged as a powerful advocate for a community-centered response to the anti-Asian hate crisis. Her guidance has shaped AAF’s endeavors to combat anti-Asian violence in New York starting in 2020, particularly through the Hope Against Hate campaign, AAF’s signature effort to provide safety to Asian New Yorkers.

Jo-Ann has served as a Commissioner on New York City’s Racial Justice Commission, Mayor Adams’ Covid Recovery Roundtable and Health Equity Task Force.  She serves on the Advisory Board on Implementation of the Racial Justice Commission, co-leads the AAPI mental health task force for the New York State Office of Mental Health, and on the board of Nonprofit New York.

Ms. Yoo was named to the City and State NY’s Power of Diversity and Non-profit Power 100 list in 2022, as well as the publication’s Asian Power 100 list several years in a row, as one of the city’s most influential Asian Americans in politics and policy.

Kelvin Taitt has deep roots in Brooklyn. Kelvin was born in Brooklyn and grew up with family in both Crown Heights and East Flatbush. His family moved to Long Island when he was 10, and he went to Copiague School District schools, where he excelled in musical arts and theatre production. When he was 22, he moved back to Brooklyn to pursue a career in Music through an internship at Pulse 87.7fm. This Rhythmic Dance station internship became a decade-long international music and entertainment career working with global labels, producers, DJs, and vocalists. While Kelvin pursued his passion for Music, involvement in his community was always on his mind. Kelvin served as Vice President for an Organization called “Operation Birthday.” Operation Birthday Party visited homeless family shelters in Brownsville monthly and threw a birthday party for the kids who had birthdays that month. The parties were open to each child’s immediate family, and they received a present, pizza, juice, soda, and candy and enjoyed a clown and DJ entertainment. Kelvin was also President of Eleganica Entertainment, a full-service DJ and Entertainment company. Elegancia was a leader in private and corporate events. As the Lead entertainer and Emcee, Elegancia’s events were “never just events; they were experiences.”

East Brooklyn Mutual Aid (EBMA) was born during the crucible of the COVID-19 pandemic by starting a community response to East Brooklyn’s higher death rates than NYC’s average toll and the food desert of low-quality food at high prices. During the soaring death rate of COVID-19, they have partnered with the Christian Cultural Center, The Corbin Hill Food Project, 9Million Reasons, The Compassion Coalition, Brooklyn Packers, the USDA, and countless Elected-officials to provide food to over 200,000 Brooklyn and NYC residents. As Co-founder and Executive Director, Kelvin has drawn on his social entrepreneurial, food distribution, and community organizer skills in just a few short years to lead vision planning for BIPOC-run food hubs and cooperative grocery stores in East New York. Hunter College has increasingly recognized his work on equitable food procurement and delivery, naming him one of the 40 Stars under 40 in NYC Food Policy in 2022 and receiving a Forefront Fellowship in 2021 from the Urban Design Forum. Last year, he was invited to collaborate on a food justice curriculum with the CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute. He has participated in a Leadership Development Program at Cornell University called LeadNY, a program designed to Inspire, develop, support, and connect leaders for the food, agriculture, and natural resource sectors of the Northeast. He was accepted for his role as a changemaker in food justice at EBMA and across NYC. Kelvin and his team continue to support their community through grocery delivery to those still food insecure. Consistently innovating and looking at new ways to serve his community, Kelvin continues to serve. He is working with the Christian Cultural Center to grow their community impact and response in building food equity. Kelvin’s work continues to be led by his faith in Christ and commitment to building a better community through love and obedience to God’s word.

Kenrick Ross (he/him) is the Executive Director of the Brooklyn Community Pride Center (BCPC), Brooklyn’s largest LGBTQ+ organization.

Kenrick has spent the past two decades in social impact leadership, launching and scaling programs and organizations particularly at moments of significant change and growth, and his Brooklyn ties run deep, having lived, worked, and gotten married here. In previous roles, he served as Director of Operations at Brooklyn Child and Family Services, Development Officer at Diaspora Community Services, Director of Professional Development and Quality Assurance at The Leaguers, Inc., Director of of Education and Career Services at the YWCA of Queens, Executive Director of the Indo-Caribbean Alliance, and launched and managed the small business program at Brooklyn A. Before arriving at BCPC, he served as Executive Director of the National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), the nation’s leading organization empowering LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders.

Passionate (and opinionated) about social justice and entrepreneurship; diversity and inclusion, and civic engagement, he’s been a panelist, presenter, or speaker at dozens of conferences, and at companies, universities, and organizations such as Dropbox, Reuters, TD Bank, The LGBT Task Force, The Trevor Project, Stanford, Princeton, and Johns Hopkins University. He was featured among Good Morning America’s 2022 Inspiration List, Gay City News/PoliticsNY’s 2022 LGBTQ+Power Players, and City & State’s 2024 Brooklyn Power 100. Kenrick also chairs the Board of Diaspora Community Services, and is a long-time Board member of Newark Pride.

Deeply committed to LGBTQ+inclusive sports and fitness, particularly tennis, he co-produced the 2014 short doc “Queens at Court”, founded @LOVE, an LGBTQ+ tennis platform, and is launching BCPC’s first tennis program this winter.

Kenrick was born in Guyana and lives in the NYC area with his husband, Joseph Jones, and two cats, Kitty and Pet. He holds a BA in Politics from New York University, and an MS in Urban Policy and Leadership from CUNY-Hunter College.

As a boy in Haiti, Maxime admired Konbit, a tradition of communal labor he witnessed during countryside visits. In 1984, at age 12, he and his siblings immigrated to Brooklyn’s Flatbush neighborhood to reunite with their parents. Facing unforeseen challenges as an immigrant student, Maxime joined peers to protect against anti-Haitian bullying and assault.

In college, Maxime found self-acceptance, belonging, purpose, and enlightenment via knowledge and historical context. Maxime became an active member of the Haitian Students Organization (HSO) at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. This group was front and center of activism on campus, fighting the FDA policy that identified Haitians as a high risk group for HIV/AIDS and banned them from donating blood. The group’s activism extended beyond the university campus, as it successfully collaborated with other student groups throughout New York State. Maxime remains active as a co-founder of the alumni group for this student organization.

Upon graduating with a political science degree, Maxime worked as a Family Health Counselor, providing crucial assistance to Haitian refugees held at the infamous detention site in the U.S. Naval Base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. There, he met and collaborated with Ninaj Raoul and Lily Cerat, Co-Founders of Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR). This meaningful experience grounded Maxime’s unwavering commitment to social justice activism. This moment also pivoted Maxime’s interest in the field of Social Work, and he later earned a masters degreein social work in 2004. Upon his return from Guantanamo, he worked with the International Rescue Committee assisting with the resettlement of Haitian Refugees in New York City. Maxime then transitioned to the child welfare system as a Preventive Case Planner, assisting families at risk of having their children placed in foster care strengthen themselves to remain intact. As a Group Home Therapist, Maxime worked with young men to help them navigate the child welfare system and address personal, family, social, educational, and community challenges. He supported their journey toward independence, self-sufficiency, and becoming productive members of society. In 2009, as a new parent, Maxime founded the Haitian-American Children’s Group, a self-sustained collaborative meetup focused on grounding Haitian-American children in their culture, history, and teaching them the Kreyòl language. Maxime’s enduring bond with Haitian Women for Haitian Refugees (HWHR) remains strong.Over the years, he taught ESL classes and coordinated the Haitian Workers Project. Today, as a Case Manager/Social Worker at HWHR’s Haitian Refugee Project—funded by MOIA’s Haitian Response Initiative—he advocates for Haitian refugees, assisting with their resettlement in New York City. Rejoining HWHR has been deeply fulfilling for Maxime, allowing him to provide a respectful and culturally competent environment for his fellow Haitians in his native Kreyòl.

Mohammad Razvi is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Peoples Organization (COPO) based in Brooklyn, New York. Razvi was a pioneer of community building and anti-hate movement after the 9/11 attacks. He transitioned from an aspiring entrepreneur to forming COPO to support South Asian and Muslim Arab (MASA) communities. Since then, COPO has become a vital resource for South Asian immigrants needing access to city services like immigration, healthcare, and affordable housing. The organization serves as a bridge between the U.S. government and Muslim-Americans in New York City.

Razvi has successfully raised over $40 million for COPO programs, assisting over 40,000 people annually. COPO provides free services such as immigration assistance, food stamps/EBT enrollment, health insurance, mental health counseling, senior case management, women’s empowerment programs, ESL and citizenship classes, mental health counselling, Halal Meals On Wheels, Halal Food Pantry and most recently, initiating older adults home visits through our Case Management DFTA.

Razvi’s is also known for starting the first Halal Muslim Senior Center, Halal Meals on Wheels, a Halal Food Pantry, and Senior Home Care services for the Muslim community in NYC. He also co-founded Iftar Dinners for Borough Presidents and the Mayor of NYC, and the We Are All Brooklyn (WAAB) coalition. He serves on the boards of several organizations, including the New York Immigration Coalition and Youth Bridge NY.

Recognized by the U.S. and British governments, Razvi’s work has taken him on official trips to Israel, France, Moscow, Germany and London, and has traveled to numerous other countries. His efforts have earned him recognition at the 911TributeMuseum.org. He is referred to as the “Heart of Coney Island Ave” in Brooklyn, Razvi advocates tirelessly for the empowerment and education of all communities “it is about people helping people”.

Nicole Huang, the Executive Director of the Parent-Child Relationship Association (PCR), co-founded the organization in 2016 with Iris Ng. As an immigrant who came to America at the age of 19, Nicole faced numerous challenges that many immigrants experience, including language barriers, cultural differences, and microaggressions. Through perseverance and determination, she thrived and eventually founded PCR. When Nicole organized PCR’s firstevent, only 15 volunteers attended. Today, PCR has over 4,665 registered volunteers and continues to grow, with increased members participating in events and giving back to the community. Since its inception, PCR has made significant strides under Nicole’s leadership. Here are a few examples of her notable achievements with PCR. 2018 the organization won the Brooklyn Golden Trowel Award and trained 412 Chinese-speaking mental health first aid responders injust six months. In 2020, PCR assisted over 5,000 families in completing Census forms and,during the COVID-19 pandemic, organized a vaccination campaign that reached 15,000 people, successfully helping 10,000 get vaccinated. Most recently, in 2023, Nicole and PCR helped victims of stolen food stamps (SNAP) fraud, recouping $73,449.09 for affected families, and launched a GoFundMe page that raised over $223,995 to cover immediate living and medical expenses for those in need.

Nicole’s vision for PCR was to create a resource that immigrants could rely on forsupport. She understands firsthand the struggles of immigrant families—whether it’s parents unable to spend time with their children, the limitations posed by language barriers, or the isolation of feeling confined to one’s home. Her experiences inspired her to establish PCR tobuild a strong community where parents and families can connect through volunteer work and promote civic engagement within the Asian community. Through these efforts, Nicole continues to build a strong community, encouraging immigrant families to participate in volunteer work and civic engagement and helping them thrive together.

Nowshin Ali is the co-founder and executive director of People In Need and the co-owner of the popular Indian restaurant, JALSA located in Brooklyn.

As a new immigrant, Nowshin faced many challenges adjusting to American culture. While serving as an interpreter and Parents Association Co-President at PS217 from the year 2015 to 2020, she witnessed the many obstacles her fellow immigrants faced due to the lack of information and language barriers. It was these obstacles that gave her a deep insight on the struggles faced by the language speaking population and this inspired Nowshin to begin programs to cater to the needs of limited English speaking immigrants through various youth after-school programs and women empowerment initiatives under the umbrella of People In Need, a 501C3 non-profit.

Through JALSA restaurant, Nowshin loves to share food & festivals reflecting the rich heritage of India. During the pandemic, from March 2020 to December 2021, she converted the dine-in area of JALSA to a food pantry. With the help of around 450 volunteers and 1200 donors, her team served around 6,000 families in Brooklyn to help cope with food insecurity through home deliveries & open to all food distributions including tabling for providing resources like help with COVID awareness & vaccine trucks, free masks & hand sanitizers, EBT/SNAP application, application for unemployment benefits, voters registrations, census to name a few.

Nowshin remains passionate about addressing the evolving needs of her community and is constantly driven to expand educational, empowerment and relief efforts for the low-income community members through her organization People In Need.

Rob Solano is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of Churches United For Fair Housing (CUFFH). CUFFH is a grassroots organization that was founded in 2009 out of community organizing efforts around a rezoning and development at the Broadway Triangle, Brooklyn that would have created dramatic racial disparities and increased segregation in the area. 15 years later, CUFFH continues to organize towards preserving and creating vibrant communities that are truly affordable for working families in New York City through community organizing, youth engagement, and social services.

Solano formerly served as the vice president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local Union # 3 Apprentice Division. He is a graduate of Empire State College and a Certified Electrician of Harry Van Arsdale School of Labor Studies. He is a Harry S. Truman Masonic Lodge Master Mason, lecturer at Cornell University, and a member of the Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso’s transition team. In 2024, Rob Solano was nominated as the Brooklyn Borough President Ex-Officio Representative on the Brooklyn Museum’s Board of Trustees. Additionally, Rob serves as the vice-chair of the Center for Popular Democracy/Action Board. Most importantly, Rob is thrilled to be married to Mel Carrera and father to their amazing son, Robbie Jr and newborn Mia.

Susan Stamler is the Executive Director of United Neighborhood Houses (UNH), a policy and social change organization representing settlement houses–neighborhood-based, multi-generational community centers that offer education and social services and drive social change. UNH was founded in 1919 by settlement house leaders who recognized the strength of a collective approach to drive important social reforms. Over the last century, UNH has won both policy and program campaigns, including housing protections, labor protections, women’s suffrage, and social welfare programs as well as increased funding for adult education, quality community-based child-care and after-school programs, and the Summer Youth Employment Program.

At UNH, Susan oversees strategic direction, fundraising, and growth for the organization including lobbying at the City and State level for policy reforms, funding, and program design; customizing professional development for settlement house staff at all levels; and mobilizing settlement houses and their communities to engage in civic participation.

As she nears a decade at the helm of UNH, Susan has maintained close relationships with historic members while she has expanded the movement across New York State. Under her leadership, UNH welcomed upstate settlement houses and has added four New York City members, proving that settlement houses–and the settlement house intergenerational, progressive approach to social services and social change–remain a powerful force in communities. Today, UNH’s member settlement houses reach more than 800,000 New Yorkers from all walks of life.

Now, under Susan’s leadership, UNH is turning its sights to the 2030 census. Earlier this year, UNH launched Our Voices Count, a six-year initiative that will coordinate with settlement houses in New York to activate their communities in the lead up to–and increase their response rate for–the 2030 Census. Chief among Susan’s innovations is her ability to draw upon the lessons written into the settlement house movement’s history to take new, bold approaches and win progressive policy campaigns.

Throughout her career, Susan has advanced social change through her work on juvenile justice reforms, protecting women’s health and reproductive rights, advocating for environmental and consumer protections, and by lobbying for policies and programs to support people living with HIV/AIDS.

Susan is a NYC native, growing up in Queens and for more than 35 years lives in Brooklyn where she and her husband raised two daughters.

Tené Adero Howard is a Guyanese-born, life-long Brooklynite and currently lives in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. She is youth development practitioner and non profit leader who has expertise in the areas of youth development, human rights and social justice education. She has worked with youth and educators in New York City and internationally for the last 24 years and has held roles at K-12 schools and non profit organizations. She received a masters in International Educational Development at Columbia University and a bachelors in sociology from Amherst College. Since March 2020 she has been the Executive Director at Sadie Nash Leadership Project, whose mission is to strengthen, empower and equip young women and gender expansive youth of color to be agents of change in their lives and the world.

Tiffiney Davis, a resilient Black female community leader, co-founded Red Hook Art Project in 2009 with a vision to provide her artistically gifted children and others in underserved communities with opportunities for growth. Today, as Executive Director, she leads RHAP’s efforts to empower students through free art and mental wellness programming, fostering a safe and inclusive space where they can thrive. Her ability to unite the community has been pivotal in RHAP’s success, securing $1 million in federal funding through partnerships with 11 local organizations and advocacy efforts, enabling the expansion of programming and establishment of a dedicated studio space. This collaborative approach has been instrumental in addressing community needs, particularly during crises like the COVID-19 pandemic.

At RHAP, they prioritize holistic education, offering free homework help, visual art lessons, and music lessons that foster skills in leadership, teamwork, and social justice. This integrated approach prepares students for success academically, artistically, and personally. In response to the pandemic, she successfully transitioned RHAP to a virtual setting, hosting over 100 classes and providing meals to address food insecurity. Recognized with awards like the 2023 Woman of Distinction Award, her commitment to the community highlights dedication to arts education, community development, and civic engagement. Featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show as a “RAD HUMAN,” she advocates for the transformative power of the arts and creating inclusive spaces where every child can thrive, emphasizing the importance of breaking barriers and fostering community for all individuals to reach their full potential.

Tonya Gayle is Executive Director of Green City Force (GCF). She led GCF’s development team from July 2014 to September 2020. She is a board member of The Corps Network focused on national service, and Environmental Advocates of NY focused on environmental justice. Prior to joining GCF, Tonya served in public-private partnerships at the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and the Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO) Career Program. She has spent most of her career in nonprofit organizations focused on economic justice for young people of color. Tonya is a member of The New York Women’s Foundation Circle of Sisters for Social Change, a graduate of Wesleyan University, serves on various environmental justice advisory boards, and is a native Brooklynite. She is an associate producer of the 2006 documentary The Perfect Life featuring young adults from Harlem. Tonya is passionate about providing young people with viable paths to create and lead a just and equitable world.

Tuulikki Robertson has been a dedicated advocate for children, women, and families for many years. In 2022, she became the Director of Operations of The Black Institute (TBI), a non-profit “action tank” founded in 2010. TBI is committed to addressing persistent issues affecting people of color, focusing on immigration, environmental justice, economic fairness, and education.

Before joining TBI, Tuulikki worked as an Operations Manager for New York Health and Hospitals, where she directed operations for a start-up program created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This program aimed to connect impacted communities with vital social services.

Additionally, Tuulikki spent several years working with the Urban Resource Institute as a Community Engagement Specialist and was a member of the Urban Center for Change’s Advisory Board. Over the course of more than eight years, she helped families affected by domestic violence, providing support and resources to those in need.

Tuulikki has had the privilege of collaborating with a variety of organizations and individuals, including Pastor Donnie McClurkin, Bishop Hugh Nelson, the Carol Minaj Foundation, the Center for Art and Design at Pratt Institute, the NIKE Summer Program hosted by Kenji Summers, the ANS Association, the FDNY, Brother Enoch from Deeperlite, CAMBA, and many more.

A capacity builder, a minister’s minister, a nonprofit prophet, and a gifted creative strategist, Rev. Dr. Valerie Oliver Durrah fosters unique partnerships. The philanthropic advisor, nonprofit coach and manager, corporate, and faith-based consultant’s work involves diverse ethnic populations and the underserved. Founder and President of Neighborhood Technical Assistance Clinic (NTAC), Dr. Durrah consults with philanthropists, foundations, organizations, institutions, seminaries, agencies, and healthcare entities seeking help to improve their programs addressing the needs of low income and service-starved neighborhoods. Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Bethany Baptist Church, and Church Women United, Dr. Durrah is an ordained global minister and the first African American trustee of the Brooklyn Historical Society. Dr. Durrah published Lead Me, Guide Me: Capacity Building Resource Guide, for clergy women. An advisor to NYC Mayor Eric Adams, Dr. Durrah worked to establish NYC’s Office of Faith and Community Partnerships and aid pandemic recovery in New York City.

Wes Jackson has over 25 years of experience as a leader, entrepreneur, innovator, creative, and executive in entertainment and academia. Wes has been leading BRIC Arts Media, a pioneering, multi-disciplinary arts and media institution anchored in downtown Brooklyn, as its President since July 2022. BRIC’s programs include the free, summer-long BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn! festival; two distinct Emmy Award-winning media initiatives – BRIC TV and Brooklyn Free Speech TV; a major contemporary art exhibition program; BRIC JazzFest, which brings global legends and emerging artists in jazz to Brooklyn each Fall; family programs, and more. BRIC’s nationally recognized school-based arts and media education program reaches thousands of NYC public school students each year. Prior to starting at BRIC, Jackson was the Director of the Business of Creative Enterprises (BCE) Program and Senior Executive in Residence at Emerson College. His career began as a concert producer, which led him to his first venture, Seven Heads Entertainment, and later to found and lead the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.