At Brooklyn Org, we are proud to bring together local experts for engaging discussions for our supporters that amplify challenges and solutions impacting life across the borough. We recently held a panel discussion with leaders from local nonprofits redefining youth development in our borough: Barry Cooper, Founder & Executive Director of The B.R.O. Experience, and Joanne N. Smith, Founder and Executive Director of Girls for Gender Equity (GGE). Watch the discussion below, moderated by our President & CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey:
President & CEO, Brooklyn Org
Dr. Jocelynne Rainey, Ed.D. is a leader in New York City’s nonprofit sector and a seasoned executive with over 25 years of leadership experience. As President & CEO, Dr. Rainey has led Brooklyn Org’s (BKO) bold evolution from Brooklyn Community Foundation to create a more inclusive and accessible model for community philanthropy.
Founder & Executive Director, The B.R.O. Experience
Barry Cooper (known to many as Coach Coop) is an educator with more than a decade supporting young men of color. Barry founded The B.R.O. Experience Foundation in 2020 to expand his work in closing the Black male mental health gap.
Founder and Executive Director, Girls for Gender Equity (GGE)
Joanne N. Smith moves GGE closer to its mission through strategic advocacy, development, and leadership cultivation. Ms. Smith is a Haitian-American social worker born in NY. A staunch human rights advocate, Joanne co-chaired the nation’s first Young Women’s Initiative for girls of color in NYC, is a steering committee member of Black Girl Movement, and a Movement Maker with Move to End Violence.
