Julius Caranda is an adjunct professor at BMCC. He has worked in banking, public policy, and cyber security. Prior to Uplift Communities Julius gave his time back by speaking to students and mentoring.

John Jay College, M.P.A.

John Jay College, B.A.

Achumboro Ataande is a 4x entrepreneur and investor. He is a licensed lawyer, angel investor, and owns a marketing and branding company based in NYC. Prior to Uplift Communities, Achumboro volunteered his time in advising 70 business owners bimonthly and speaking to various groups of teenagers.

J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School

B.A. from the University at Albany

Lorenzo Daughtry-Chambers is a prophetic teacher, strategist, and systems architect. My calling is to activate clarity, alignment, and forward movement in leaders — and to build the infrastructures that support their God-given purpose.

I serve at the intersection of the spiritual, personal, and organizational realms — guiding people into identity, structure, and impact.

Jeff Lindor served on the Board of the NYC Tech Alliance, Kingsborough Community College, the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, and the Fund for Public Housing. He is also an angel investor supporting black-owned startups.

Jeff Lindor is the Founder and CEO of the Gentlemen’s Factory Inc., a dynamic membership community offering physical locations that house co-working spaces, Think Tanks, Barber & grooming stations, and incubators dedicated to empowering men of color. With a strong presence across multiple sites in NYC and a diverse membership base, The Gentlemen's Factory serves as a central hub for Black and Brown men, facilitating connections to career opportunities, investors, and a forward-thinking community.

Master's in Urban Policy Analysis & Management from The New School.

Bachelor’s from The City University of New York

Director of STEM

Dr. Umaru Barrie is a board-certified Neurosurgeon at NYU Langone Health with an extensive background in academic medicine, mentoring, and global health. He earned both his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Texas and has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications. As a mentor and advocate for equity in education, Dr. Barrie has directly supported over 50 Black and Brown students in gaining admission to medical school.

Born in West Africa and raised in Harlem after arriving in the U.S. as a refugee, Dr. Barrie brings a lived understanding of resilience, opportunity, and transformation. He has traveled to more than 50 countries and is a widely requested speaker on topics related to science, education, leadership, and access.

In his role as Director of STEM, Dr. Barrie leads programming that aims to expose youth—particularly from underrepresented backgrounds—to the possibilities within science, technology, engineering, and math. His work is grounded in a commitment to cultivating curiosity, critical thinking, and pathways to future success. He is also fluent in French.

Umaru has helped dozens of black and brown students gain admittance to medical school and secure scholarships.

Texas University Medical School

B.S. from the University at Albany

Dr. Jasmine Ataande is a licensed mental health professional, educator, and advocate with a deep commitment to culturally responsive care and leadership development. She earned her Ph.D. from Montclair State University and has served as an adjunct professor at William Paterson University. Dr. Ataande is fluent in Spanish and brings a multicultural lens to all aspects of her work.

She holds multiple credentials, including Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC – New Jersey), National Certified Counselor (NCC), Approved Clinical Supervisor (ACS), and maintains active membership in leading professional organizations such as the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD) and the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES).

In addition to her academic and professional leadership, Dr. Ataande runs a thriving private practice that centers the mental health needs of people of color and those in leadership roles. Her clinical experience includes serving as a lead practitioner in mental health and substance abuse rehabilitation for adolescents and families, with a focus on trauma-informed and community-centered care.

Dr. Ataande is also a published scholar, having authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed papers that contribute to the field of counseling, equity, and emotional wellness.

Graphic designer, entrepreneur & teacher with more than 10+ years of professional experience in printed and digital media. Fluent in Spanish, Carolina was born and raised in Medellin, Colombia.

BA Graphic Designer - Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana

Advertising Graphic Designer - Institución Universitaria Bellas Artes

Branding Management - EAFIT

Web Design - Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana

Annette Kabia is a Business and Trademark Attorney. Her mission is to help creatives establish businesses and protect their brands so they can create generational wealth! Annette is an entrepreneur, she has her own law firm, Kabia Law.

J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law

Amel is an actress, producer, entrepreneur, and executive director of a nonprofit. One of the newest shows she has worked on is on HBOMax.

B.A. Montclair University

Catriona brings London to NY. She is studying finance and economics at Columbia University. Catriona has years of experience teaching young children.

Candidate for B.S. at Columbia University

Justin has worked in the U.S. and Costa Rica. He brings international experience in educating across cultures and at all age ranges. Justin is fluent in Spanish.

Justin has a nontraditional education background. He brings a wealth of cross cultural experience to experience in the our team.

Ritha Pierre is a zealous social activist, attorney, entrepreneur, radio personality, producer,and CEO of Black Ivy Media. Native to Brooklyn, NY, she always had an incredible passion for serving the community and empowering the masses. Ritha is an alumna of St. John’s

University and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government & Politics with a minor in Africana Studies. Her passion for representing the community and advocating for justice and human rights inspired her to pursue a Juris Doctor Degree from Fordham University School of Law. Following this, Ritha went on to obtain a Master’s Degree in Bioethics from Columbia University and is an avid seeker of knowledge who is always on the lookout for an opportunity to achieve furtherance in life.

B.A. St. John’s University

J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

PK Kersey is a professionalism expert. He focuses on teaching people how to dress for success and define their personal style.

He published various books on entrepreneurship and life skills: “Suited for Success” contains inspiring stories on entrepreneurship; “Still I Thrive” talks about evolving in unexpected crisis; and “That Suits You, Kid!” a heartwarming story about how feeling confident can help children rise to any occasion.

Aaliyah Duah is a financial freedom activist. Growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Founder of Financial Revolutionn, she has seen many people, including herself make poor financial decisions because of the lack of knowledge. Instead of depending on others to break this generational curse, she wanted to provide a way for people in the black community to be exposed to financial literacy and the concept of generational wealth. She focuses on teaching people how to develop their financial independence.

As time progresses, Aaliyah plans on releasing creative & fun ways for Black people of all ages to become financially literate through music, films, courses, books, podcasts & many more.

Ijangmarie Abam-DePass is a business economics graduate, with honors, from the University of Exeter Business. Ijangmarie, brings a unique experience of studying in the United Kingdom.

Miyoshi Days is an entrepreneur with fashion industry experience. She is a menstrual advocate, activist, thought leader, and founder of Hate the Dot, a pre-launch tech startup that empowers women, girls, and menstruators to prioritize their health and self-care through education + community.

Deputy Campaign Manager, Team Michael Blake | COO, Divi Diaper | Director, XyayX Institute | UPS Operations Management | Uplift Communities General Manager

Eugene D. Johnson is a logistics and operations leader with 25+ years of experience in supply chain management and team leadership, including roles at UPS and in airport logistics. He brings a proven track record of optimizing processes, implementing strategy, and leading in fast-paced environments.

A committed community leader and mentor, Eugene is passionate about building equitable pathways to opportunity through sustainable operations, inclusive workforce development, and community-centered initiatives.

Hayford Kesse is a graduate of Baruch College. He is a 23-year-old, Ghanaian-American, UX designer, photographer, and illustrator from Brooklyn, New York. He spent his toddler to school-aged years with my Grandmother in Ghana, where he discovered his innate artistic abilities, love for storytelling, and passion for adventure and creativity.

Client Relations Manager