Asha Brown
Site Director
Asha Brown is a Program Manager in the non-profit sector tying in her experiences in student development and higher education in order to support young adults in workforce development. Coming from Raleigh, North Carolina, Asha enjoys all things Beyoncé, sweet tea, and reality tv. Asha holds a Bachelor of Arts in English (African American Literature) from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University and a Master of Education in College Student Personnel from the University of Louisville. Asha aims to empower and motivate young women to be confident and their authentic selves, and serve as positive representation for them as well.
Adebukola Ajao
Site Director
Adebukola attended Emmanuel College in her hometown, Boston, where her interest in media began. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Emmanuel College and a minor in Africana Studies from Simmons College. After taking a “Black Twitter” course at Simmons College, she learned about the importance of social media data mining. In 2016, #SandraBland was mysteriously deleted from Tumblr’s searchable content and no one could find pictures or information regarding her death, therefore scholars began collecting and archiving Black Lives Matter related tweets. Through this archiving process she became interested in learning about media consumerism and its impact on the development of young people. To answer the call of economically enhancing her community and providing media education to small businesses, she started a media consulting practice called BDY CONSULT. She has garnered major clients such as Verizon, actress, singer, songwriter Keke Palmer, and the illustrious Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Yet, she always pledges to work with an individual or organization pro bono when she has the opportunity. In 2017, she worked with clients from three low-income neighborhoods in Boston. She developed their brand messages and collected social media analytics to measure their success. She also guided them through the dangers of social media on self-esteem, fake news, and ads. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Digital Media with a concentration in social media management at Northeastern University.
Joseph Covington II
Site Director
Joseph Covington II is an Educational Content Curator, & Community Advocate who helps organizations create educational experiences that keep students engaged but also give pathways for professionals to be a part of the change they desire to see. Working with children in underrepresented communities of incarcerated parents and backgrounds. The goal of this type of work is to provide access for these communities To a more sustainable successful future, but also to create pathways to wealth. He has worked with students in the education space for the last 17 years of his career. He is originally from Binghamton, NY. He studied Elementary Education at Tuskegee University. He’s been working in the educational nonprofit space in Washington, D.C. for the last ten years.
Amy Singh
Seed Coach
Amy currently serves as the director of high school data and analytics at Ascend Public Charter Schools in Brooklyn, NY. Through this work and as an academic tutor, Amy invests in empowering and equipping young people to make critical and strategic decisions about their futures. In addition, Amy is deeply passionate about chocolate, which started as an elementary school project and since then, has taken her on many adventures including giving a TEDx talk in Prague: The power of curiosity - Amy Singh's chocolate story Amy holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and International Relations from Boston University.
Gaïana Joseph
Seed Coach
Gaïana Joseph is a New York native with her roots (and heart) in Haïti. She’s a Smith College alumna with a degree in Africana and French Studies. Somehow, that has brought her two very different careers in Business Process at Penguin Random House and now Project Management at a financial tech company. A passionate reader, she’ll always have the right book to recommend and can turn anyone into a book lover. When she’s not managing projects, you can find her in her kitchen developing a new recipe or whipping up something special for her nearest and dearest. Gaïana strongly believes that the change in our communities starts with giving each member the tools, knowledge, and access they need to take ownership of their own lives. Knowledge and tangible access to resources, not only power, but it is also freedom.
Valarie S. Hollingsworth
Seed Coach
Valarie S. Hollingsworth, Esq., is a proud Brooklyn, New York native. She is a graduate of The Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English/Liberal Arts. She earned a Master of Arts Degree from Teachers College, Columbia University, and then went on to earn a Juris Doctor Degree from Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland State University. Ms. Hollingsworth started out as a Tax Lien & Mortgage Foreclosure Attorney, and currently holds the title of Senior Administrative Law Judge at New York State Department of Motor Vehicles, Traffic Violations Bureau. In addition to her work as a Seeds Coach, Valarie is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated. She is a Charter Member of Gotham Parliamentarians of New York. She serves on Community Board 17 as the Land Use Committee Co-Chair, and also on the Neighborhood Advisory Board - Brooklyn 17, NYC Department of Youth & Community Development.
Kiara Whittle
Seed Coach
Kiara Whittle, 27 year old Brooklyn native who graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelors of Science in Chemistry. Kiara currently works as a chemist and research assistant along with pursuing a masters in Toxicology and Pharmacology. Along with studying and working, Kiara also enjoys mentoring and helping engage kids in STEM fields. She currently volunteers with the Letters to a Pre-Scientist mentoring program that connects professionals with students as pen pals. Kiara also enjoys social activities such as musicals, meet and greets and extracurricular activities.
Natasha Inniss
Seeds Coach
Natasha Inniss can best be described as a powerful, loving, and urgent leader. From an early age, she developed a passion for education, faith, and family. With those passions and her Caribbean-American background, she learned the value of hard work, tenacity, and loyalty.Natasha holds a B.A. in Psychology and Management-Organization from Spelman College and has had an extensive career in education program management. Since 2006, she has implemented and managed technology-based programming in schools districts across Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Texas, Tennessee, and the entire Midwest.If you ask Natasha what gets her out of bed every day, it would definitely be a community impact. In addition to her professional work, Natasha has volunteered with the National Urban League Young Professionals since 2014. She is a member of the Essex County chapter in northern New Jersey where she has held various leadership roles and also serves on the national Programs Committee. She also has served with the Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey as a local Newark Troop leader. Natasha currently resides in Newark, New Jersey and continues to focus on impacting communities through education and service.
Ky’Eisha W. Penn
Seed Coach
Ky’Eisha W. Penn, is the Civic Engagement and Transparency Law Fellow at the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. She is a first-generation college and law school graduate. Ky’Eisha pursued her legal training at Howard University School of Law, after earning a dual-degree from Florida State University in Political Science and African-American Studies and a Masters of Applied Social Science in History from Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. Originally from the inner-city of Miami, FL–– Ky’Eisha discovered her passion for social justice and community activism as a Dream Defender, challenging laws that disproportionately affected black and brown youth throughout the state of Florida. While a law student, Ky’Eisha served as a coordinator and facilitator for Howard Law Academy where she along with other law students conducted workshops for 10th grade students from Thurgood Marshall Academy on various legal topics that currently impact black and brown youth including: #BlackLivesMatter, the School-to-Prison Pipeline, Intersectionality, and Knowing Your Rights. Seriously invested in this work, Ky’Eisha completed four legal internships, served on the Charles Hamilton Houston National Moot Court Team, was a student attorney in Howard’s Human and Civil Rights Clinic, and served two terms as the Social Action Chair for the Student Bar Association. Despite the academic demands of law school, Ky’Eisha always found time to serve her community and the Howard Law student body and as a result was awarded the 2017 Earl H. Davis Advocacy Award, was named the 2018 Howard Law Student of the Year and most recently, was awarded the Charles Hamilton Houston Outstanding Student Award at Howard University School of Law’s 150th Anniversary Gala. Having now graduated and fully admitted into the practice of law, she hopes to continue to serve and impact her community for the better. All power to the people.
Adwoa
Seed Coach
My name is Adwoa! I’m a first generation Ghanaian American, born and raised in The Bronx. I graduated college in 2017 and have been working in Digital Marketing for awhile now. In my free time I love to travel, watch Hulu, Netflix, or YouTube and take the occasional dance classes. I’m so excited to give back to other young women through the Seeds of Fortune program.
Victoria Bolling
Seed Coach
Victoria is an experienced communications professional with 6 years experience in Marketing, Public Relations, Advertising, and Digital Media. A Harlem native, and Stony Brook alum who is passionate about hip hop culture and her community.
Alexandra Williams
Seed Coach
Alexandra Williams is a Software Engineer at Venmo, currently living in NYC. She was born and raised in Springfield, MA and graduated from Smith College in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in Engineering Science. Alexandra became an avid traveler after her first international trip in college. She was able to travel, work, and study in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Central America in her college years alone, and has since traveled to 18 different countries. When she’s not working or traveling, she’s likely home watching random YouTube videos.
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