Cassandra Cean-Owens is a proud mother and dedicated wife known as the “Chief Compassion Officer”. She is a dynamic consultant, professional speaker, and advocate with over two decades of interdisciplinary expertise as a lawyer, nurse, and organizational development leader. Drawing from her lived experience as a justice-impacted individual, Cassandra’s leadership philosophy emphasizes character development, resilience, and transformation. With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by diverse and marginalized communities, she brings a uniquely empathetic and empowering perspective to every space she enters.

Chrystal Colón is a passionate dancer, fashion enthusiast, and storyteller committed to elevating voices and creating spaces of empowerment. With a background in communications and media, she combines creativity with advocacy, utilizing her passion for design and movement to express herself and build resilience. Chrystal, a devoted mother and natural visionary, dedicated to encouraging people, prioritizing education, and redefining what it means to overcome adversity with strength. 

Shameeka France held the position of Project Lead at Columbia University in the City of New York from January 2022 to November 2023. Her responsibilities included assisting the director of The Center for Institutional & Social Change in guiding law students on topics related to equity, inclusion, and democracy. Prior to this role, Shameeka served as a motivational speaker for the NYC Department of Education, focusing on outreach to troubled youth in Brooklyn at Boys and Girls High School. 

Jusinta Jaggassar-Ernul is a dynamic community Peer Mental Health and Substance Use Recovery Coach and Consultant, certified by New York State. With over 15 years of international and domestic leadership experience, Jusinta is also a seasoned Global Senior Program Manager, Systems Science and Industrial Engineering Consultant, and Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt. She brings a global perspective shaped by her experiences living and studying in Mexico, Belgium, Germany, Amsterdam, London, Paris, and Brazil. Beyond her professional endeavors, Jusinta is a dedicated mother of two beautiful children and honors them through her work. She is a committed community leader and philanthropist, passionate about creating impact through service. Based in New York, she enjoys traveling, cross-country family track events, swimming, and photography. 

K. Sweetness Jennings is an African American warrior woman, poet, caregiver, change agent, cycle breaker and sojourner of truth. A Queens native, who is a recent widow and mother to two extraordinary young men who are both college graduates. She has worked as a credentialed substance abuse counselor for more than 15 years, including outpatient and inpatient detox modalities for men and women. Sweetness earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the College of New Rochelle (in Manhattan) and a master’s in professional studies from New York Theological Seminary. She is a humble servant of the Most High. 

Samantha J. Lawrence is a dynamic Brooklyn native of Caribbean descent. She has transformed her life experiences—including incarceration—into a 13-year journey of advocacy and social work. Samantha is currently pursuing her LCSW and a doctorate in social work while leading nonprofit initiatives that have earned her a citation and resolution. Beyond her professional work, she finds joy in chasing waterfalls, practicing herbalism, crafting rhinestone shoes for children, designing tumblers, and indulging in a good crab boil. Samantha is the youngest in her family and is a devoted cat mom to Phaze. 

Kifana Longdon-Gordon welcomed her first son into the world at the age of 16. Despite the demands of raising a child, she graduated from high school at 17. Later, Kifana earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. She firmly believes in the principle of “each one, teach one,” which led her to pursue a second bachelor’s degree in human services to make a positive impact on her community. Kifana was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines but resides in Brooklyn with her husband and four sons. She is passionate about community outreach and engaging with youth to empower them at every level. Kifana is committed to creating opportunities for others to succeed. 

Penelope Martin, known as Penny to her friends and family, is originally from Brooklyn, New York, but currently resides in Westchester County. She works full-time for an organization that provides higher education to incarcerated individuals. During her own incarceration, she earned both her associate and bachelor’s degrees through Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison. Penelope is a mother and grandmother who is now attending Yeshiva University, where she is pursuing a master’s degree in social work. 

Turquoise Juanita Martin is a proud Harlem native, visionary leader, and advocate who transforms adversity into empowerment. Overcoming foster care, sex trafficking, addiction, sex work, and generational trauma, Turquoise channels her resilience and creativity into healing, the arts, and inspiring others. She pairs her education with urban savvy to transmute her lived experience into lived expertise, contributing to her community through her spiritual empowerment business, Doza Kingdom. Turquoise loves being a mom to her son, Elisha, and her cat, Prosper. 

Sequoia Patterson is a dedicated community activist, mother of five, and passionate advocate for gun violence prevention. With a deep commitment to social justice, she has worked in various roles but finds the greatest fulfillment in her current position as a Hospital Responder Supervisor at a nonprofit organization, where she has served for three years.  Sequoia holds multiple certifications that enhance her ability to serve her community. Her unwavering dedication has been recognized by the Mayor’s Office, which awarded her a Certificate of Recognition for her impactful work. Beyond her professional achievements, Sequoia is committed to uplifting youth affected by the justice system. She is actively developing a program aimed at providing mentorship, resources, and guidance to help them navigate challenges and create brighter futures. 

Helen “Skip” Skipper has led in peer support workforce development since her final release from incarceration in 2007. In 2022, she became Executive Director of the NYC Justice Peer Initiative. A nationally recognized expert, Skip advocates for the inclusion of lived experiences and designs justice-involved support programs. She consults with the NYPD, Urban Institute, and other organizations. She is currently a criminology master’s candidate (on track for a PhD) and a published academic author. Skip serves as the Vice Chair of the NYC Board of Correction and holds positions on several criminal justice reform agency boards. 

Bridget Wilson is a native of Hempstead, New York. She is a mother of two adult children and a grandmother to one. She has survived domestic violence, incarceration, abandonment, and homelessness to become an author, teacher, real estate agent, and investor. Bridget’s goal is to inspire women who feel hopeless through her writing and business ventures. One of her favorite roles is that of a baker, and she is known for her famous strawberry crunch cupcakes.