SPARK THE JOURNEY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Program Execution
Adriona Isom joined Spark the Journey in September 2018. As the Associate Director of Program Execution, she is responsible for the day-to-day administration of the High School and Post-Secondary Navigation programs.
Job Titles:
- Ambassador
- Chairman, Redwood Investments, LLC
"Spark students are impressive in their own right for the hard work they put in and the persistence they demonstrate, most often in the face of daunting personal challenges on top of the more universal realities of adolescence. What I hear most often from our students is their desire to do well, coupled with recognition and appreciation that the network of support from Spark mentors and programs gives them additional confidence to grow and create opportunities for their future. The strength of Spark's relationships with our students became not only more evident but more critical through the pandemic as immediate challenges and needs increased. I am proud of the team at Spark for its agility and dedication and of our community of donors who recommitted to supporting our mission. Because of this, Spark students persevered with their hard work of learning, growing, and exploring pathways forward."
Angie Lotfi joined Spark the Journey in March 2023. In her role, Angie manages daily activities of the development team and assists in the execution of goals and strategies for all fundraising campaigns.
Ann Marie Elmayan joined Spark the Journey in September 2022. In her role, Ann Marie develops and leads all fundraising strategies in a manner that guides the strategic direction and mission of the organization.
Brandon White, Spark the Journey's Executive Director, joined the staff in February 2017, first as Director of Learning and Evaluation and then as Chief Program Officer. Brandon is responsible for leading Spark the Journey in nearly all aspects of executing its mission, ensuring that the organization's many functions that support its programs are working collaboratively and are fully resourced. This includes overseeing the Programs, Communications, and Evaluation teams, and promoting the organization's ongoing strategic vision.
Prior to joining Spark the Journey, Brandon was a Doctoral Candidate and Graduate Student Instructor at the University of California, Berkeley, where his research explored the intersection of 20th century educational policy and literary history. He previously served as an Educational Consultant and a Teaching and Learning Fellow at Brandeis University's Research and Instruction Services, where he managed a research group developing novel educational tools to support the university's teaching priorities. Brandon is the co-editor of Learning Analytics: From Research to Practice, the earliest entry in the budding field of learning analytics, which attempts to use digital tools to explore the pedagogical process. Brandon obtained his B.A. in English from Princeton University, an M.A. in Cultural Production from Brandeis University, and his Ph.D. in English at the University of California, Berkeley.
In his free time, Brandon can be found with a book or on his bike - an avid cyclist, he enjoys getting lost on the streets of D.C.
Job Titles:
- Managing Director and Vice President, Edgemoor Infrastructure and Real Estate
Cammy Sessoms joined Spark the Journey in August 2022. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Job Titles:
- Director, the Hudson Institute Center for Global Prosperity
Job Titles:
- Director of Data and Systems
Casey Gergen joined Spark the Journey in July 2017, as the Associate Director of Programs. In her current role, Casey leads the Data and Systems team in developing systems, processes, and tools to support the work of each team member at Spark and utilizes data to inform strategic decisions and center student impact.
Prior to Spark the Journey, Casey worked in a public high school in Kansas City, MO, with the College Advising Corps. As a college adviser she worked with primarily first-generation, low-income students to navigate the college application process and find a best-fit institution. Casey earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Art History from the University of Missouri and her Masters in Public Policy from American University.
In her free time, Casey enjoys cooking and, when the weather is nice, spending as much time outside as possible.
Job Titles:
- Independent Consultant in the Nonprofit Sector
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor, the Carlyle Group
Job Titles:
- Marketing Director
- Communications and Marketing Director
Danielle Tyler joined Spark the Journey in September of 2018. Danielle is a passionate, strategic communicator and plays a key role in managing Spark the Journey's brand identity, messaging, and marketing and communications strategy to increase the visibility and reach of the organization.
Destiny Smith joined the Spark the Journey team in July 2022. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Destiny graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2022, where she received a Bachelor of Arts in English with a concentration in Literature and a minor in Secondary Education. Prior to Spark the Journey, Destiny worked with her college's Campus Events Board where she planned events for students.
Diamond Bell joined Spark the Journey in January 2019. As a Recruitment Manager, Diamond oversees the cycles of student and mentor recruitment at Spark the Journey. Her responsibilities at Spark also include curating events for the organization's mentor community, building relationships with DC schools, and supporting Spark's mission to improve upward mobility for our students.
Job Titles:
- Systems Analyst
- Data and Systems Analyst
Elizabeth Wilson joined Spark the Journey in February of 2022. As Data and Systems Analyst, she works across teams to support and recommend improvements to systems, applications, and processes. She also works to structure strategic communications and conduct team-wide evaluations of student progress.
Elizabeth graduated from Washington College in 2019, where she majored in political science with a minor in Hispanic studies. Prior to Spark, she worked as a Development and Campaigns Assistant at 314 Action.
In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys running, hiking and is always looking for new ice cream spots to try!
Job Titles:
- Curriculum and Training Manager
Imane Zirari joined Spark the Journey in August 2018. As the Curriculum and Training Manager, Imane is responsible for the strategic revision, expansion, and adaptation of curricular content and training for internal and external stakeholders.
Job Titles:
- CEO Emeritus and Partner, Hogan Lovells
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Data and Systems
Jaydeb Mukherjee joined Spark the Journey in March 2019. As the Associate Director of Data and Systems, he heads a small team that manages the various data systems used across the organization, provides periodic trainings on data best practices, and helps drive a more strategic approach to both operations and programs.
Jaydeb graduated from the University of Maryland - College Park with two bachelor's degrees: a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry and a Bachelor of Arts in Japanese Studies. Prior to Spark, he developed his data science skills by working as a digital marketing specialist and data analyst for Thermo Fisher Scientific, where he was a Salesforce Administrator in addition to blog writer and market researcher.
Jennifer Ventura joined Spark the Journey in June of 2021. As a Program Manager, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Potomac Equity Partners
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Recruitment / Coordinator
Jordan Farris joined Spark the Journey in November 2022. As a Recruitment Coordinator, Jordan supports and helps facilitate mentor and mentee recruitment efforts at Spark.
Jose Lima Rosas joined Spark the Journey in June of 2021. As a Program Manager, he helps develop, implement, and oversee the goals of Spark's post-secondary program. He serves as a resource and support system for post-secondary students and their mentors to help ensure students are developing a meaningful relationship with their mentor and cultivating the skills they need to meet and exceed their academic and/or professional post-secondary goals.
Justine Quintana joined Spark the Journey in October of 2015. In her role, Justine develops and manages the strategy for the organization's high school, college, and volunteer engagement programs to help support students, mentors, and staff as they partner in the pursuit of each mentee's academic achievement and career development.
Kera Donaldson joined the Spark the Journey team in March 2023. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- President
At the time Khari joined, he was Spark the Journey's only employee and has since built the organization from a niche program that reached only 50 students per year to a burgeoning organization that is currently supporting more than 500 students and has grown by 400% since 2012. By expanding its program offerings and leveraging the power of hundreds of trained volunteers on daily basis, Spark the Journey has been remarkably successful in helping its students overcome the barriers that limit most low-income students. Under Khari's leadership, Spark the Journey has seen 61% of its graduates' complete college on time, a rate that is nearly three times that of similar students nationally.
Khari received both a Bachelor's degree in American Studies and a Master's degree in Education from Tufts University. A two-time captain of the Tufts basketball team, he played professional basketball in Helsinki, Finland upon graduating from college. After his playing career ended in 1995, he spent six years coaching high school and college basketball in the Boston area. He also owned and operated a fitness and sports performance business serving individual clients and offering clinics and camps for high school and college athletes. Khari's involvement working with urban teens through his various coaching experiences led him to pursue a career in expanding educational opportunities for low-income youth.
Khari and his wife are the proud parents of two children who attend DC Public Schools.
Personal Quote: "Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today." - Malcolm X
Job Titles:
- Director of Talent and Operations
Lydia Bailey joined Spark the Journey in April 2022, when she relocated back to Washington, DC after spending 6 years in Brooklyn, NY. In her role, Lydia is responsible for leading the talent management, financial, and operational plans that support the organization and staff.
Prior to joining Spark, Lydia served as the Director of Operations and Talent Management for a Brooklyn charter school, where she developed people and teams to achieve goals, created systems to manage workflows and budgets, and helped align people to their career paths. She produced talent management initiatives with a strong focus on ensuring that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are embedded in operational practices and were representative of the community. She has worked in charter schools, education associations, and various nonprofits that serve her personal mission in closing the opportunity gap for underserved populations. Lydia graduated from the College of William & Mary, where she received her degree in Government Affairs.
She enjoys reading, hiking, eating outdoors, as well as traveling to new places.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Program Design
Malisha Cooper-Suggs joined Spark the Journey in June 2017. As the Associate Director of Program Design, Malisha is responsible for the design integrity of programmatic content and its delivery.
Job Titles:
- Finance
- Operations Manager
Miranda Forte joined Spark the Journey in December 2022 as the Finance and Operations Manager. In her current role, Miranda supports the Operations team in maintaining accurate, efficient data and processes in finance, operations, and human resources.
Job Titles:
- Social Media & Graphic Design Specialist
Monique Meyer joined Spark the Journey in February 2023. As the Social Media & Graphic Design Specialist, she works to elevate the appearance of our brand's communications and implements strategies in order to increase brand awareness and improve digital marketing efforts.
Muhammed Abbas Abdulkarimu joined Spark the Journey in September 2018. As a Program Manager, he helps coordinate a caseload of student- mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Muhammed graduated from Goucher college in 2016, where he received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Prior to CPE, Muhammed was an AmeriCorps member for Reading Partners where he managed a literacy center and volunteer tutors in tutoring students.
In his free time, Muhammed enjoys playing basketball, listening to music, and exploring different brunch restaurants.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic Initiatives
Rachel Sier joined Spark the Journey in March of 2019. In her role, Rachel leads the organization's impact measurement and strategic planning process.
Ranya Ayoub joined Spark the Journey in September 2021. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Ruth Assefa joined Spark the Journey in March 2022. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Job Titles:
- Coordinator
- Program Coordinator
Sarah Bourdon joined the Spark the Journey team in February 2023. As a Program Coordinator, she helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Sarah graduated from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania where she received a Bachelor's degree in International Studies with a minor in International Development. She earned her Master's in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from George Mason University. Prior to Spark, Sarah worked as a Program Coordinator at Everybody Wins DC. She worked with elementary school students and their mentors as they participated in a shared reading program called, Power Readers.
Job Titles:
- Communications Specialist
- Specialist
Sarah Ostrow joined Spark the Journey in October 2022. As Communications Specialist, she creates content and campaigns that increase Spark's visibility in the community, engage its network of supporters, and elevate the stories of mentees and mentors.
Job Titles:
- Operations Analyst
- Data and Operations Analyst
Shawn Linzer joined Spark the Journey in November 2022. As a Data and Operations Analyst, he works across teams to support and recommend process and system improvements to help sustain high operational efficiency within the organization. He also works to support the Development and Communications teams in most effectively utilizing data to inform decision making.
Job Titles:
- Board Chair President and Founder / Bush International, LLC
Job Titles:
- Chairman Emeritus
- Co - Founder
Zachary Itteilag joined Spark the Journey in November of 2021. As a Program Coordinator, he helps coordinate a caseload of student-mentor pairs and serves as a resource and support system.
Zack graduated from Juniata College, where he received a bachelor's degree in psychology. Prior to Spark, he was an AmeriCorps member at Teens Run DC, a youth empowerment nonprofit. He worked with students to accomplish both their fitness and social emotional goals.
In his free time, he enjoys anything sports related, keeping up with all things Marvel, and exploring restaurants and breweries in the DC area.