THE ARTHUR PROJECT - Key Persons
Candice Alyse Brown-Saunders, LMSW is a strong advocate for underprivileged youth and committed to empowering young people to be powerful agents of change for themselves, their families and communities.
After graduating from Pace University with her Bachelor's degree in psychology and minor in anthropology and sociology. Candice went on to receive her Masters in social work at Stony Brook University and is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
Over the course of the last decade, Candice has worked with children ranging in age from toddler to young adult, first as a preschool assistant teacher, then as the dean/behavioral specialist at a residential and day junior/senior high school for adolescent girls who struggle with (moderate to severe) social, emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. Most recently, she was the director of family court and mentoring services for court-involved youth at an agency that provides effective community-based alternatives to jail and prison to reduce incarceration and recidivism. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, spending quality time with family and friends, giving back to her community through service projects, and working as a licensed freelance make-up artist.
Ms. Charlene Vernon joined the Arthur Project in September 2022 as the Program Manager for the Brooklyn site.
Ms. Vernon has been offered the opportunity to work within the Human/Social Services for over 15 years. She entered this career with the passion in providing support, guidance, and leadership to the vulnerable population and those aspiring to enter to social work profession.
Ms. Vernon decided to pursue her educational journey in social services. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology at the University of Stony Brook in 2004. She began her journey of starting her career in social work profession, in child welfare and preventive services as a case manager and social worker. After 6 years in the field, Ms. Vernon decided to return to school full time, to pursue her Master level degree in social work at Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College in 2012. Immediately, Ms.Vernon returned into the work as a care manager, a few years later, she decided to take the leap into managerial role.
She wanted to provide leadership, and instruction to others' who are entering in the field. Throughout, Ms. Vernon discovered that she is passionate in providing advisement to those entering the field. She wants to create a space to educate and develop well-trained social workers who can be the next leaders in the field.
Although, Charlene enjoys her career and responsibility she also believes in the importance of self-care. Self-care is very pertinent to implement into ones' daily life. Charlene maintains a peaceful and fulfilling lifestyle. During her free time, Charlene spends quality time with family and close friends, enjoys traveling, cycling, and reading.
David Raymond is a technology professional working at the intersection of analytics, advertising, and online commerce. He has spent his career at some of the largest technology organizations including Adobe, AOL, and Verizon. Currently, David oversees AdTech partnerships for Amazon Advertising.
He found a passion for youth mentoring through The Brooklyn Boulders foundation when he mentored a high-school student for over three years. David attended Boston College and received his MBA from NYU Stern. He currently lives in Manhattan and can be found riding his bike around Central Park or Rockland County when not otherwise occupied.
Job Titles:
- HR Business Partner for Capital One 's Workforce Operations
Deena Hanna is the HR Business Partner for Capital One's Workforce Operations organization where she provides strategic HR business consultation and acts as a trusted advisor to executives. She partners with key stakeholders to drive business success by delivering innovative solutions to transform the businesses she supports. She works to create equity for all associates and cultivates a culture where every individual can be seen, heard, and valued
Deena previously was the Head of Capital One's Commercial Bank and Finance Early Career Programs team. Her passion for creating access to these programs for all students drives her to challenge the status quo and work with her clients to think differently to allow students with non-traditional backgrounds to pursue careers in Commercial Banking and Finance. Prior to joining Capital One in 2014, Deena held a variety of Finance and Banking roles including financial consulting, residential lending, and retail banking management. She has always been committed to creating opportunities for underserved communities and throughout her career, has led multiple initiatives to provide professional and financial expertise to those in need while creating a sense of belonging for all.
Deena graduated from Boston University with a degree in sociology. Deena also completed a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Certificate from Northwestern University and strives to apply her learnings to her professional and personal life. Deena is a first generation Palestinian American who currently resides in NYC.
Destiny J. Kirk joined the staff of the Arthur Project in August of 2022. She attended the University of Hartford, where she obtained her Bachelor's in both Politics and Government and International Studies with a specialization in Global Development. Currently, she is pursuing a Master's of Public Administration in Public Policy.
As a Brooklyn native, she has taken great pride in dedicating her time and work to a variety of communities in her hometown. She has found that her greatest passion is assisting and elevating communities in need, including youth, the homeless, mentally ill, LQBTQIA and low income populations. Some of her other community initiatives involve organizing annual toy drives, community givebacks, scholarships, and workshops.
One of her proudest moments was in 2020, when she organized a march in Brooklyn to begin the conversation of combating gun violence within the Black community. The march joined together 500 constituents, including 200+ youth, and key community and state stakeholders.
As a former Educator herself, Destiny has the insight to the disparities and inequalities that face black and brown children in the NYC education system, making the transition to being an Education Advocate effortless. She was recently appointed as a Youth Ambassador for Mayor Eric Adams, and has been honored as one of Brooklyn's Power Professionals. When she is not advocating, teaching or learning, she enjoys reading, traveling, fashion and spending time with her loved ones.
Job Titles:
- Psychiatrist, Writer, Tech and Media Consultant
Dr. Divya Chhabra is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, writer, tech and media consultant, and former teacher and policymaker.
She is the Director of Early Childhood Services at Emma Bowen Community Service Center, a program she founded that serves families with young children who have experienced trauma. She also serves as a social and emotional learning and DEI advisor at Nick Jr and Noggin, which is Nickelodeon's educational app for kids. She sees children and educates residents as assistant professor of psychiatry at NYU and will be teaches undergraduate coursework on underserved children, mental health policy, and inequality for NYU undergrads. Passionate about bridging disparities affecting children, she has been involved in advocacy efforts ranging from working with undocumented minors and their legal teams to organizing and training teams on anti-racism to global humanitarian work in East Africa. She began writing when she taught poetry on Death Row, and since, her writing has been featured in book chapters, the NEJM, Teen Vogue, The Huffington Post, Good Morning America, and ABC News. She serves on the UN Committee for Migration as well as AACAP's Disaster and Trauma Committee. Previously, she worked in policy at the New York Office of Mental Health and served as a consultant for several behavioral health tech companies. In her spare time, she loves fostering pups, playing piano, hiking, art, and fashion.
Dr. Joseph Cataldo is a skilled and dedicated attending surgeon specializing in podiatry at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi.
Dr. Joseph Cataldo is a skilled and dedicated attending surgeon specializing in podiatry at NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi. With a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine from the New York College of Podiatric Medicine, Dr. Cataldo has a comprehensive understanding of foot and ankle conditions and their treatment. He completed his residency with Northwell Health, where he served as Chief Resident, further honing his expertise in podiatric surgery. Dr. Cataldo's approach to patient care is comprehensive, encompassing both conservative and surgical treatments.
Working with traditionally underserved communities in the Bronx, Dr. Cataldo has developed a reputation for his exceptional clinical skills and his commitment to delivering personalized and compassionate care. He strives to connect with his patients and to tailor treatment plans to meet the unique needs of each individual.
Dr. Cataldo's dedication to his field extends beyond his clinical practice. He seeks to expand his knowledge and skills through participation in seminars and conferences throughout the country. His commitment to staying at the forefront of advancements in podiatry ensures that his patients receive the most innovative and effective treatments available. Dr. Cataldo is a member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, two leading organizations within the field.
Joseph's close work with communities in the Bronx make the mission of the Arthur Project all the more special to him; he has witnessed firsthand the impact of providing expertise and compassion to vulnerable populations and understands the quality-of-life improvements this work can promote.
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Development and Communications
Emanuel Casablanca is a Marketing and Development professional who has had a career that spans over a decade and a half working in both, the for-profit and nonprofit sectors.
After graduating from Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA., Emanuel began his career working in the financial sector at Deutsche Bank as a Wealth Management Analyst. Over the next few years, trying to find himself and a career he would enjoy, he would take roles working in the entertainment and fashion industries, developing, marketing and strategizing events and programs. Some of the most notable events that he has worked on or been apart of from inception to completion include: New York Fashion Week/Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, The Launch of Ciroc Vodka, GoldenVoice (Coachella - AM Events), 100 Black Men of NYC Gala, African Children's Choir Gala (NYC), Gridiron Gala, and many other events and activations. Some of the most notable programs that he has worked on and/or developed include: Triboro Human Justice March, Intergenerational Wealth Program (In Partnership with Carver Bank) and others.
Job Titles:
- Educational Administrator
Gilleyan has been an educator for 30 years, beginning her journey as a teacher at Mount Olivet Christian School and Community School 21. She became an assistant principal at the High School Program for Pregnant Students and then a principal at Middle School 584.
Currently, Gilleyan works as an Educational Administrator/Student Service Manager in Staten Island/District 31. She received a Bachelors in Sociology/African American Studies from Syracuse University, a Masters in Education from SUNY Binghamton and her administration and supervision license from the College of Saint Rose/CITE. Gilleyan is currently a Seminarian at Nyack College/ATS studying for her Masters of Arts in Biblical Literature/Old Testament/Hebrew. She is passionate about education and being a part of initiatives and programs that impact the lives of young people because "it's all about the children." Gilleyan served on the NYSED Advisory Panel for the Culturally Responsive Sustaining Education Framework. She also served as a contributor to the Blueprint for Excellence and Equity in the Education of Black Children and Youths. Gilleyan also has a sincere heart for women, young and seasoned. This passion led Gilleyan to birth "Heal Her Heart." The vision of Heal Her Heart community is to create a safe, sacred, and intimate space where women can experience restoration and healing of the heart by releasing themselves from the burdens and challenges of past life experiences, and become empowered women who blossom into who God predestined them to be. One of Gilleyan's greatest joys is being married to her love connection Eric Hargrove. They are honored to be the parents of two phenomenal blessings, Brianne and Tyler. Gilleyan is also a proud Diamond Life member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc
Job Titles:
- CO - FOUNDER
- Founder, CEO and CFO of Sigma Worldwide
Jeff describes himself as the "boring business guy" and Liz, "the soul" of The Arthur Project. Jeff has a keen understanding that for a not-for-profit organization to be successful, it needs to be run like a business and he has a wealth of expertise to help make that happen.
Jeff is Founder, CEO and CFO of Sigma Worldwide, an engineering-services company and manufacturer of accessory products for various industries. He brings significant business expertise to The Arthur Project, having served in senior management and financial leadership roles. Jeff has been actively involved in charitable activities and served on the Board of Storefront Academy, a tuition-free, private school in Harlem and the South Bronx educating underserved children.
His primary role with the Storefront Academy was to assist in fundraising efforts. Jeff attended Duke University for undergraduate studies, received his MBA from Harvard Business School. He and his wife, Antoinette, have two wonderful children: Isabella and Connor.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Social Worker
- CO - FOUNDER
- EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Jessica is a licensed Clinical Social Worker and holds a doctorate in Social Work and Sociology from Boston University.
For twenty years, Jessica has worked to advance equity and wellness for young people, particularly those who are most vulnerable. She has worked in community-based organizations and spent almost a decade providing mental health services to NYC public school students. Jessica also has experience teaching, advising and supervising social work students as well as community organizing experience in a number of settings.
Jessica has published and presented on a variety of topics, including fostering equity in mentoring organizations, coalitions and coalition building, gender and intersectionality in community organizing, participatory action research (PAR), building social capital in immigrant communities, and on anti-oppressive approaches to mentoring.
The only thing that Jessica cares about more than working with students of all ages is her daughter, Francesca. When Jessica is not overseeing the organization, attending meetings, analyzing data or teaching anti-oppressive clinical skills to social work students, Jessica and her daughter love to spend time dancing, singing, baking and enjoying their neighborhood in the Bronx.
Job Titles:
- Co - Head
- Director & Managing Counsel at the Bank of New York Mellon
Jordan is Director & Managing Counsel at the Bank of New York Mellon and the Co-Head of the global Intellectual Property Legal team. He leads the firm's efforts related to copyright, trademarks, domain name enforcement, brand protection, and is the primary legal support for the Global Marketing and Communications function. Prior to joining BNY Mellon, Jordan was a Senior Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. His practice focused on litigation, transactional, and counseling work in the fields of copyright, trademark, right of publicity, art, internet, and advertising law. He represented and advised clients across a wide range of industries, including entertainment and media, fashion, technology, and consumer products. He also represented and advised non-profit corporations and individuals in a variety of pro bono matters, including art museums, LGBTQ asylum applicants, and civil rights organizations.
Jordan is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Jordan is a member of the Associate Board of Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts and serves on the Internet Committee of the International Trademark Association and the Media Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association.
Karen Miner-Romanoff holds a juris doctorate and doctorate in public policy and criminology with an emphasis on youth.
She is the Law and Society Fellow at New York University and teaches law and society, juvenile justice, criminology, and miscarriages of justice and volunteers as a youth, nonprofit consultant and researcher. Working with mentoring programs, she has developed theories of change and conducted impact evaluations for multiple organizations. She is co-president of The Arthur Project therapeutic mentoring organization and working with The Korda Institute for Teaching as Vice President of the board and program evaluator. Prior, she held the position of Assistant Dean for Academic Excellence at NYU. An attorney, she clerked for the U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals, worked with a major law firm, and acted as a Special Assistant to the Ohio Attorney General. Prior to joining NYU, Dr. Miner-Romanoff served as the Associate Provost for Academic Quality and Executive Director for the International Institute for Innovative Instruction at Franklin University. She has received numerous awards and grants in the fields of criminal justice, criminology, leadership and teaching and learning. A Fulbright Scholar, she served with the Human Science Research Council in South Africa, is an NSF Data Consortium Fellow and sits on multiple educational advisory, editorial boards, nonprofit, and criminal justice commissions. She was also honored for her research with the Franklin County Human Trafficking Court as the Ohio Council of Criminal Justice Education Professional Practitioner. Selected conference presentations include the National Mentoring Summit, Law and Society Association, NYU Tech Summit, E-Learning, Innovation & Social Justice, International Conference of Social Science Research, the American Society of Criminology, International Conference on Justice, Police and Law, and the American Criminal Justice Society. Selected publications include articles in her major research interests, such as Evaluation and Programming Journal, Youth Voice Journal, International Journal of Online Pedagogy and Course Design, Justice Policy Journal, Criminologists, American Journal of Criminal Justice, International Journal of Restorative Justice, Journal of Correctional Education, Journal of Human Trafficking, Journal of Criminal Justice Education, and South African Journal of Higher Education.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director at Mizuho Securities USA
Kristeen Mehta is an executive director at Mizuho Securities USA. She manages all the equity operations and prior to Mizuho she was at Credit Suisse for 18 years building and leading the support for the Equity Derivatives business.
Kristeen was brought in at Mizuho to roll out an Equity Derivatives platform, she played an integral role in bringing together all the stakeholders front to back and implemented two new risk systems to manage the new product scope. Kristeen takes pride in her ability to manage and organize major initiatives and uses the strong relationships she built through the firm to be successful in the project. Kristeen is a big promoter of building automation to reduce operational risk and pushing her team to always think outside the box. She also loves to manage which not many people do not enjoy. She always says her success is attributed to the strength of her team, her team's happiness brings her happiness. Kristeen is also an active participant in many charity initiatives the bank offers. Her favorite one so far was a program called Tutor Mate where she was able to spend the year tutoring a young student to improve their reading skills, they worked together to create their own storybook and at the end of the year, she was able to visit the school and meet her student. It was truly an amazing and touching experience for her.
Kristeen was born in New Jersey and graduated from Pace University with her bachelor's in Business Management with a minor in Accounting. Kristeen lives in NJ with her husband and her son Mason.
Krystal Tena is an Associate Director in the Local Governments group at S&P Global Ratings.
Having experience in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, Krystal has held a variety of roles involving public finance, research and data analysis, and public policy, including with the State of California, the City of New York, and Human Rights Watch. Her previous advocacy work with farmworkers in California's Central Coast, children in foster care in Los Angeles County, and internally displaced populations in Cali, Colombia, continues to ground and drive her commitment to addressing socioeconomic disparities in marginalized communities. Born and raised in Southern California, Krystal is a daughter of Mexican immigrants and has lived throughout California, as well as Mexico City and New York City. She earned a Master of Public Policy with concentrations in economic and urban policy from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. She also holds a Bachelors of Arts in economics, sociology, and Latin American/Latino Studies from University of California, Santa Cruz.
Liz Ceisler is a native New Yorker, born and raised on the upper west side of Manhattan. She is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Mizuho Americas where she has worked since 2006.
At Mizuho, Liz spends her days doing what she does best - connecting and collaborating with people. She takes pride in her contributions to the organization's strong culture and ability to attract and retain great employees by promoting a dynamic and empowering business approach - one that also recognizes the importance of work life balance. During COVID-19, she was a key member of the response team in charge of business continuity while prioritizing employee health and well-being. Liz thrives in entrepreneurial environments where she can roll up her sleeves and create new and better opportunities for her community.
Liz graduated summa cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in Communications. She lives in Manhattan with her son Matthew and can be found on weekends shepherding him from baseball to basketball to flag football to soccer…and she loves every minute of it.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- Vice President of Infrastructure Finance at Citi
Marco Gomez is a Vice President of Infrastructure Finance at Citi. He received a Bachelors Degree from Georgetown University Mcdonough School Of Business.
Marco Gomez is a Vice President of Infrastructure Finance at Citi. He received a Bachelors Degree from Georgetown University Mcdonough School Of Business in 2012. In January 2010, Marco completed a degree, which he received from The University Of Oxford. Additional education includes receiving a degree from the Universidad Pontificia Comillas. Some of Marco's previous jobs include a collections officer at Georgetown University Alumni & Student Federal Credit Union, a summer analyst, corporate and investment banking at Citi, a summer analyst, private wealth management at Morgan Stanley, a summer analyst, private wealth management at Wachovia Securities Financial Network, an analyst, corporate and investment banking at Citi, and now in his current role at Citi as a VP.
As a native New Yorker, May has a long and successful track-record developing resources for a wide range of non-profits and civically-minded organizations in New York City. May's fundraising career began at Stanford University's Medical School and then continued in the arts, education and social services in New York.
May spearheaded development efforts at the National Organization for Women, New York City, and their charitable partner, Women's Justice NOW. Prior to that, she worked with the Population Council, where she kickstarted significant support for their latest contraceptive technologies. May also mobilized communities across the east coast, making it possible for a new generation of young women to change the face of our democracy.
Today, she serves the oldest performing arts institution in America: the Brooklyn Academy of Music. As the Director of Patron Programs, she engages new audiences to take a leading role shaping the future of the arts in New York City.
May is passionate about helping young people navigate systems in order to gain access to opportunities and believes in a holistic approach that centers around community needs and data-driven solutions. In her free time, she and her partner enjoy their neighborhood in Harlem with their rescue dog, Tato.
Natalie Persaud joined The Arthur Project in 2024 as the Bronx Education Advocate. She received her Bachelors of Social Work from Lehman College.
Natalie Persaud joined The Arthur Project in 2024 as the Bronx Education Advocate. She received her Bachelors of Social Work from Lehman College.
By age 25, Robinson Lynn had assumed leadership of a Manhattan training and development company, acquired a second location for it, doubled its client base, and reinvigorated its
Today, he is Executive Director of Momentum Education, providing experiential learning and life coaching with a focus on leadership development for thousands of individual and organizational clients in multiple different US markets and internationally. In addition to its leadership and personal development experiential curriculum, Momentum Education under Robinson's direction has focused on providing millions of meals to people domestically experiencing hunger, while supporting its clients and graduates in reuniting relationships, and raising millions for charities and nonprofits. Robinson is widely known for delivering keynotes based on his personal story of becoming an executive at an early age and navigating the at times unwieldy waters of business ownership. He draws key leadership distinctions in the areas of innovation, breakthrough thinking, communication, culture change, and self-expression. In support of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent, Robinson was recognized as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent for his humanitarian work. MIPAD, the host organization, has now engaged Robinson at the forefront of its efforts to inspire high achievers of African descent around the world to eradicate injustice and develop coalitions across the Diaspora. "Basically, I feel that I'm fulfilling what I was meant to do whenever I can help people improve their lives, especially in the service of having their heartfelt dreams come true." Robinson says. He is a graduate of George Washington University, and was a protégé of Robin Lynn, his mother, an international trainer who was recognized by the South African government for her role in the dismantling of the apartheid system. He also serves on the board of 501 (c) (3) organization, Passion Meets Purpose which connects transformational life coaches, beauty salons, barbershops and wellness professionals to homeless shelters. Robinson is married to Tamara Lynn, an educator and transformational trainer.
Rocco Basile was a second-generation real estate developer in New York City, having constructed over 150 buildings. He was the owner of Avo Construction, a construction development firm which focused on high-end interior renovation and ground-up building construction for real estate developers in NYC. Rocco was a proud husband and father of two.
Rocco served on the Board of Directors of Children of the City, a non-profit organization, for seven years, serving as chair for the last four years of his tenure. Based in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Children of the City has been responding to the critical needs of families coping with trauma, academic frustration, drug abuse, delinquency and despair since 1981.
Rocco was one of The Arthur Project's first board members and his kindness and generosity will always be remembered.
Steve was founder, chief executive officer and chairman of Quontic Bank. A serial entrepreneur, Steve had a passion for business startups. He had a proven track record of founding several successful private and public companies across a variety of industries, including community banking, mortgage finance, health and fitness, and early stage dot-com era ventures.
Steve was also an active real estate investor/developer and co-chairman of Fit Athletic Holdings. He was the founding director of, and primary contributor to, Urban Angels, a nonprofit that provides food to the homeless, serving more than 100,000 meals per year. He also served on the advisory board of the New York League of Independent Bankers. He received a bachelor's degree in accounting, cum laude, from the University of Florida.
Steve was one of the founding Board Members of The Arthur Project, and a kind and insightful leader.
Travis Montez Johnson is a writer, poet, professor and juvenile rights attorney, representing children in the Family Court system of New York City.
Born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Travis came to New York City in the late 90s to attend New York University where he pursued degrees in Journalism and Africana Studies. He graduated to NYU Law School in 2003 and is currently an attorney supervisor with the Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Practice.