Meet The Team
Every day, our team works to provide positive youth development programs for Washington DC's most vulnerable youth and teens in foster care, or any child that might be impacted by the child welfare system.
Staff
Josephine Mazyck
Executive Director
Josephine Mazyck, known affectionately as Ms. JoJo, is the Executive Director at Fihankra Akoma Ntaoso (FAN), driven by their commitment to safe spaces and linked hearts. Her passion for community cohesion stems from her upbringing, where the collective strength of her village shaped her personal achievements. With a rich background in community development, social services, and Montessori education, Josephine spent six years in charter schools bridging gaps between home and school environments, advocating for parental involvement in education. Previously, at Crossway Community, she played a pivotal role in supporting single mothers and their children through transitional housing, integrating Montessori principles into community services. Armed with an MSA in Organizational Development from Trinity Washington University and a B.S. in Psychology & English from Georgetown University, Josephine’s mantra, "Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. TEACH a man how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime," underscores her dedication to empowering families within educational frameworks.
Kevin Charles
Certified Peer Specialist
Kevin Charles has dedicated six years to Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso (FAN), a nurturing environment for youth in foster care. As a Peer Specialist and Designated Driver, he is instrumental in providing opportunities for these young individuals to develop their interests and talents, acquire new skills, and gain a sense of personal and group recognition in an atmosphere of hope. Kevin’s commitment is driven by his personal mantra, "I inspire myself to see anything that I invest my time in to manifest at its best," which guides his efforts in transportation logistics, organizing grocery giveaways, managing alumni programs, chaperoning and coordinating trips, supporting custody battles, maintaining the organization's van, and decorating the office. His dedication and multifaceted contributions significantly enhance the experiences and opportunities available to the youth at Fihankra Akoma Ntoaso.
Brittany Outlaw
Brittany Outlaw brings five years of dedicated service to Fihankra Akoma Ntaoso (FAN) as a Certified Family Peer Community Outreach Specialist. Passionate about connecting community members with vital resources, Brittany finds joy in engaging children and parents alike, witnessing their enthusiasm for learning and fun activities such as cooking and educational outings. Her professional journey includes roles as a Peer and Family Certified Specialist and Wellness Recovery Action Plan Facilitator, contributing to her comprehensive approach in supporting individuals and families. Outside of work, Brittany enjoys hiking, gardening, cooking, and enthusiastically follows football, particularly cheering for the Chiefs.
Certified Family Peer Community Outreach Specialist
Charnequa Greene
Program Director
Charnequa Greene brings a decade of commitment to Fihankra Akoma Ntaoso (FAN) as the Program Director, overseeing a mission close to her heart. Her passion for this work stems from a deep-seated belief in advocating for youth who often lack strong support systems. Charnequa values the unparalleled love and care that she and the FAN team provide, witnessing the transformative growth and happiness of the youth they serve. Previously, she honed her skills at The National Children's Museum as a Program Associate, where she developed and implemented educational activities for children of various ages. Charnequa holds an Applied Science Associates degree from Pierpont Community College, initially aspiring to be an art curator before discovering her calling in nonprofit work. Outside of her professional life, she finds joy in spending time with her children, expressing herself through art, both digital and traditional painting, and exploring biking adventures whenever possible.
Jibraun Whitley
Youth Peer Specialist
Jibraun Whitley joined Fihankra Akoma Ntaoso (FAN) as a Youth Peer Specialist driven by a passion for advancing our rich history and culture. With a diverse background in roles such as youth tennis coach, little league support coach, and meditation facilitator, Jibraun brings a wealth of experience in guiding and mentoring young individuals. Jibraun's educational journey includes high school and ongoing self-education through books, seminars, and lectures. Beyond work, Jibraun indulges in music as a musician, enjoys roller skating, and embraces adventures like trail blazing and swimming. Their spare time is often dedicated to deep research, applying acquired knowledge to real-world scenarios.
Board
Isha Weerasinghe
Board Chair
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Incoming!
Dani Brockert
Vice Chair
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Affiliation: Leadership Greater Washington
Bio: Dani Brockert (she/her) serves as Sr. Director of Development & Engagement for Leadership Greater Washington (LGW), a nonprofit organization in DC that connects leaders from across the DC region to create positive impact in the region. In her role with LGW, she coordinates with partners and donors to create positive impact with LGW and our region. She also oversees the engagement and connection of LGW's vast network of members and program participants to help them connect with each other and LGW.
Prior to joining the LGW team, Dani volunteered as an AmeriCorps member for a year, responding to natural disasters across America. After her service year, she moved to the DC area to support future AmeriCorps members as a staff member, managing the application process. Dani is a Certified Nonprofit Professional and completed the Nonprofit Management Executive Program at Georgetown University. She earned her B.A. from St. Norbert College in Wisconsin. In her free time, Dani enjoys cheering on any Wisconsin sports team, reading, watching movies, and listening to all the podcasts.
Adia Reed
Treasurer
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Life Mantra/Quote: I have learned in whatever situation, I am to be content
Nardos Ghebreab
Member
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Affiliation: Beyond100K
Bio: A trained sociologist and education researcher, Nardos roots her work in transforming school policies and norms to center and value the voices and visions of historically marginalized communities.
Life Mantra/Quote: "My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou
Charles Conway
Member
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Affiliation: U.S. Department of Energy
Bio: As a experienced Attorney Advisor, my focus is risk mitigation while achieving mission critical tasks. I enjoy leveraging my experience and skills to enable others.
Life Mantra/Quote: I have learned in whatever situation, I am to be content
Gina Carvana
Member
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Affiliation: Insperity HR
Bio: Gina Terry is a seasoned business consultant with over 20 years of experience in business development, performance optimization, and sales management. She currently works as a Human Resources Advisor with Insperity, where she focuses on optimizing business performance for small and mid-sized companies. With a deep understanding of HR solutions, she has spent eight years helping businesses achieve operational efficiency.
Prior to Insperity, Gina held various leadership roles, including Director of Business Development at CNSI, Real Estate Sales & Marketing at Coldwell Banker, and Software Account Manager at IBM, where she worked for over two decades. Gina holds a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia, where she was an active member of the National Society of Black Engineers. She also studied Liberal Arts at the City of London Polytechnic.
Her extensive career reflects her dedication to driving growth and success across industries, leveraging her diverse expertise in technology, real estate, and consulting.
Hownisha Reed
Alumni Member
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Affiliation: Walt Disney College- Intern
Bio: I am pragmatic and creative, with strong skills in project management, customer service and content creation, including social media and presentations. I am curious, adaptive and work collaboratively to solve problems, improve processes and deliver projects on deadline. I thrive in a busy, productive and deadline -oriented environment, both independently and within a team that is friendly and focused.
Jordan Loeb
Member
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Affiliation: Deloitte
Bio: Over 14 years experience in the information technology and audit readiness consulting industry, Jordan Loeb is currently a Senior Manager at Deloitte serving the Air Force Financial Improvement and Audit Readiness (FIAR) efforts helping to bridge the gap between the data analytics and business groups including the Universe of Transactions (UoT), Fund Balance w Treasury (FBwT) and Payroll efforts.
Jeri Ingram
Member
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Affiliation: Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group (MTEG)Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group (MTEG)
Bio: Jeri Ingram is the Executive Director and Founder of the Metropolitan Tennis & Education Group (MTEG), leading operations and development of tennis, education, and life skills programs in the Washington, DC area. A former professional player on the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) tour, Jeri competed in 14 Grand Slam tournaments, including eight consecutive US Opens. She holds four ITF titles and remains Maryland's undefeated state champion for over 35 years, earning her a spot in the Hall of Fame.
In 2005, Jeri earned her B.S. in Business Administration from American University, combining her interests in coaching and business. Her nonprofit, MTEG, has impacted over 6,000 students, awarding scholarships to 30 high school seniors.
Jeri is also a USTA High Performance Coach, holds numerous coaching certifications, and serves on multiple USTA boards and committees. She is most proud of being a mother to two honor students.
Kai Christian
Member
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Affiliation: Scissors & Scotch
Bio: After over 20 years as an operations manager, I’m transitioning to focus on my passion for education and helping underrepresented groups achieve their professional goals. My experience in restaurants and the haircare industry has allowed me to mentor and train many talented individuals who have gone on to excel in various fields. Now, I’m ready to make a broader impact. As a Doctor of Business Administration candidate, my research explores the intersectional workplace experiences of historically underrepresented groups, aiming to foster more equitable and inclusive work environments. I'm seeking roles in nonprofit organizations or DEI spaces to blend my professional experience, academic learning, and passion.
Advisory Board
Amanda Marshall, Founder of Fair Chance & Co-founder Families4Families
Nell Callahan, Frontwood Strategies
Geena Young, Nexxt Level Academy
Kelley Ann Andreae, Georgetown Ministry Center
Brandon Fraizer, XQ Institute
Laura Bennett, The Potomac School
Adria Crawford- Founder of Rather Unique Communications
John Campbell- FundEd Strategies
Nia West-Bey, Founder (FAN-DC), CLAS
Partners
Funding Partners
Learn24- summer and after school program support
Hattie M. Strong
ShareFund- general administration
Cloudbreak Foundation-
Sullivan Family Charitable Foundation
Lainoff Family Foundation
Diverse City Fund
Martha’s Table
The WaWa Foundation
Renaissance Charitable Foundation
Insperity HR
Maximus Foundation
Community Partners
DC United