Interested in serving our community by joining our team. Check out our open positions .

Meet MEISHA LERATO ROBINSON
Our Founder and Chief Executive of Hope

I AM A LIGHT in dark places.

Meisha is a social entrepreneur, youth empowerment advocate, and brand strategist committed to generating innovative and impactful changes in organizations and communities. Her experiences mentoring inner-city youth in the United States and working with youth while volunteering with the Peace Corps in Benin and South Africa, inspired her to start IAWA. She realized youth across the African Diaspora were brimming with potential, but many lacked the support and resources to fulfill their dreams.

With more than fifteen years of brand management and marketing strategy experience, she transitioned out of her career and into a life of social impact. Meisha aspires to use her work and her walk to help heal the wounds that separate Africans and African Diasporans. She received a Masters of Business Administration in Marketing from New York University’s Leonard N. Stern School of Business and a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Maryland Eastern Shore.

Meet Our Directors Circle

The Directors Circle is I Am, We Are’s Global Board of Directors.

Koffi Assouan is an international development expert who specializes in market-driven development, program partnerships, and employability and youth. Koffi has over 15 years’ expertise in sectors such as education, trade facilitation, and philanthro… — **Koffi Assouan** is an international development expert who specializes in market-driven development, program partnerships, and employability and youth. Koffi has over 15 years’ expertise in sectors such as education, trade facilitation, and philanthropy. As a strategist and innovator, he has provided positive brand equity for companies such as Coca-Cola, Chevron, developed JBC’s African practice, and managed a $50M+ portfolio of programs/partnerships. He has been fortunate to work with high caliber individuals in various organizations such as Mastercard Foundation, to drive the strategy, policies, and programming for sustainable development. He is an advocate for trusting youth to lead and appreciate humility, respect for others, genuine intellectual curiosity, generosity, and diversity and inclusion.

Koffi Assouan (Canada)
I AM TRUSTING YOUTH TO LEAD.
Co-Chair

**Rachel Torres** is the Administrator and National Director for the Employment Training Administration’s (ETA) Office of Job Corps at the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). She previously served as the Associate Administrator for Administrative Operations in DOL’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), whereas an integral part of the agency’s Executive Leadership Team, she oversaw its operational functions, including budget, procurement, business transformation, information technology, and human resources. Over the years, she has served as the Chair of the DOL’s Diversity and Inclusion Council and several other department-level executive committees.
She is currently the Vice President of the African American Federal Executive Association (AAFEA) – an organization dedicated to developing African American senior executives in the Federal Government. Since 2017, she has served as the Community Affairs Director and Program Director on its Board of Directors. From 2017 to 2019, she chaired the Board of the Directors of Washington Leadership Academy, a charter school in Washington, DC that focuses on technology. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology and a Master’s Degree in public administration, both from Baruch College, City University of New York.

Rachel Torres (USA)
I AM HOPEFUL AND OPTIMISTIC.
Co-Chair

**Robyn Vilakazi** is a seasoned public sector financial management professional. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has spent all of her post-articles career serving the public sector in some capacity. She currently serves as the CFO at the Energy and Water SETA. Robyn is passionate about capacitating people, especially youth, to realize their full potential. She serves as a mentor to several younger qualified and aspiring professionals in her field and is an active volunteer.

Robert Adams Jr. is an independent consultant. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President for Programs at the NEA Foundation in Washington, DC where he oversaw the Foundation’s programs, including the Global Learning Fellowship and Grants to… — **Robert Adams Jr**. is an independent consultant. Previously, he served as the Senior Vice President for Programs at the NEA Foundation in Washington, DC where he oversaw the Foundation’s programs, including the Global Learning Fellowship and Grants to Educators. Robert also served as Interim Chief Operating Officer at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta and as Program Officer at the Fetzer Institute in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Robert holds a Ph.D. in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has held various academic, research, and advisory positions at the City University of New York’s (CUNY) Graduate Center, DePaul University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In 2008, he was a Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at the Catholic University of São Paulo in Brazil. Robert has published extensively and has conducted research in Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico, Mozambique, Portugal, Spain, South Africa, and the United States.

Robyn Vilakazi (South Africa))
I AM HERE TO SERVE.
Treasurer

Robert Adams (USA)
I AM A FIRM BELIEVER IN THE POWER OF COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS.
Secretary

**Sedwyn Anthony** is currently a Manager within the Department of Research and Innovation at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Prior to joining the University of Pretoria in 2021, he had a fifteen (15) year career with the South African Department of International Relations and Cooperation. His diplomatic career included two diplomatic postings); the first with the South African Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland (2009-2013) and the second with the South African Embassy to the United States of America in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. He has a strong multilateral background and experience in the human rights, peace and security and multilateral negotiations fields.
He holds a Bachelors Degree in Commerce (Politics and Economics) from the University of Cape Town. He is married with two children (8 and 4 years old). He is currently the Vice-Chairman of Eersterust Cricket Club in Pretoria, South Africa.

Sedwyn Anthony (South Africa)
I AM TRYING TO BE THE BEST VERSION OF MYSELF.

**Jacqueline Gayle Bony** is a U.S. Foreign Service Officer and global development professional with two decades of experience designing and managing health and social service programs in Africa. She currently resides in Pretoria, South Africa posted to USAID/Southern Africa where she oversees one of the U.S. government's largest HIV/AIDS treatment programs in the world. She started her public health career in 2001 as a U.S. Peace Corps volunteer working with South African primary school teachers to address the impacts of AIDS on students and their families early in the country’s epidemic. Since then, her work and passion for health and development has also taken across Africa, including postings in Tanzania, Madagascar, and Ghana. Ms. Bony speaks English and French and earned a bachelor’s degree from Clark Atlanta, a historically black university, and a master’s degree in International Affairs from Ohio University. She was born and raised in South Florida by her parents who immigrated to the U.S. from Jamaica in the 1970s.

Jacqueline Gayle Bony (South Africa)
I AM MY AUTHENTIC SELF.

Melissa Wippenaar believes in our collective responsibility to provide youth and children with the opportunities they need to tap into their own dormant abilities, reserved power and untapped strength in order to be all that they can be. She holds a… — **Melissa Wippenaar** believes in our collective responsibility to provide youth and children with the opportunities they need to tap into their own dormant abilities, reserved power and untapped strength in order to be all that they can be. She holds a degree in Child and Family Studies from the University of the Western Cape in South Africa, and is experienced in resource mobilisation and communications for non-profits. Based in Pretoria, South Africa, Melissa is the Fundraising Communications Manager at Feenix, where she helps the organisation to realise its mission of debt-free tertiary education for all South African youth. Previously, Melissa was the Senior Business Development Associate at mothers2mothers, where she supported the organisation’s efforts to provide quality healthcare for women, their children and families, across Sub Saharan Africa.

Melissa Wippenaar (South Africa)
I AM A TRYING TO CHANGE THE WORLD, ONE CHILD AT A TIME.

Meet Our Bokgoni Circle

The Bokgoni Circle is the Bokgoni Empowerment Programme’s, I Am, We Are’s South Africa organization, Board of Directors.

Mashane Nthutang is a passionate sport and fitness manager and leader possessing a strong commitment to social justice and advocacy for the voiceless especially those with intellectual disabilities. She is in the youth ministry at the Methodist Chur… — **Mashane Nthutang** is a passionate sport and fitness manager and leader possessing a strong commitment to social justice and advocacy for the voiceless especially those with intellectual disabilities. She is in the youth ministry at the Methodist Church of Southern Africa in Cosmo City dedicated to serve in the community and to make the truth Gospel be known and most importantly to mentor and support the youth to beleive in themselves, be courageous, tolerate, respect and strive to achieve what fulfills their hearts. She is currently a Healthy Athletes Manager in Special Olympics Africa Region. She has a Diploma in Sport Management from Rosebank College and an Exercise Science Diploma from Health Fitness Professional Association/Academy qualifying her as the exercise specialist and sports conditioning coach.

Mashane Nthuthang (South Africa)
I AM JOY.

Thami Rangwaga (South Africa)
I AM LIVING MY DREAMS.

Kaeden Arnold is American born and African bred. His passion for education led him to Rustenburg where he first met Meisha. He was there to work on grassroots leadership programs in high-schools. Following this, he formalized a high-school to univer… — **Kaeden Arnold** is American born and African bred. His passion for education led him to Rustenburg where he first met Meisha. He was there to work on grassroots leadership programs in high-schools. Following this, he formalized a high-school to university bridging program called 13th Year and led other student programs such as the Bafokeng Student Legothla, before returning to Johannesburg to work in management consulting. Kaeden has an undergraduate in Politics and International Relations form Wits University, a Post-graduate Diploma in Business Admin, a Certificate in Social Entrepreneurship and is currently studying towards a Masters in Philosophy in International Business, all through the Gordon Institute for Business Science.

Kaeden Arnold (South Africa)
I AM INQUISITIVE.

Meet Our Nia Circle

The Nia Circle manages and executes I Am, We Are’s day-to-day activities across five sectors: Operations, Impact, Programs, Development, and Outreach.

Montana Marks holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Corporate Communication from Penn State University. Before joining the IAWA team, she has worked for the nonprofit Project Paradigm for four years. Her mission statement for herself is “With drive, appreciation, and giving back, I am enough to succeed.” She recently launched a give back jewelry company called On a Wing that was created to motivate, inspire, and remind us that we are always enough to fly.

Montana Marks (USA)
I AM ENOUGH.
OPERATIONS
Executive Assistant of Hope

**Cynthia Magagula** is a public relations and communications graduate who has been involved with youth programs since her early college days and her love for young people and making sure that they find spaces of upliftment, courage and hope has not changed. She has been heavily involved in projects that highlight and seek to enact positive change for the young people like her. She seeks to be a voice of social change and an advocate for youth leadership and development.

Cynthia Magagula (South Africa)
I AM CREATIVITY AND PASSION.
PROGRAMS
Programs Assistant

Sharon Nicol is an empathetic, mission-driven program manager. Her professional experience has spanned social service, faith-based, and educational institutions with specialties in relationship stewardship, facilitation, and program development. Wit… — **Sharon Nicol** is an empathetic, mission-driven program manager. Her professional experience has spanned social service, faith-based, and educational institutions with specialties in relationship stewardship, facilitation, and program development. With a passion for leadership and community development initiatives, Sharon uses her skills to help organizations build programs with integrity.
She is a native of Freetown, Sierra Leone who grew in the D.C. metro area, and holds a B.A. in Peace & Conflict Studies, and African Studies from Colgate University.

Sharon Nicol (USA)
I AM EMPATHETIC.
PROGRAMS
Program Volunteer

Joey Eisman is a professional informal/experiential educator, social and emotional, and researcher. He is currently a doctoral student studying educational psychology at Temple University. He holds an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University,… — **Joey Eisman** is a professional informal/experiential educator, social and emotional, and researcher. He is currently a doctoral student studying educational psychology at Temple University. He holds an M.A. from Teachers College, Columbia University, a B.S. from University of Michigan, and a certificate in experiential education. He has served different communities across the world, advancing experiential education, community engagement, and leadership development for teenagers and young adults. Most recently, Joey served as a Senior Program Manager for Global Engagement at BBYO, an international youth organization, where he managed the organization's global expansion strategy, reaching teens in over 40 countries. He specializes in immersive program travel, leading educational travel-based experiences on five continents. If you want to nerd-out about identity, motivation, or emotion, find him! Or, once COVID is over, Joey invites you to hit the club and go dancing! (He loves dancing too!)

Joey Eisman (USA)
I AM MY COMMUNITY.
PROGRAMS
Curriculum Development Volunteer

Danielle Thomas is passionate about developing and building individual and community capacity. She’s spent over a decade working in the K-12 setting as an educator, teacher coach, professional learning facilitator, and human resource partner. She co… — **Danielle Thomas** is passionate about developing and building individual and community capacity. She’s spent over a decade working in the K-12 setting as an educator, teacher coach, professional learning facilitator, and human resource partner. She completed Masters of Education training at The University of Pennsylvania and undergraduate training in Psychology at North Carolina State University.

Danielle Thomas (USA)
I AM A CONDUIT OF LOVE.
PROGRAMS
Curriculum Development Volunteer