Sasha Kimiatek is an illustrator and workshop organizer. She currently serves Mana Contemporary in Jersey City and Tapestry Church, and formerly at Queensborough Public Library. She has served to engage communities in the arts and education. Sasha is a master’s degree candidate at Columbia University in nonprofit management. She has served as a Sexual Respect Ambassador and student council liaison to organize events and staff workshops on diversity and intersectionality. Her goal is to serve the public good and structure young minds in ways that empower and create positive change.
Carolyn Rodriguez is a Youth Advocate and Non- Profit professional dedicated to providing direct services, building partnerships, and helping struggling families with community agencies. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her niece and nephew. Carolyn joined the board to ensure every resident of Jersey City especially, youth can thrive in the local economy despite their economic or cultural background.
Keisher Harris has been passionately engaged in community activism for over 30 years. She is a long-standing Jersey City resident. She has an AS Public Policy; BS Urban Studies; MPA, and currently in pursuit of BS Theology. Associations with HOPE (Helping Other People Everywhere); Storms Ave Block Association; Women Rising; AmeriCorps, Bergen Communities United (BCU): New City Kids; Court Appointed Specialist for Foster Children (CASA); and presently is an Elder Elect at Macedonia Redeemed Pentecostal Church, J.C. Ms. Harris strives to corroborate and foster relationships to build empowered communities.
%20-%20Erika%20Coleman.jpg "headshot")
Erika Coleman (she/her) is a Vice President in Diversity Recruiting at Goldman Sachs and leads the Americas diversity recruiting efforts with a mission of democratizing access to opportunities in the financial services industry. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and has lived in Jersey City for over 15 years. She has served in a variety of talent acquisition roles at the firm for over 13 years but is especially passionate about creating inclusive workplace cultures, which is why she has joined this advisory board.
Carlos Abreu grew up in the Heights, for two decades he lived in New York, eventually moving back to downtown Jersey City in 2005 with his now late husband. Currently living in Bergen-Lafayette, Carlos is a foodie, cat lover, Sci-Fi lover, hard-worker, and vocal. He is a longtime advocate for the homeless, LGBTQ community, and small businesses. He’s worked on a variety of fully and partially pro bono web development projects for the City, County, and NGOs. Carlos is joining the advisory board to put all the times he’s been around the block to better use than just setting people straight on social media.
Natalie Guy serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Philip’s Academy Charter School in Newark, NJ, she manages all non-instructional initiatives for a 500+ PreK-8 school. She functions as a Co-Principal managing all non-academic aspects of the school’s operations processes. Prior roles that Natalie held were an Independent Consultant, Vice President of Diversity Strategy for Morgan Stanley, and Chief of Staff for the Newark Public Schools Advisory Board President. Natalie resides in the Greenville section of Jersey City and is extremely active in her community. Natalie holds an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Hampton University and an MBA in Finance and Marketing from New York University, Stern School of Business.
Sarah Degnan Barbi was born, raised and educated in Jersey City, with over 20 years of experience in education and school administration , Sarah holds a Masters in Education with a focus on Administration and Supervision, certification on K-5, 9-12 and Principal, and a Bachelor's in English Literature. Currently she is Assistant Principal/Dean of Students at Hudson Catholic Regional High School in Jersey City. She also does educational consulting for New Jersey Teacher to Teacher and is extremely active in the All Saints Catholic Academy school community as a parent volunteer.