Everyone’s title is Team Member – ready to do what has to get done and step in to help out whenever needed! We share common values of mutual respect, service and civility and we try to act in accordance with these values in our everyday lives.
Michelle Curry leads our partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBUs). A former Newark Civic Trustee who serves as the volunteer Executive Director of the Althea Gibson Foundation/Community Tennis Association, Michelle brings an extensive set of relationships with various members of the greater HBCU community to this task, as well as a wealth of experience working with economically disadvantaged and minority populations. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, earned a Master’s in Public Administration from Ashford University, and is presently completing her PhD in Nonprofit Management and Leadership with a thesis on ‘Closing the Civic Engagement Gap.’ Michelle@thecitizenscampaign.org
Carole Dortch-Wright leads our faith-based partnerships and is a civic trust facilitator. Having served as the communications director for Cathedral International, a large Baptist Church in Perth Amboy, NJ, Carole brings an in-depth knowledge of the faith community as well as long-established relationships with key faith leaders. Carole has also served in various government posts, working for the governor of New Jersey and at the US Food & Drug Administration. Carole graduated from New Jersey City University and earned a Master’s Degree in Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University. Carole@thecitizenscampaign.org
David Sherwin leads our community college partnerships and has been instrumental in getting some of the largest community colleges in the nation to partner with us. Having worked as an operations team manager for a company serving humanitarian and academic organizations, David brings an extensive background in operations management, strategic planning, and team building. He is a graduate of Temple University and earned his Master’s in Public Affairs and Administration from the Metropolitan College of New York. David@thecitizenscampaign.org
Ellen Clarkson serves as our chief of operations, keeping day-to-day operations running smoothly. A graduate of the City College of New York and Seton Hall Law School, Ellen was a partner at one of New Jersey’s most highly regarded planning and land use firms, representing government entities, non-profits, businesses, and individuals. She has taught law courses at law schools and community colleges and clerked for the Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Samantha Castro serves as our communications director, delivering our message through a broad variety of platforms: traditional media, social media, emails, speaking engagements, and television and podcast appearances. Samantha is the post of our Power Up Podcast that is available on Spotify and Apple. Rutgers graduate (cum laude) with a deep interest She chairs the Perth Amboy Citizen’s Public Safety Advisory Board, which she worked hard to establish. Sam is a graduate of Rutgers University. samantha@thecitizenscampaign.org
Cesar Romero operates our online citizen power training platform, bringing an in-depth understanding of the goals and specifics of our training as well as technical proficiency to the task. A Perth Amboy Civic Trustee, Cesar’s fluency in Spanish helps The Citizen Service better connect with the Latino community. He will graduate with honors from New Jersey City University in May. Cesar@thecitizenscampaign.org
Akeem Miller leads our youth campaign and serves as the facilitator of the Newark Civic Trust. Akeem brings the skills he learned as a teacher both in the United States and China, to our youth training and outreach efforts. He served as a coach at Harvard University’s cross-cultural leadership training and is a member of President Obama’s global initiative, Project Pengyou, which works to bring mutual understanding between the United States and China. Akeem is active in Newark’s Blacktop Street Basketball Association. He is a graduate of Wenzhou-Kean University in China, the first Guyanese American to do so. Akeem@thecitizenscampaign.org
Grace Kennedy oversees our solutions-sharing platform, identifying, refining and posting evidence-based solutions to major challenges facing communities through the nation These are accompanied by ready-to-adopt model ordinances and other supplementary materials. Grace also assists in fundraising efforts. She served as a policy fellow for Governor of New Jersey Phil Murphy. She is a graduate of Rutgers University and earned her Master’s Degree in International Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics. Grace@thecitizenscampaign.org