National Advisory Council

The National Advisory Council serves as the primary advisory arm of the Executive Director and executive staff of WKF, helping carry out the necessary functions to fulfill our mission of breaking the cycles of violence and poverty. Comprised of leaders in various fields from across the country, the Council is an essential component of WKF and a convening space for like-minded individuals with a passion for building communities. Through the hard work and dedication of these individuals, WKF continues to grow and strengthen its reach in breaking the cycle of violence and poverty.


Ashley Sawyer

Affiliation: Education Law Center

Hometown: Northern, NJ

Based In: Washington, D.C.


Ashley is a passionate advocate for the civil rights and empowerment of disadvantaged communities. Ashley will graduate from the Howard University School of Law in May 2014, and begin serving as a Stoneleigh - Emerging Leaders Fellow at the Education Law Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Ashley helped to develop a policy project to improve the educational opportunities for incarcerated children, especially those with special education needs in Pennsylvania.

Ashley has worked at Advancement Project assisting with work around the School-to-Prison Pipeline and voting rights restoration for formerly incarcerated people. Ashley also worked at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, the National Women’s Law Center and the HIV Law Project. While attending Howard Law, Ashley served in various leadership positions and service roles. Ashley is the most proud of her work as a Student Attorney in the Howard University School of Law Civil Rights Clinic and her involvement with the Women’s Law Student Association as Political Action Advisor. Ashley takes great joy in the volunteer work she has done at the Andrew Wilson Charter School in New Orleans, LA, Perry Street Charter School and Bruce Monroe Elementary School in Washington, DC. Prior to law school, Ashley worked as a Victim-Witness Advocate in Newark, NJ where was trained in domestic violence response and received a Victim Assistance Academy certification from the Rutgers School of Social Work-Institute for Families. Ashley is a cum laude graduate of Douglass College at Rutgers University where she committed herself to women’s leadership, mentoring girls and raising awareness around gender violence and racial justice.


Brianna Williams
Joined: 2014
Based In: Washington, D.C.

Brianna is a Liberal Arts student at the University of the District of Columbia-Community College. Upon completion, she will pursue her bachelor’s degree in Communications, and a Masters Degree in Public Administration.

Brianna garnered the skills of a leader early, but the activist in her came out the spring of 2012, after the Trayvon Martin shooting. She immediately joined the DC Chapter of the National Action Network and started a Youth Move Chapter. In 2012 she became the Northeast Region’s Youth Move Director.

She rallied on the Voter’s Rights Act, and interviewed with national and international news affiliates about the importance of keeping the Act intact. In June 2013, she won the “Region of the Year” award amongst her peers. She was a part of the 50th March on Washington; sat on a press panel for the City of Washington, DC, and was interviewed by the Washington Post. She planned and executed the Washington, DC NAN Youth Move National Day of Youth Against Gun Violence panel and candlelight vigil.

Brianna served as the Youth Director at a local church, worked as a producer of a Youth Radio Show; she was the face of My Girlfriends House, and she advocates for the youth about NAN Youth Move and ways of mobilizing to end Gun Violence, Bullying, and Repealing Gun Laws.

In January 2014, Brianna served as a Social Media Correspondent, at the White House’s State of The Union Address and In February, she was named to theRoot.com 2014 Young Futurists List. Brianna is working on her first book entitled “The New Norm”. She is the CEO of Brie Enterprises and is "Saved II Serve!"


Dominique Scott

Joined: 2010

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Based In: Washington, D.C.

Dominique is a longtime friend of the William Kellibrew Foundation. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University where she helped revamp the Policy Debate team and within two years, became the president of the team and led her teammates to the national championship. Upon graduation, she lived and worked in Shanghai, China.where she taught Reading Comprehension, Advanced Sports, Physical Education and was the librarian for the JinCai International High School. 

Dominique accepted a position at the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and currently serves at the Chief Strategist in the Office of Diversity, Outreach and Collaboration at the EPA. She happily accepted an offer to join the William Kellibrew Foundation Advisory Board and is presently engaged in several projects on behalf of the Foundation.

Dominique enjoys painting, cooking, baking, reading and shopping.  Her greatest passion is feeding those in need around the world based on their cultural diets and looks forward to reaching this goal in the near future.



Jahaan Shaheed

Joined: 2013

Affiliation: Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Based In: New York, NY


Jahaan is a public defense attorney and writer. A proud Howard University alumna and Georgetown University Law Center graduate, Jahaan joined the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in 2012.  Her prior experience includes employment at the Juvenile Law Center in Philadelphia as well as the Center for Children’s Law and Policy and the Public Defender for the District of Columbia.  A published writer, Jahaan's work was featured in The Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics.


Jahaan is personally committed to the mission of WKF because of the loss of her younger brother, Eddie Amaan Shaheed, to senseless gun violence.  She focuses her energy on carrying on his legacy of service and unconditional love. 


Prior to her work as a public defense attorney, she volunteered with youth in the DC Public School System, taught Street Law at Thurgood Marshall Academy, and represented incarcerated youth in DC Superior Court.  She continues to serve youth through Know Your Rights trainings in the Harlem community.  



Jason Clark

Joined: 2013

Affiliation: Sirius/XM

Hometown: East Brunswick, NJ

Based In: Washington, D.C.


Jason is a programmer and on-air talent for SiriusXM Satellite Radio. He is a member of the Council and Director of Programs for the William Kellibrew Foundation. 


Jason graduated from Howard University where he majored in Broadcast Journalism with a minor in Entrepreneurship. During his tenure at Howard he deeply go involved with non-profit work through a mentoring group on the campus known as Man-Up. This program focused on the retention of college males and ensuring they had the tool and motivation to graduate despite whatever obstacles come their way. This eventually led to joining and working with the ManKind Project which is a national organization focused on men’s work. 


Jason seeks to bring the same hard work and ethic in developing unique and compelling media programming to WKF's programs. He believes that every form of programming can be informative and focused, yet still be fun and compelling. He is dedicated to giving back and teaching to those around with hope to inspire just like his father did for him. A man who enjoys life's treats like reading, music, sports and time with loved ones.



Jeanette Hordge

Joined: 2010

Affiliation: DASH Coordinating & Marketing, LLC

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Based In: Washington, D.C.


Jeanette  is the founder of DASH Coordinating and Marketing, LLC, a marketing company accessible to businesses and organizations of all kinds. She is a member of the Council and Director of Communications for The William Kellibrew Foundation. In this position, she has designed and edited newsletters, written press releases, maintained and written website content and aided in reforming the communications and marketing strategies of the organization.

She found her passion for marketing and event planning at an early age. She started off by coordinating sleepovers which transcended into hosting her own television talk show entitled, The Diva J Way!  This passion has taken Hordge’s life by storm.

A magna cum laude graduate of Howard University, she was a staff writer for the Hilltop Newspaper, an Ambassador for the John H. Johnson School of Communications and the co-chair of the Public Relations department for Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Fraternity, Incorporated, Alpha Tau Chapter. She gave back to her new community by serving as a member of the DC Big Brother Big Sister Mentoring Program and helped to organize the Diva-2-Diva Mentoring program in Tampa, FL. She was a contestant in the Miss Maryland USA 2012 Pageant.

Jeanette continues to give back to her community through her work with WKF, serving as a volunteer for Daughter for The Day, Inc.as well as Happy Helpers for the Homeless in Baltimore, MD while continuing to mentor young girls along the east coast through her online TV show, The Diva J Way! Her new hobbies include reading, networking and writing, with hopes to publish a book in the near future.


Kai Lawson

Joined: 2013

Affiliation: AD60

Based In: New York, NY


Kai Deveraux Lawson is an experienced Marketer and Event Planner who specializes Digital, Print and Event production. Over the span of her career she has managed multi-million dollar accounts for the world’s most recognized brands, such as Citibank, Coca Cola, Microsoft, American Express, Nutrisystem and most recently the rising mobile app star Songza.

She has a degree in Radio, Television and Film production, from Washington DC’s Howard University, with a minor in Entrepreneurship. She attributes her experiences in the Nation’s district to cultivating her passion for creativity, the arts and innovative consumer experiences.

Kai currently lives in Brooklyn, New York where you’ll find her expanding her youth based organization, The Breakfast Club or producing events for her growing event production business, with an extensive client base serving New York's contemporary art scene. She’s known for treating every task as a major production and with her mantra: “Why make it a scene, when you can make it a show” it is easy to understand her work ethic, and passion for excellence.


Kevin Tyson

Joined: 2010

Affiliation: Loudon County Public Schools

Hometown: Enterprise, AL

Based In: Reston, VA


Kevin D. Tyson spent the early years of his life in his hometown of Enterprise, Alabama where he learned the work ethic and passion needed to be successful in life.  He credits all of his success first to, his personal lord and savior, Jesus Christ, and secondly to his mother Ms. Carolyn Tyson.  

Kevin graduated from Howard University with a BS in Human Performance with a minor in Secondary Education. While at Howard University, he served as President of the Health, Human Performance, and Leisure Studies Department and the Howard University Representative for the Student Athlete Advisory Committee for the Mid Eastern Athletic Conference.  Mr. Tyson was a full football scholarship recipient; he was a four year letterman and three year starter on the Howard University football team.  Mr. Tyson is also a proud member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.  Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he attended Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA where he received his M.Ed. in Educational Leadership with an endorsement in Administration and Supervision in December 2010.  Mr. Tyson is also a proud member of the First Baptist Church of Glenarden in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Kevin firmly believes in the quote, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” ~ Ghandi. Mr. Tyson has founded two student organizations at Broad Run High School in Ashburn, VA.  The first of these is “Dedicated Men with a Vision (The DMV Club)”.  The young men of the DMV club have been instrumental in serving the community of Ashburn, VA.  They have taken part in several community service projects including, “Christmas with the Redskins”, “Declutter the Divineys”, and visiting the Sunrise Valley nursing home. The second of these is “Determined Strong Women (DSW)”. The women of DSW have held a 5k walk and beautified the courtyards at Broad Run High School. The clubs’ motto is “Developing Dynamic Leaders through Discipline and Dedication.”

Mr. Tyson has been honored to receive numerous recognitions of his dedication and service including: 2007 NCAA Division I Degree Completion Award, Howard University College of Arts and Sciences Trustee Scholarship, and Regent University Education Dean Scholarship.


Mitru Ciarlante

Joined: 2010

Affiliation: Boys and Girls Clubs of America


As director of the Youth Initiative at the National Center for Victims of Crime, Mitru Ciarlante built the nation's capacity to address youth victimization, works to advance youth victims’ rights and to ensure youth leadership on these issues. Ms. Ciarlante has demonstrated more than 20 years of leadership in advocating for children and youth victims, including creating a comprehensive children’s advocacy program, starting children’s advocates’ task forces, establishing peer education programs, and organizing youth activist networks.



Ronneisha Brown

Joined: 2010

Affiliation: National Public Radio

Hometown: Chicago, IL

Based In: Washington, D.C.

Ronneisha S. Brown is a proud native of Chicago, IL.  She moved to the Washington, DC area at the age of 18 to attend Howard University. While at Howard, she was involved in numerous campus organizations and events geared towards the betterment of the community. Community service and involvement soon became one of her main focuses.  She graduated from Howard University in 2008 with a BBA in Accounting.

Ronneisha is on the Council and the Director of Finance for the William Kellibrew Foundation. She is also the co-founder of Haute Society, an event management company and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She currently works in the finance/accounting department of National Public Radio.


Suzanne Asselin-Sege

Affiliation: Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc.

Hometown: Boston, MA

Based In: Boston, MA


Suzanne currently volunteers for Domestic Violence Services Network, Inc. (DVSN)  as a community based Court Advocate in the town of Concord, Massachusetts.  She also serves as a Board Member of DVSN.   In addition to her work as an advocate, Suzanne served a two-year term as Co-President of the Lincoln- Sudbury-Wayland Domestic Violence Roundtable, an organization  devoted to challenging the culture of  denial and  silence surrounding  the issues of  domestic and dating violence in the more affluent suburbs.  .

In addition to the rigorous and extensive training to become an advocate with DVSN, Suzanne was also among the first to graduate from the Massachusetts  Office of Victim Assistance Academy in 2007.  She also served as a member of the Steering Committee for future Academies.  And it was while attending the National Center for Victims of Crimes Conference in Washington, DC in the summer of 2009 that Suzanne met Mr. Kellibrew and discovered a piece of the story that had been largely missing for her – the perspective of the children.  This perspective continues to be an important voice in the domestic violence narrative in her mind and she is now committed, in a deeper way, to affecting a paradigm shift in the way  our culture thinks of, speaks about, and acts upon the issue of violence in society today. 

Suzanne attended the Univ. of Massachusetts – Amherst and Harvard University Extension School.  Her career includes two years working in Executive Education at Harvard Business School - 1972-1974; and seven years managing the Registrar’s Office at Harvard Business School – 1976-1983. 


Willie J. Thompson, Jr.

Affiliation: Morning Star Baptist Church

Hometown: Columbia, SC

Based In: Pittsburgh, PA

Willie is currently a doctoral candidate in the Sociology program at Howard University. His research interests include: homiletics, leadership, religious experience, social psychology, inequality and urban development. His current undertaking surrounding the quality of life for Blacks in urban America and the state of Black young men, ages 18-24 in America from the historical Black college and university perspective provides ground breaking information to any institution of higher education in search of contemporary resources and information to better address the needs of the population. 

Born and raised in Columbia, South Carolina, Thompson received his Baccalaureate Degree in Religion & Philosophy from Benedict College, Masters of Divinity degree from Howard University and an honorary doctorate from the Southeastern Consortium of Theological Schools. Thompson is an ordained minister and has served the Howard Community in several capacities, which include; Recruiter for the Howard University Graduate School and Logistics Coordinator for the Office of Retention, Mentoring and Support in Graduate Student Affairs. Thompson currently serves as the Northeastern Regional Representative of the National Black Graduate Student Association, and is the founder of two non-profit religious organizations committed to education and social justice. 



A very big thank you to these individuals for their service to WKF and our mission.


Ashley Smith
Ashley Sawyer
Alvin Thomas
Brianna Williams
Christine Jackson
Courtney Glass
Darryl Moment
Derrick Williams
Dominique Scott
Jahaan Shaheed
Jason Clark
Jeanette Hordge
John Wiley
Kai Lawson
Kari Fulton
Kevin Tyson
Mitru Ciarlante
Mustafa Hafiz
Patricia Hobson
Ronneisha Brown
Suzanne Sege
William Campbell
Willie J. Thompson, Jr.

Copyright 2009 The William Kellibrew Foundation
1225 Eye Street, NW Suite 1100 | Washington, DC 20005  | 202.218.4642  | info@thewkfoundation.org

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