Tammy Bormann

Chair

Tammy is principal of the TLB Collective, a nationwide community of educators, scholars and activists committed to dismantling racism through knowledge, dialogue and systemic change.  The TLB Collective researches, designs and facilitates dialogue-based change processes that disseminate knowledge, create lenses of analysis, and equip individuals and organizations across the US with the tools they need to identify and dismantle systems of inequity.  Tammy works domestically and internationally to train others to design and facilitate intentional dialogue processes that invite deep learning, collective reflection and informed action for social change.   She earned her BA in French and Communications Studies from Muhlenberg College, where she currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, and her Ed.M from Harvard University.

Yvahn Martin

Vice-Chair

Yvahn Martin is a digital marketer and entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience managing e-commerce and digital sales acceleration for companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Yvahn is currently the Director of Ecommerce at John Varvatos Enterprises. An MBA and dancer/choreographer, Yvahn spends her spare time exploring the world of dance through 360 filmmaking and AR/VR applications.

Ashly Nikkole davis 

secretary

Ashly Nikkole Davis is a current associate in the Government Enforcement & White Collar Crime practice group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, where she represents institutional and individual clients in a variety of criminal, regulatory and complex civil disputes. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in Communication and a B.S. in Business Administration. She is also a graduate of Stanford Law School.

A native of San Francisco, Ashly Nikkole has distinguished herself by upholding her personal philosophy: "To whom much is given, much is required." During her time at Stanford, she dedicated her time to working with the Stanford Three Strikes Project, a pro bono legal organization devoted to addressing the excessive sentences imposed under California's Three Strikes sentencing scheme. Through this organization, she represented clients serving life sentences and assisted in collaborating with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund in the 2012 passage of Proposition 36, which modified elements of California’s Three Strikes Law. Outside of her practice, she continues to explore her passions of law, business and social justice.

Ashly Nikkole is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated.

Jennifer Smith

treasurer  

Jennifer Smith, Treasurer.  Jennifer is a New York based attorney specializing in financial services regulation, commercial litigation and international arbitration. Jennifer serves on Sanctuary for Families' Pro Bono Council (formerly the Associates Committee) which she co-Chaired from 2008-2012, and her pro bono practice includes the legal representation of human-trafficking and domestic violence victims. She received her JD from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, her masters degree from Columbia University and her bachelors degree from Lafayette College. Jennifer, her husband, and their three children proudly live in New York City.

Marc Bleyer

Member

Marc is a Director with KPMG's Real Estate and Infrastructure Practice, serving a range of both public and private sector clients. Among others, Marc helps universities, transportation agencies, economic development agencies, and private companies with some of their most critical real estate challenges. Before joining KPMG, Marc spent ten years in public service, working in economic development and public-private partnerships for New York City and Washington, DC. In his professional life, Marc has helped to build more than 1,000 units of housing, including over 250 units of affordable housing. His professional passion is finding innovative ways to make the places we live, work, play (and dance!) more equitable and sustainable.

Long before getting into real estate consulting, Marc had a brief dance career. Marc started dancing at age 7. After moving to New York, he spent time training at various studios and learning a wide variety of modern techniques in addition to ballet and jazz. Although he chose not to pursue a career in dance, he has retained a deep love for expression through movement.

Marc has a B.A. in Art History from Columbia University, a M.S. in City Planning from Columbia University, and a M.S. in Real Estate from Georgetown University. He lives with his wife and three daughters (three as of February 16th) in New York City.

Debra Brookes

member

Debra Brookes is a government attorney specializing in financial technology, including virtual currency, banking, and insurance regulations.

Deb also worked for the U.S. Department of Justice through the competitive Attorney General's Honors Program. She served as a federal prosecutor investigating and prosecuting white-collar crimes, including bid-rigging, price-fixing, and customer allocation conspiracies. Before that, Deb graduated cum laude from Albany Law School and was elected to Albany Law Review's Note & Comment Editor. Deb also earned master's, bachelor's, and associate's degrees from New York University. Deb lives in Westchester County with her husband and two daughters. 

Michelle Dorant-Smith

Member

Michelle Dorant-Smith has spent most of her career as a dancer and performer. She is a former member of Urban Bush Women and has both Broadway and Regional credits as a musical theater performer, most notably in the Broadway musical “The Lion King.” Michelle received her Bachelor of Science degree from Spelman College and continued her education at Florida State University receiving her Master of Fine Arts in Dance.

After a long career in the performing arts, Michelle co-founded and served as creative director for Neighborhood Flix Cinema and Café, Denver’s only family run movie house at the time. The cinema was also recognized for a partnership with the East High School Film Program giving a presenting platform for up-and-coming filmmakers.

Most recently, Michelle has held several positions in the real estate industry. She is currently an Associate Real Estate Appraiser with American Realty Appraisals and lives in Springfield, NJ with her husband and two children.

tamara greenfield

Member

Tamara Greenfield is a New York based urban planner and arts advocate. She started as VP of Public Space & Operations at the Downtown Brooklyn Partnership in October 2022 where she oversees planning and care of the public realm. Tamara was at the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice for 7 years directing place-based interagency initiatives to improve health and safety in public housing developments through community leadership, access to opportunity, and vibrant public spaces. Prior to the Mayor’s Office, Tamara was Executive Director of Fourth Arts Block (FABNYC), where she led dozens of arts groups on the Lower East Side in shared programming and leveraged over $25 million in capital funds for cultural facilities. During that time, she also co-founded and directed Naturally Occurring Cultural Districts New York (NOCD-NY), a citywide coalition of arts and community organizations working together to revitalize NYC from the neighborhood up. Tamara is a graduate of Coro Leadership New York and co-founder of the DanceNow NYC Festival.

Tamara received her Masters in Urban Planning from Hunter College and B.A. in Art History and International Development from Washington University in St. Louis. Tamara is a proud resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn, where she lives with her husband and 2 cats.

Kenya Nyota Lee

Member

Dr. Kenya Nyota Lee is a higher education administrator with over twenty years’ experience, currently serving in the role of Chief of Staff at Baruch College, CUNY. She is a leader with significant experience in strategic initiatives; strategic planning; collaborative leadership; organizational development; project management and problem solving. Kenya is also a career and life strategist dedicated to helping women of color achieve personal and professional joy and success on their own terms; and founder and facilitator of Creative and Resilient Voices, a community for women of color professionals. Kenya is an Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) Affiliate, leading writing workshops for women and women of color using the AWA method, creating a safe space for writing and affirming the belief that everyone is a writer and everyone's voice is important.

She holds a BA in English from Queens College, CUNY; an MSEd in Higher Education Administration from Baruch College, CUNY; and an EdD in Organizational Leadership Studies from Northeastern University. Kenya's doctoral research explored the complexity of the professional journeys of women of color within the industry of higher education through the lens of both gender and race. Kenya is dedicated to the work of amplifying the voices and experiences of women of color and creating community and opportunities that develop and empower women. Kenya prior served as New York City Regional Coordinator for the New York State American Council of Education Women’s Network (2018-2021). She was named one of the City & State (New York) 2021 Responsible 100, one of New York’s most outstanding citizens who are thought leaders and influencers.

Kyishia Lewis

Member

Kyishia Lewis is a Risk Execution Leader within the Consumer and Small Business Banking segment at Truist Bank, responsible for leading Controls Testing and Operational Monitoring teams. Prior to joining SunTrust Bank, now Truist, she was a Consultant with PricewaterhouseCoopers specializing in internal auditing for airlines domestically and in Australia for over ten years. She has had an extensive career in audit, risk management, process improvement, learning and development, and strategy development and execution.

Kyishia has a B.S. in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University and a MBA from Emory University. She currently lives in Charlotte, NC with her two children.

Kyishia is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.

Ngozi Ogbonna

Member

Ngozi has an extensive background in both the mobile and media industries. Her tenure includes integrated and digital marketing, ad sales and promotions at Clear Channel Radio (now iHeartMedia) and Fox Cable Networks. With a marketing and digital media MBA from NYU, Ngozi got her start in mobile app monetization and distribution with marketing and partnership roles at several mobile tech startups. She has managed client strategy at ad tech firms, InMobi and Drawbridge, and now leads user acquisition at theater ticketing startup, TodayTix. She is currently the Co-Chair of the Global Talent & Partnerships committee for Women in Wireless.

Elizabeth
Williams-Riley

Member

Elizabeth Williams-Riley, currently serves as President & CEO for the American Conference on Diversity has more than two decades of experience in the field of diversity and inclusion locally and nationally. Ms. Williams-Riley is also the founder of Elizabeth Williams-Riley D.A.S.H. Consulting LLC where her primary focus is Developing Assets for Successful Habits (D.A.S.H.). 

Elizabeth is an award-winning diversity and inclusion expert. She was named Girls Scouts of America Jersey Shore 2015 Woman of Distinction, 2013 Woman Worth Watching and was featured in the 2014 September issue of Diversity Journal. Mrs. Williams-Riley is the 2016 NAACP New Brunswick Corporate Community Service Award Winner. She is a connector and helps individuals navigate the complexities of living in an increasingly diverse society. She boldly tackles our nation’s unfinished business of race relations and inclusion. Her approach to dismantling systemic and institutional bias and bigotry is charismatic, engaging and above all thought-provoking. 

She has also been featured in the media for her outstanding work with youth and adults to challenge stereotypes and create change agents. These include NBC, PBS, 1450 WCTC, New Jersey 101.5 Dennis & Judi Show, Hot 97 Street Soldiers w/ Lisa Evers, Caucus New Jersey with Steve Adubato, NJ Thirteen, Princeton TV, and New York Sun, and Comcast News Makers.