#Do Something: Disrupt the Cycle

Kelly Garcia currently serves as the 11th/12th grade Learning Specialist in the history department at Excel Academy Charter High School. Additionally, Kelly is the former Vice-Chairwoman of the Chelsea School Committee. She was also nominated as one of the Latino 30 Under 30 in November 2018. Kelly holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in women and gender studies from College of the Holy Cross and holds a master’s degree in education from Boston University.

In November 2018, Chintan became the first person of color to win a major-party nomination in Arkanasas' First District and the third in Arkansas history. Prior to running for Congress, Chintan was a Project Manager and Executive Assistant at KIPP: Delta Public Schools and a Manager of Community Partnerships and Corps member at Teach For America. Chintan holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California - Davis.

Jon Mansoori currently serves as the Director of Organization Strategy for Leadership for Educational Equity, a non-profit dedicated to engaging a diverse set of leaders with educational experience to engage civically and politically. Prior to joining LEE, Jon worked for Green Dot Public Schools, was a candidate for Fullerton, CA City Council, and serves as campaign manager for Luis Sotelo's run for Kansas Legislature. Jon holds a bachelor's degree from the University of California - Riverside and a master's from Loyola - Marymount University.

A native of Western Massachusetts Pema completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Chicago where she volunteered in Chicago Public School Classrooms. Beginning as a Teach For America Corps Member, Pema taught English, math and reading intervention at a Bronx middle school for 6 years before becoming an Academic Dean and then an Instructional Leader and Network Administrator. Prior to Teach Western Mass, Pema was the Director of Professional Learning and Educator Leadership at Holyoke Public Schools. Pema is the mother to two amazing girls.

Ivanna is currently an MTLD with Teach for America - MA. In her role, she coaches first and 2nd year teachers are they learn the art of teaching. Prior to her work with Teach for America, Ivanna worked as an elementary school teacher at UP Academy Holland in Dorchester. In addition to her work with teachers, Ivanna is also a co-founder of the "Love Your Magic" Conference, an Aspiring Latino Leader Fellow, and an Obama Foundation peer mentor.

Jabari Peddie is currently the Principal at Match Community Day Charter School. Prior to his role at Match, Jabari was the principal at UP Academy Dorchester and UP Academy Holland. Jabari started his career as a Teach For America corps member and 6th grade ELA teacher in Atlanta, Georgia.

Devin earned his BA from Boston College, with a concentration in Marketing. For a number of years Devin worked in marketing and footwear design, before receiving his MBA from Babson College. While at Babson, Devin focused his studies on Social Entrepreneurship, with an emphasis on education. Devin joined CCSC in 2012. Prior to joining CCSC as a math teacher, Devin taught middle school math at a school in New York City. Devin now sits on the school’s leadership team. He is responsible for student recruitment, supporting internship mentors and students in the Senior Internship Program, planning all school-wide and family-facing events, and overseeing the school’s extracurricular offerings.

In her role, Tara oversees the Family Enrichment Site (FES), a family resource and neighborhood support center for the community. FES offers playgroups, activities and events that support the healthy development of children and the support needed for strengthening families. At FES, she facilitates workshops, parenting education and Nurturing Parenting programs for families. She is often heard saying, “my work doesn’t stop when I turn off the light and close the office door, for me this is a lifestyle.”

Lisa Lazare knew she wanted to see more people who looked like her in the math and science fields. She started out by teaching to inspire students in her classroom. Now, she's fighting for equity in a different way. She is currently an Education Specialist at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Lisa works with district and charter schools through the corrective action and monitoring process, with a focus on presentations and documents that highlight racial equity. Lisa has a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and an MBA both from SUNY Stony Brook.

Martin’s interests include building alternative community structures, dismantling white supremacy, intersectional dialogue, and coalition building. Martin’s work includes being an organizer for BLM Boston and representing BLM Boston in the #deeperthanwater coalition. Martin is also a cofounder of the BMEN foundation, which is an inclusive group of black men working on issues of sexual assault, toxic masculinity, and mentorship within the black male community. Martin often speaks to various groups about the importance of BLM’s presence in the narrative of America’s history and current political climate.