Team Bios
Jason Alleyne
Chief Program Officer
Jason Alleyne joins exalt as the Chief Program Officer and is responsible for the oversight, strategic leadership, and development of exalt’s program department, as well spearheading the organization’s scaling strategies. Jason comes to exalt with over 15 years of leadership experience in various youth development organizations around New York City, including Harlem Children’s Zone, DREAM, and Friends of the Children. Most recently, Jason served as the Director of Brooklyn Programs at the HOPE Program, where he oversaw the organization’s various Brooklyn based workforce development programs, and successfully led the organization’s expansion initiative into the Bronx of their Brooklyn based services. Jason holds a BA in History and Africana Studies from Drew University, and an MA in Educational Leadership, Policy, and Advocacy from NYU Steinhardt.
ANDREA FEDUZI
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Andrea joins exalt as the Chief Operating Officer and is responsible for overseeing its daily operations and for developing and implementing a roadmap to enable the organization and its staff to grow sustainably and responsibly to increase its impact and advance its mission.
Andrea brings to exalt over 15 years of not-for-profit management. She was Director of Operations & Fund Development at Directions for our Youth, where she developed a passion and commitment for the advancement of youth and gained 7 years of youth development experience. She then transitioned to Public Health Solutions, where she managed grants and contract administration, monitoring, and evaluation for a $75+ million portfolio of public health programs and initiatives funded by the NYC Department of Health. In her last role as Senior Director of the HIV Care & Treatment Unit, she served as the programmatic liaison to the NYC HIV Planning Council and successfully led efforts to redesign and optimize work processes across her department. Andrea holds a double BA from Queens College in Political Science and Cultural Anthropology, and an MA in International Affairs with a concentration in Socio-Economic Development from the New School University.
MARCELO NIGRI
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Marcelo Nigri was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he obtained an associate degree in Information Technology from ORT Institute of Technology and a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Rio de Janeiro State University, with honors from the Accounting Regional Council of that State. He has more than 20 years of experience in the field of finance. Marcelo started his career as an Auditor in a Big Four accounting firm for four years and then worked as a Consultant and/or Controller for several other companies and organizations, particularly nonprofit organizations over the last 10 years. Marcelo joined exalt in May 2016 and has established strong financial management and planning systems. Implementing these structures helped the organization win the Nonprofit Excellence Award for the second-best nonprofit of the year 2020, with notable financial management strength, transparency, and accountability, among other key areas.
Inga Glodowski
Director of Development
Inga Glodowski is a development professional with a strong track record of delivering transformational growth for social justice and cultural organizations. In all her positions she has successfully increased contributed income from diverse sources, including fundraising events, major donors, membership, online giving, planned gifts, corporate sponsorship, and foundation support. Inga has extensive experience in strategic planning, program design and outcome measurement, grant writing, volunteer management, and database administration and prospect research. Previously, Inga has held leadership fundraising positions at The Moth, the Brooklyn Museum, St. Ann's Warehouse and United South End Settlements, among others. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Smith College.
Ricardo Carrion
Director of Workforce Development & Career Advancement
Ricardo is pleased to be exalt's Director of Workforce Development & Career Advancement, helping expand the network of internship providers for exalt students. Ricardo, a Bronx native, graduated from State University at Purchase. Before joining exalt, Ricardo worked at various Workforce & Youth Development agencies, helping launch several successful Transitional Employment, Education & Construction Skills programs in Astoria, Queensbridge and Pomonok Houses. He is a passionate creator, having written and produced short films that have screened at film festivals around the United States. Professionally, Ricardo hopes to provide creative solutions to help young people from around New York City succeed in life.
ALEX GRIFFITH
Senior Director of ProgramS and Court Partnerships
As Director of Court Partnerships and Strategy, Alex manages and develops exalt’s relationships with stakeholders in New York City’s Justice System and supervises court and program staff. Alex developed his passion for youth justice through professional experiences across three organizations including the Black Male Initiative at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Alex joined exalt in 2013 as a Program Coordinator after a 1-year fellowship through the Pinkerton Fellowship Initiative. He credits exalt’s unique youth development approach for exciting his hopes for a truly transformative youth-justice system after witnessing its highly structured educational internship program result in transformative and behavioral shifts in young people and life-changing criminal justice system outcomes.
In 2016, Alex took on a Senior Teacher role which provided several opportunities to work collaboratively with Supreme Court justices, assistant district attorneys, defense counsels, and community-based organizations to reduce sentences and acquire youthful offender (YO) treatment for exalt youth. As exalt embarked on its strategic scaling campaign and assist with the implementation of the New York Raise the Age legislation, Alex took on the Director of Court Partnership role to further increase exalt’s visibility and partnerships across courts in the 5 boroughs. Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Executive Education from Columbia Business School.
DENISE ORTIZ
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
Denise is pleased to be exalt’s Associate Director of Operations (ADO) since May 2022. As exalt’s ADO she is responsible for ensuring the organization is running optimally and that employees are working as efficiently as possible with ongoing support. Her main goal is to support all levels of exalt while striving for excellence to ensure young people are being served as needed.
Denise graduated with a Masters in Public Administration from South University in 2011 and a Masters in Social Work from Fordham University in 2017. Prior to joining exalt, Denise worked in several areas in the non-profit sector (micro, mezzo, and macro levels) with several years in contract management, 15+ years in career and professional development, program development, program/systems management, and systems/service implementation.
Denise is passionate about making a difference in the criminal justice sector and offering positive self-promotion and growth-based ammunition to those who are currently or previously court involved. Outside of exalt, Denise is an Adjunct Professor at Fordham University’s Graduate School of Social Service. In her free time, she enjoys singing in her church choir, spending time with close friends and family, and writing.
Ultimately, Denise plans to pursue further research on creating opportunities for formerly incarcerated women and earn a Ph.D. in Social Work.
KESHAD (IFE) ADENIYI
Associate Director of Pedagogy & Curriculum
Keshad Adeniyi is a visionary with a heart for education, advocacy, and activism. In addition to academia, he believes that artistic mediums such as poetry, rap, and visual art, are instrumental in educating people who come from various walks of life. Born in Los Angeles, Keshad grew up at the intersection of South Central and Watts, California inside of a household impacted and informed by the implications rendered by both the Crack crisis and the Carceral State. Both parents, while they were loving, suffered a great deal from addiction. And being that he is a 1st generation Nigerian, immigration made his upbringing with poverty nuanced. Keshad’s love for art grew out of his need to understand, and teleport to different places, places his favorite artist took him with both their lyrics and insight. Since 2012 Keshad has used his art to not only build community but to engage in critical discourse concerning the Black plight in upwards of 12 prisons/jails both domestically and internationally. California, New York, Washington DC, Uganda, Africa, and London, England are some of the places his work has taken him. It was Keshad’s interest in Art, activism, and history that inspired him to add education/academia to his mission.
In 2018 Keshad graduated from NYU’s American Studies Program. There he researched Branding and its implications on race. His research used the stories of Angela Davis, Assata Shakur, and Dolly as markers for historic moments in the United States where the state leveraged different branding methods to help aid in the capturing of black bodies deemed "out of place.” He is currently completing his Ph.D. in History at Howard University where he is researching the implications Civil War impressment methods had on the carceral elements that come into fruition at the start of the Reconstruction Era.
RAFELINA CONTRERAS
Associate Director of PROGRAMs
Rafelina Contreras is pleased to be exalt’s Program Manager Rafelina graduated from Rutgers University with a double major in Psychology and Sociology and a minor in Criminology. Prior to joining exalt, Rafelina was a Case Manager for the Aegis Domestic Violence Program at an emergency crisis shelter. Through a Trauma-Informed Care (TIC) approach, she promoted safety, support, and empowerment to positively impact the lives of domestic violence survivors and their children in both an individual and group setting. Through offering crisis intervention and emotional support to survivors of domestic violence, Rafelina found a passion to help the youth struggling with the many challenges they were experiencing. She is determined to help transform the lives of youth at exalt through cultivating their leadership skills and promoting self-sufficiency.
LUISA BASIC
ALUMNI MANAGER
Luisa is exalt’s Alumni Manager. She has 15+ years of experience in the field, having worked with thousands of young people across Australia, Africa and the United States in the areas of healthcare, education and employment. Luisa holds a bachelor's degree in Social Science, Development Studies & Culture Change, and a Master of Public & Social Policy from Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. Luisa is a scholarship recipient of the Columbia Business School Developing Leaders Program, November 2022.
YULE ADAMS JR.
INTERNSHIP LIAISON
Yule Adams Jr. is pleased to be exalt’s Internship Liaison. As the Internship Liaison, Yule strategically seeks out and builds new partnerships to help advance the mission of exalt. Prior to joining exalt, Yule has a long history in education and community building at organizations such as The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, The New York Transit Museum, Community Counseling and Mediation and Cortico. In these roles he has utilized a combination of unique teaching styles, community outreach and project management skills to achieve his goals. Throughout his career, Yule found a passion for youth education and relationship building. Making a lasting impact on youth has been his passion. His hobbies include film making, media production and gaming. Yule's professional goals include building out exalt’s employment component to better serve the youth of NYC and creating media that focuses on telling the stories of the youth exalt serves.
Amalia “Molly” Albertson
Court Liaison
Amalia “Molly” Albertson is pleased to be one of exalt’s three court liaisons. In Amalia’s role, she works with students who have serious felony court cases in the Bronx, Manhattan, and Staten Island as they move through the exalt program.
Amalia graduated from Baruch College in 2019 with a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs and a Minor in Communications. After graduation, Amalia worked full time with the Center for Justice Innovation as a Program Associate in the Peacemaking program and a compliance specialist for Supervised Release. Whether it is through written accounts or personal lived experiences, she is always eager to absorb information pertaining to the criminal legal system. In her free time, she finds herself passionate about home gardening, reading scary novels, and cooking up fun dishes for her friends and family.
ALEISHA ANDINO
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Aleisha Andino is excited to be at exalt as a Program Coordinator. Aleisha graduated from the University of Florida with a major in Criminology and a minor in Mass Communications. Prior to joining exalt, Aleisha worked as a Paralegal in Florida and later moved to NYC to be a part of AmeriCorps in which she was placed at ACS. Through this work, she was able to develop a sense of urgency when it comes to youth development. She is very passionate about preparing youth for the adult world and showing them that they are capable and valuable. On her free time, Aleisha enjoys doing graphic designing work and finding new crime documentaries to watch.
ERNEST BUTTS
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Ernest Butts is excited to have joined exalt as a Program Coordinator. Ernest graduated from John Jay of Criminal Justice with a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration in 2020. Prior to joining exalt, Ernest worked for The Posse Foundation as a Program Coordinator where he developed and maintained a scholarship network of 900 nominators from New York City high schools and community-based organizations. Now, Ernest is embarking on a new journey in being the Program Coordinator for exalt. Ernest looks forward to helping court-involved youth see beyond their neighborhood, environment and past—instead he wants to help guide students to their future and their own goals.
MELINDA COSME
LEAD TEACHER
Melinda is thrilled to join exalt as a Lead Teacher. She holds a B.S in Human Services Management from the University of Phoenix and has over 16 years of experience in the education and human services fields. Having worked in Title 1 Schools since 2006, Melinda has a genuine commitment to the success of all people, but most specifically young people. Prior to joining exalt, Melinda was a middle school teacher in Osceola County Schools in Kissimmee, FL. She taught 6th-8th grade art, AVID, and Spanish. Melinda served as Dept. Chair, Grade Level Chair, PLC Lead and was 2019’s Teacher of the Year at Westside K-8 school. Melinda also has experience in non-profit management, quality assurance & quality improvement, youth development, and standardized testing.
CLÍVE DENASTY
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Clíve is pleased to be exalt's Program Coordinator, the first point of contact in a student's journey toward transformation. Clíve, a Brooklyn & Queens native, graduated from State University at Albany with a BA in Political Science. Before joining exalt, Clíve worked in various political/government agencies before realizing that the policies he helped implement and the liberties he fought for would only be partially functional mainly because the Youth A.K.A the Future of New York City are not properly being taught how to utilize them. He then co-founded a community initiative and created a curriculum to teach high school students across the city how to be more civically engaged. His passions lie within the realms of government, social justice, and of course, youth development. In his free time, he enjoys writing or hearing poetry preferably Spoken Word/SLAM. Professionally, Clíve intends to infiltrate and transform every sector to improve the lives of New Yorkers, for he believes and plans on proving that New York City is the Greatest City in the World!
Tianesha Drayton
Lead Teacher
Tianesha is excited to join exalt as a Youth Educator / Group Facilitator. Tianesha attended CUNY’s School of Professional Studies for a degree in Sociology, and is also a graduate of exalt’s program. Prior to joining exalt, Tianesha worked as the Policy & Youth Program Coordinator at Youth Represent. She is experienced in program facilitation and management, youth leadership development, and event planning and hosting.
Tianesha is a Brooklyn native driven and fueled by a love for all things that promote a healthy and strong sense of community well-being. She is an admirer of gritty spoken word and other art expressions in the form of literature, cinematography, and her son’s thrilling comic books.
CHANTAE EDWARDS
EDUCATION ADVOCATE
Chantae Edwards joined exalt to assist in the organization's work with navigating the public education system in New York City. As the organization's very first Education Advocate, Chantae is determined to create equity in learning spaces and bridge educational opportunities for youth who have had contact with the juvenile justice system. Chantae is passionate about utilizing her voice, experiences, and skills to challenge injustices throughout the education system through fostering relationships, dialogues, and understanding of DOE Systems. Chantae has over five years of experience navigating K-12 education within NYC public schools. She currently holds a BA in Forensic Psychology with a minor in Africana studies from CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice and is in the process of completing an MS.Ed from New York Institute of Technology.
TERREL HARRIS
LEAD TEACHER
Terrel Harris is pleased to be exalt’s Lead Teacher. He looks forward to reigniting students’ interest in learning. Terrel looks forward to helping them realize who they want to be and not a product of their environment.
He graduated from The College at Brockport with a bachelor’s in criminal justice and sociology. Prior to joining exalt, Terrel Harris was an elementary school teacher, after school coach, and football coach. I am efficient in peace keeping circles, and conflict resolution. He found a passion for criminal justice reform after seeing how it affected those around him. Outside of the classroom he enjoyed playing and watching sports. He also enjoys writing music and poetry. Professionally he would like to teach at a college or university.
SHALISIA-EARTH HYMAN
LEAD TEACHER
Shalisia-Earth Hyman is honored to join exalt as a Lead Teacher. In this role she’s empowered to guide young people to see themselves as worthy. She attended Cheyney University of Pennsylvania where she majored in Psychology. Prior to joining exalt she served as an educator, and a community builder. She is passionate about creating safe spaces for young people and equipping them with the tools needed to both take up space and exist freely within systems designed without them in mind. In 2013 Shalisia-Earth created The Builders Circle, a community organization founded to support, heal, and honor the minds and hearts of inner-city youth through mentorship. Additionally, she facilitated and organized workshops that catered to the personal, social, and emotional health of the youth. Shalisia-Earth is also an entrepreneur and spends her free time connecting with nature as a tool for spiritual healing, inspiration, and love.
SARAH IMMANUEL
ASSISTANT ACCOUNTANT
Sarah Immanuel joined exalt in October 2021 as Accountant Assistant working with the Director of Finance in keeping the financial management of the organization sound, while maintaining the system integration. She holds a master’s degree in Economics from City College of New York and BA Accounting from Helwan University in Egypt. All through her prior years of experience as a professional, she went through challenging diverse tasks earning practical skills. She has become adept in flexible planning, organizing, controlling, keeping track, and handling ambiguity in a rapidly changing world setting. Mastering all competencies needed while enabling decision-making, effective communication skills have allowed her to innovate and grow sustainably.
Paul Jackson
Office Manager
Paul Jackson joined exalt in October 2022 as Office Manager. Paul graduated from New York University as a double major in Dramatic Writing and Psychology. Prior to joining exalt, he worked in the Publishing industry in various positions, including Production at Penguin Random House. During that time, he also did volunteer fundraising for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Paul then transitioned to the non-profit world, working with the team at NIA Community Services Network as an Administrative Assistant until later being promoted to Personnel Specialist. His duties at NIA were strongly focused on staffing the organization’s after-school programs across schools in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island. In his current role, Paul’s goals are to keep the office running smoothly, and to make sure that all exalt employees feel as supported as possible in their work.
Sparkle Joyner
Lead Teacher
Sparkle Joyner is pleased to be exalt‘s Lead Teacher, where she will be leading youth through a rigorous and culturally relevant curriculum designed to help students persist in their education, become employable, and avoid further contact with the criminal justice system. Sparkle graduated from Middlebury College with a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology and has been working as a youth development professional for over 10 years. Prior to joining exalt, Sparkle worked at the Madison Square Boys and Girls Club facilitating drug and alcohol prevention programs for youth and their families.
Sparkle’s skills include program management, public speaking, and written communication. Sparkle found her passion working with court-involved youth, while she also enjoys reading and taking care of her dog named Prince. Her professional goals include pursuing a master's degree in education and making the biggest impact possible while at exalt.
BRITTANY LANE
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Brittany Lane is pleased to be one of exalt’s incredible Program Coordinators. Transforming the lives of young people who are often misunderstood and participating in such a pivotal moment in their lives is what drew Brittany to this organization and role. A creative at her core, Brittany graduated with her Bachelor’s in Dance from SUNY Brockport. Prior to joining exalt in November of 2021, Brittany worked as a freelance dancer, teacher, and mentor for at risk youth in Harlem. While serving young people in this capacity, she gained a broad set of skills in youth development, communication, problem solving, and mentorship. Brittany loves to read and do hair in her free time and aspires to merge the arts and social justice as a platform to bring about lasting change in today’s society.
Kevin Matos
Development Coordinator
Kevin Matos, commonly known as Seven, is excited to serve as the Development Coordinator at exalt since February 2024. His main goal at exalt is to offer comprehensive support at every level, ensuring that young individuals receive the essential resources needed for their success. Seven earned concurrent bachelor’s degrees in Management and Marketing from The Pennsylvania State University in 2016. Being an innovative Program and Development Manager with 6+ years of experience, he brings dynamic value to his passion of making a difference in his community. Seven has a proven track record of curating effective plans from ideation to execution with the Police Athletic League Inc. (PAL).
Seven, a native of New York, was raised in the Bronx. Being a 1st generation Dominican really impacts him to be passionate with everything he does and have a “It has to work, or It has to work” mindset. Outside of exalt, he is actively involved in community service with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. Bronx Alumni Chapter. He finds purpose in connecting with the youth and serving as a mentor. In his free time, he also enjoys playing basketball, reading a book, going to church, and teaching financial literacy to the underserved. New York, Miami, Atlanta and Texas are some of the areas his educational endeavors have led him to impact.
Richelle McLean
Executive Assistant to CEO Gisele Castro
Richelle McLean is the Executive Assistant to Gisele Castro, exalt’s Chief Executive Officer, and also serves as the board liaison to the Board of Directors. Richelle has over 15 years of experience supporting senior leadership, and prior to joining exalt she worked at a nonprofit consumer service organization that works to ensure affordable health care access for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling and advocacy, educational programs, and public policy initiatives. Richelle has also held positions in global programs at New York University, where she played a key role in facilitating students’ study abroad experiences during their freshman year, and was an executive officer at the University of Melbourne. She holds a B.S. in International Trade and Marketing from the Fashion Institute of Technology and worked in sustainable garment development in NYC for several years.
Sonya Pittalwala
Court Liaison
Sonya brings to exalt extensive experience working with street and gang involved youth who have been victims of the criminal justice system. Sonya began her professional career in criminal justice advocacy with court involved young women. This is where she found her passion for advocating for criminal justice avoidance. Sonya has completed research in tracking trends and patterns in international terrorism and human atrocities and uses this knowledge to approach her work with a lens that incorporates international knowledge. Sonya also carries a Master of Counseling and has a strong background as an addictions counselor, giving insight into long term behavior change and motivational interviewing that informs her work at exalt. Sonya likes to bring creativity and expression to her work, encouraging expression through creative means such as music, written word, and visual art.
IKIM POWELL
ALUMNI PARTNERSHIPS AND LIAISON
Ikim Powell is an ambassador for maximizing one’s educational and personal progression. Formerly, he was a participant of exalt and is a recent college graduate of CUNY - College of Staten Island, where he graduated magna cum laude with a degree in English: Writing and African Diaspora Studies. During his undergraduate term, he studied abroad, partaking in the subjects of British Children’s Literature in London, England; Ethnobotany and Pedology in Morocco, Africa; Art and Design in Beijing, Guangzhou, and Sichuan, China. He has worked as a mentor and tutor in NYCDOE and CUNY, and later worked with adults as an Instructor at the CUNY Continuing Education and Professional Development Center helping them improve their literacy and GED/TASC certifications. His goal is to help young people maximize their potential and ultimately dictate their destiny.
DAVID RAMOS
Grants Manager
David Ramos is excited to be exalt’s Grants Manager. In his role, he is responsible for researching new funding opportunities and developing grant proposals to obtain support for exalt’s programs. He graduated in 2016 from Lehman College with a B.A. in English. Prior to joining exalt, he worked as a Grants Specialist for Eva’s Village, which is an organization that provides social services for individuals suffering from hunger, poverty, homelessness, and addiction. He also previously worked for the Mount Sinai Health System as a Development Associate. He is passionate about using his professional skills to uplift individuals and assist them in achieving success. His hobbies include watching films and sports and spending quality time with his family.
Ashley Rucker
Lead Teacher
Ashley Rucker founded TherapART to promote the positive effects of art therapy after struggling with the anguish of a sibling suffering from drug addiction and incarceration.
A gifted dancer and passionate creative, she formed her unique method using meditation, dynamic movement, and creative play as an alternative to traditional therapy. The results and breakthroughs were incomparable.
Doubling down on how effective it was on adults, she’s been paying it forward from the beginning. Focusing on youths significantly affected by the criminal justice system, helping them to work through the release of emotional barriers that limit their future lives.
A trained yoga teacher and graduate of the Institute of Transformative Mentoring (ITM) at The New School, she has facilitated TherapART workshops and ceremonies both nationally and internationally. Ashley has called New York home since 2011.
TIGIDANKAY ‘TK’ SACCOH
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
TK Saccoh is pleased to be one of exalt’s Program Coordinators. In this role, she works closely with youth to help them meet their personal and educational goals. TK Saccoh graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a concentration in Public Health. Prior to joining exalt, TK Saccoh worked at Columbia Law School’s African-American Policy Forum, Malala Fund, and Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. In 2020, TK founded the popular anti-colorism platform The Darkest Hue to advocate for Black people who experience misogyny and colorism. Outside of work, you can find TK crocheting, baking, and collecting vintage vinyl records. TK dreams of studying civil rights law in the future.
Tiffany Santos
Lead Teacher
Tiffany Santos is enthusiastic to join exalt as a Lead Teacher. She is looking forward to utilizing exalt’s pedagogical model combined with her personal vision of the future of the restorative justice landscape. Before joining exalt, Tiffany had the honor to mentor and counsel New York City’s youth from the Department of Probation to the Department of Education. Tiffany currently studies Public Affairs at Baruch College. She aims to continue working in the youth development field, ushering young adults into an empowered beginning in their personal and professional careers. In their free time Tiffany enjoys spending time at home painting, eating good food, and indulging in a horror film or two!
IBRAHIM SIDDIQ
LEAD TEACHER
Ibrahim is pleased to be one of exalt's Lead Teachers. He teaches the core components of exalt’s educational program including skills in employability, educational engagement and Justice system avoidance. Ibrahim has worked for various ATI Programs and facilitated creative writing and literacy workshops in facilities such as Rikers’ Island, Horizons and Children’s Village. In addition to teaching, Ibrahim is an artist and community organizer that uses his art as a vehicle for activism and social change. Every individual has the potential to achieve greatness and I wish to serve as a light for that potential. Just as when you walk into a dark room and flip a switch, the light does not create those objects but merely makes you aware of its presence. My goal is to shine a light on our youth's potential.
Jordyn Tobasky
Internship Liaison
Jordyn is thrilled to be one of exalt’s Internship Liaisons. As an Internship Liaison, Jordyn strategically seeks out new partnerships, fostering unique relationships with companies and organizations to strengthen exalt’s connections in NYC. Jordyn recently graduated from Tulane University summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an additional focus in Strategy, Leadership, Analytics, and Management. Prior to joining exalt, Jordyn worked for Covenant House on their Human Trafficking team, the New Orleans Public Defender’s office, and the Pro Bono Project in New Orleans. Jordyn is passionate about human rights, child advocacy, and helping court-involved youth believe in their own self-worth. She loves to run and teach cycling classes in her free time, as well as travel, cook, and spend time with her friends and family.
BRANDON TUCKER
SALESFORCE AND DATA MANAGER
Brandon Tucker joined the exalt team as a Court Liaison in November 2020. Due to his strong commitment to contributing to the growth of exalt, he has been promoted to Salesforce and Data Manager. Brandon is a true born and raised New Yorker. As a dedicated community activist and entrepreneur, he is excited to bring his talents and skillset to the world of Youth Justice. Growing up in NYC the phrase “Each One Teach One” was one that molded Brandon into the leader he is today. By utilizing skillsets such as Circle Keeping and Restorative Justice practices Brandon has demonstrated an ability to relate to the youth served and to continue to inspire growth. Passionate about the elevation and advancement of Black and Brown communities, Brandon has worked alongside local politicians, community board leaders, and religious institutions to bring about effective community change. When not in the office Brandon enjoys traveling, culinary experiences, photography, and cycling.
LIAM WAMBA
Court Liaison
Liam Wamba is exalt’s Court Liaison for Brooklyn. Our Court Liaisons are responsible for helping our participants prepare for their court dates during the duration of their time at the program. Previously a program coordinator, Liam is uniquely positioned to educate the courtroom on our unique approach to youth development. He began as an intern at exalt in 2022 after graduating from the New School with his bachelor’s in Anthropology. Liam is looking to further expand exalt’s relationships across the justice system, while deepening his knowledge about the courtroom and law.