Mary Diakite - Founder/Board President
Mary Diakite is the Founder and Board President of Cherish Every Child Incorporated (CEC Inc.). The organization received its Certificate of Incorporation on November 4, 2019, and officially granted its tax-exempt status on September 1, 2021.
Mary’s goal for CEC Inc. is to create an organization that will assist underprivileged youth with a scholarship, when additional funds for tuition, books or food are needed, while they pursue their academic dreams.
Since 2017, Mary has been the advisor to a group of young people, who are a part of the Lions Clubs International, a community and worldwide organization. The young members are referred to as Leos. Mary’s position as advisor has allowed her to hear and understand some of the financial struggles these young people had as they got closer to graduating high school and applying to colleges. The financial woes varied from not getting a substantial scholarship towards their academic studies and for some, possibly, falling short of being able to purchase text books or room and board. Mary understood their concerns because she experienced some of the same financial difficulties when her daughter went off to college, some years ago.
Cherish Every Child Inc. will not only provide scholarships to underprivileged participants, who meet the criteria, but it will also work to inspire and motivate students to become leaders of tomorrow.
Pegi Ivery Brown - Treasurer
Pegi Ivery Brown, is a graduate of LaGuardia Community College and is now the CEO and Founder of Next Chapter Success a personal development and coaching company that helps women chart their future. Pegi has been on the executive board of Woman-to-Woman, Inc. since its inception in 1999. She was instrumental in the development of their Rites of Passage Program. A program created to prepare young girls academically, culturally, and socially for the transition into adulthood.
Pegi had an exemplary 40+ year career in finance with a few top global advertising agencies. Her responsibilities were in both client accounting and media finance for major clients. Since retiring Pegi is now Managing Director of Paul Quinn Federal Credit Union chartered by Macedonia AME Church. She has secured several grants to upgrade the technology and provide much needed financial assistance to the community amid the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Pegi has a unique flare when dealing with young people, she is accepted and her advice as an adult is well received. Her experience with handling money and being able to help gain financial stability during uncertain times, will undoubtable help Cherish Every Child, Incorporated (CEC) manage and maintain it goal to help the underserved, college bound youth.
Rishikka White - Board Member
Rishikka White is a native of Mobile, Alabama where she completed her undergraduate studies in nursing at the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She has a master’s degree in nursing (MSN) from Hunter College and a degree in Public Administration (MPS) from Baruch College in New York City. In 2016, she served as a member of the International Scholar Laureate Program Nursing Camp, Healthcare Delegation to South Africa.
Rishikka has over 20 plus years of experience in multiple clinical specialties; primary care medicine, surgical, oncology, telemetry and step-down units. She has been recognized over her career for outstanding patient care.
Rishikka brings the insight of not just dealing with more the ailing public. While pursuing her nursing degrees, she understands the need for college bound students from underserved areas to have access to various means of financial support.
Cynthia Cummings - Acting Secretary
Cynthia Cummings studied at Nyack College where she majored in Organizational Management. She has served as the Director of Scheduling and Advance in the New York City Council office and previously, the program manager for a not-for-profit, New York Crisis Management System – Cure Violence Global Initiative. She was responsible for implementing services and management of the various programs of community events, which purpose is to alleviate gang and drug activities that pursues the goals of the foundation to, “help develop our future leaders”.
Cynthia has worked for over thirty years as a Senior Executive Assistant and Events Coordinator for various faith-based, residents and other organizations that are engaged in community preparedness, services. She has been responsible for planning and overseeing events that sometimes reported as many as 2,600 attendees.
Cynthia brings strong, community leadership skills that will help Cherish Every Child, Incorporated (CEC), communicate with neighborhood leaders that seek to help the underserved youth of today.
Louanne Martinez - Board Member
Louanne Martinez, is a native of the island of Grenada, often referred to as the “Spice Island”. She migrated to the United States at the age of 9, and even then, she proclaimed to “pursue the American dream”. By the age of 18, Louanne was living on her own, employed full time and attending college. She earned an associates degree from ASA College, and her bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management and master’s in business management with a Major in Health Care Management from St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn New York.
Louanne is the Assistant Vice President for Wellstar Health System and is aware that without the opportunity of an uninterrupted, education is why she can have the confidence to take on new and challenging job positions. She is grateful for having the doors open to her and what she sees as a continued bright future. Louanne knows first-hand the financial burden one can incur while in pursuit of a better life though education and know how important it is to have as many financial resources as possible, like Cherish Every Child, Incorporated (CEC), to offset college expenses.
Sara Strozier - Board Member
Sara Strozier is from The Bronx, NY and is a mother of two girls. One finishing college and the other entering into High School. She studied Forensic Psychology at John Jay College, in New York, NY. From there her career has been as an Executive Assistant in fields of Law, Finance and Tech where she’s was the liaison between her executives and their clients while also managing projects, running logistics on team and corporate events and assisting in the operations of their respective practices. Sara has a niche for finding programs for children that are set up to prepare them for navigating through their young lives and the financial world. She’s been affiliated with BlackFem, Inc., The SIFMA Foundation (Stock Market Games and InvestWrite) and IMentor. She has a passion for nurturing the youth and being a voice for the voiceless. With Cherish Every Child, Inc, one of her goals is to be a part of the village, moving the community forward, one child at a time.
Jeffrey McNeill - Board Member / Mentor
Jeffrey McNeill was born and raised in Philadelphia. Surrounded by music as far back as he can remember, he took his love of both Hip-Hop and Classical Music and launched The Illharmonic Orchestra with his wife Andrea Coln. The ensemble has performed at; Carnegie Hall, The Kennedy Center and has appeared on TV over 10 times across the country. Jeffrey mentors and provides performance opportunities for younger musicians through The Illharmonic and has worked to raise over $10,000 for the Save the Music Foundation through the groups public events.
In his Day Job, Jeffrey is a Regional Executive at Amazon and has over 30 years of experience in Retail Leadership.
Derek Ivery - Mentor
Derek Ivery is a native of Flushing, Queens New York, and a graduate of Queens College (CUNY) with a degree in Secondary Education, Teacher Education. He has taught history in the Public High School system. Derek has worked at the American Red Cross of Greater New York, helping to provide aid to families devested by fire and national disasters. Following his work at the Red Cross, He held a substitute teaching position where he had to travel to different schools in diverse communities in Queens and Manhattan.
Derek began his career as an Academic Advisor at Hostos Community College in the South Bronx, servicing underprivileged and immigrant students for ten plus years. Derek later found himself back at his alma mater, Queens College and now as a Senior Academic Advisor, working to assure his students graduate on time and without delay.
Derek takes great pride in working with all students in need. He is known for his holistic approach to advisement, making sure to understand all a student’s strengths and challenges. Derek believes that while all students’ goals are different, it is his job to provide the maximum level of care and is dedicated to helping students achieve their goals.