Consultants with a range of specialties to meet your diverse needs!
Our Team
We have a number of consultants that specialize in racial equity, psychology, social work, financial literacy, economics, and more! They are English and Spanish speaking. We prioritize team members that identify with the identities of the individuals we seek to support, so most of our team members at Black, Indigenous, People of Color.
CEO
Jolisa Beavers
Jolisa Beavers is a mother, educator, social worker, and the Founder of 4ward Inclusion Consulting, Incorporated. As an advocate for racial, gender, and LGBT+ rights, Jolisa has facilitated at national conferences across the nation including the annual New York City DOE-sponsored Education Revolution Conference and the annual Coalition of Schools Educating Boys of Color (COSEBOC).
Jolisa launched the organization through a belief that vulnerability is a superpower and that those closest to the issues are the best ones to discover solutions. Jolisa approaches her work through an intersectional lens heightened by her own marginalized identities and experiences growing up in Harlem.
Board of Directors
Managing Director at Achievement Network
Tiffany Alvarez-Smith
Teacher, Influencer, Decision Maker Experienced educator with proven track record making instructional impact in urban school settings. Thought-partner and coach to district and school leadership teams, creating strategic short and long-term vision plans to drive achievement for all students with excellent results.
Director of Communication, Outreach and Engagement at MetCo
Colin Stokes
I use communications strategies to make social change—in organizations, in media, and in our own families. Elevating the voices of diverse people, and applying my own, I use the principles and tools of storytelling to fight inequity and build a more just society.
I am also a public speaker and blogger on popular culture, parenting, and being a straight white male. My TEDxBeaconStreet talks have been viewed more than 2.5 million times.
Director of Strategy & Evaluation at Cooperman College Scholars
Andrea Walker
Staff and Consultants
Ulesha Verwayne: Program Coordinator
Ulesha Verwayne has explored her passion for dance and food since her childhood. She is the only one of her siblings born in the United States, and having a strong Guyanese culture intertwined with her American culture intensified her eagerness to explore cultural dishes and dance styles. Ulesha is an advocate for fair education and inclusion through food and art. Ulesha has a medical assistant license and supports our program logistics and culinary arts curriculum.
Yulissa Vera: Bilingual Facilitator
Yulissa is an experienced social worker having served children and families in nonprofit organizations with a primary focus on child welfare and mental health. Yulissa has successfully advocated in the New York family court systems for families negatively impacted by the child welfare system. Yulissa applies her diversity and education to incorporate mindfulness, anti-bullying, and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy skills into her youth and adult facilitation to empower marginalized communities.
Syaisha Hewitt: Psychologist
Syaisha Hewitt has worked as a professional in diverse early childhood, elementary, and secondary school settings for over 10 years. She is passionate about collaborating with students, families, and schools to provide services to aid in creating an inclusive and culturally responsive learning environment. Syaisha has experience administering and interpreting assessments as well as implementing counseling, behavioral and therapeutic interventions to support cognitive, intellectual, academic, and social-emotional functioning.
Alexis Guy: Financial Literacy Facilitator
Alexis Guy is a fearless educator on the journey to reduce economic disparities among individuals from marginalized populations. Alexis continuously embraces a culture of error while promoting inclusion and openness with her students in and out of the classroom. Alexis is known for helping youth release their math anxieties through real-world experiences, and pushes youth and young adult-aged individuals to see that their money mistakes are vital to their financial freedom journey.
Andre Steinberg: Marketing and Graphic Design
Andre Steinberg is a graphic designer and marketing expert that boasts a track record of success for achieving increased online traffic and revenue gains. Andre provides internal and external support to organizations and schools. Andre has developed electronic ebooks, websites, and provided financial guidance that has been applied to our leadership program for High School students.
Vanne-Paige Padgett: Anthropologist and Researcher
Vanne-Paige Padgett is a cultural anthropologist working at the intersections of race and gender in communities of color to produce racial interventions against racism, gender oppression, and misogynoir. Paige specializes in Black liberation writing and social justice education. Paige produces thought-provoking perspectives that are applied to our curriculum development to meet the unique needs of our partners.
If you are interested in joining our team, please email.