Michelle Alexander is a civil rights lawyer, a legal scholar, and the author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, which shifted the national discourse on the U.S. criminal justice system. She is a former associate professor of law at Stanford Law School and Ohio State University, and her writing has been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Nation, and other outlets.
Amanda A. Ebokosia, recognized by Forbes as a Millennial on a Mission, is the Founder & CEO of The Gem Project, Inc., a pioneering 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to elevating high school and college student engagement through impactful youth organizing and service-learning initiatives centered around a social justice framework.
With an unyielding commitment to youth development spanning nearly two decades, since its establishment in 2006, The Gem Project has directly impacted the lives of over 3500 youth and young adults. Through a groundbreaking peer-based paid fellowship connecting both high school and college students, youth are offered a myriad of opportunities to catalyze change within their communities, striving to influence policy through direct action.
Acknowledged for her exceptional leadership, Amanda Ebokosia and her team have garnered prestigious honors, including recognition from The White House and The City of Newark. Her inclusion in the annual FORBES Magazine 30 under 30 list in Education underscores her remarkable ability to engage communities and empower young individuals, fostering their leadership skills and potentially transforming their lives.
The Gem Project and Amanda Ebokosia’s impactful endeavors have garnered attention from esteemed publications such as the National Journal, Black Enterprise, NJ Spotlight, PBS News, TapInto, and Forbes Magazine, among others, highlighting their significant contributions to youth development.
Amanda Ebokosia’s academic achievements are equally noteworthy. She holds a BA degree in the Biological Sciences from Rutgers University – Newark and earned an MA degree in Youth Studies from the CUNY School of Professional Studies. Her pursuit of continuous growth and expertise led her to complete the Rutgers Institute of Ethical Leadership’s Nonprofit Executive Leaders track at the Rutgers Business School in Newark, New Jersey, and certifications from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice in the CORE certificate program for Executives.
Committed to effecting positive change beyond her organization, Amanda serves as an Advisory Board Member for the Greater Newark Healthcare Coalition, addressing healthcare inequities across the Greater Newark area. Her service extends further as an Impact100 Essex Member, Women’s Leadership Council Member, former Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of Rutgers University Alumni Association and a Former Associate Board member at the United Neighborhood Houses.
Amanda Ebokosia’s commitment to education it is reflected in her role as an adjunct lecturer at Bronx Community College, where she imparts her knowledge and expertise. She also served as a Founder-in-Residence at Antler NYC, further cementing her dedication to fostering innovative solutions and leadership.
In addition to her leadership roles, Amanda is a certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, sanctioned by Mental Health First Aid USA through the National Council for Behavioral Health. Her expertise in this realm adds another layer to her multifaceted contributions to youth development, equipping her to teach vital skills for recognizing and responding to mental health challenges affecting young individuals.
Breanna Campbell is a dedicated Newark student at Science Park High School, consistently achieving Super Honor Roll status with a perfect GPA of 4.0 in specialized honors courses. For two years, she has been a Gem Project Fellow, while partnering with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and VOTE16 partners, and has testified before City Council to advocate for lowering the voting age to 16 and 17 for Newark high school students to vote in school board elections.
Breanna’s commitment to learning is evident through her active participation in various educational and professional development programs. As a Gem Program Fellow, she has accumulated extensive professional development in youth organizing, advocacy, and career readiness, moderating discussions and presenting policy briefings on equity issues. Her involvement with the Sadie Nash Summer Institute highlights her dedication to social justice, contributing to community projects addressing racism and gender norms.
Breanna’s academic pursuits are further complemented by her participation in Princeton University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Scholars Institute, where she explored biological anatomy and its broader impacts. As a member of the Pre-Med and Future Teachers Clubs, she engages in meaningful discussions about the medical field and professional citizenship.
In addition to her academic and professional endeavors, Breanna maintains a healthy lifestyle through swimming and track and field, instilling essential skills such as discipline, perseverance, time management, teamwork, and resilience.
Breanna Campbell’s passion for equitable global health, coupled with her academic excellence and diverse experiences, makes her a formidable candidate for any role she pursues. Her strong work ethic, mental toughness, and interpersonal skills are assets that she brings to every endeavor.
Breanna is also a Cooperman College Scholar.
Nathaniel Esubonteng is a senior at Science Park High School, consistently achieving Principal Honor Roll status with a GPA of over 4.0. For over two years, he has been a dedicated Gem Project Fellow, while collaborating with the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice and VOTE16 partners. Nathaniel testified before the City Council to advocate for lowering the voting age to 16 and 17 for Newark high school students in school board elections.
Nathaniel is an aspiring STEM student with a passion for Computer Science and Engineering. He excels in various competencies, including computer and technology skills, public speaking, programming languages, digital literacy, leadership, data analysis, teamwork, and time management.
At Science Park High School, Nathaniel has pursued numerous professional experiences. During an internship with the Zhu Group at Rutgers University, he gained hands-on experience in material simulation techniques using Python and C+ programming languages. He was a participant in the Sony Music STEM Program, exploring the intersection of music and technology. Additionally, Nathaniel is part of Audible’s Future Leaders program, which focuses on nurturing the next generation of innovators.
Nathaniel’s extracurricular activities further showcase his dedication and talent. He has developed a foundational understanding of artificial intelligence through the ALA: Artificial Intelligence & Technology Workshop. As a prestigious scholarship recipient, he attended Princeton University’s VR Game Design camp, gaining practical skills in Unity and Meta Quest platforms. His virtual mentorship with Trillium Trading provided him with insights into the dynamic world of digital trading and financial markets.
Lata N. Reddy is senior vice president, Inclusive Solutions at Prudential Financial and chair of The Prudential Foundation.
In these roles, Reddy harnesses the power of capital markets to drive financial and social mobility. By combining diversity strategies, impact investments, philanthropy, corporate contributions, and employee engagement with Prudential’s full business capabilities, she helps position the company to promote inclusive economic opportunity and sustainable growth.
Under Reddy’s leadership, Prudential became one of the first institutional investors to grow and manage an impact investing portfolio with $1 billion in assets under management. Additionally, she oversees a yearly grant-making budget of $40 million through The Prudential Foundation, and a $15 million corporate contributions budget.
Reddy originally joined Prudential in 1997. Prior to joining Prudential, she was a civil rights attorney with the U.S. Department of Education. Her dedication to promoting equity has spanned her career in the nonprofit, public and private sectors.
In addition to serving as chair of The Prudential Foundation and of the Newark Alliance, Reddy currently serves on the boards of several national organizations including the Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation and UNICEF USA. Additionally, she serves on the Advisory Board for the My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, and is a fellow of the Aspen Global Leaders Network. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Reddy was named to Mayor Ras J. Baraka’s Newark Reopening and Recovery Strikeforce in 2020, leading the Economic Recovery Committee.
Reddy holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a law degree from Emory University School of Law.
