core brothers
Chad Lassiter
Brian Rogers
Will Little
Shareef Ward
William Brauner
Joey Zaza
Mark Baxter
Marc Lamont Hill
Ryan Boyer
Baba Renfro
Norm Bond
Damon Roberts
Edward Crawford
Chad Lassiter
Chad Dion Lassiter is nationally recognized in the fields of American race relations and violence prevention among African American males. He has worked with resilient and vulnerable families, youth, and communities as they experience normal developmental transitions in challenging environments. Chad Dion Lassiter’s research interest attempts to contribute to a more informed analysis of the diverse ways that adolescents and families, especially people of color cope with socioeconomic challenges and institutional racism. He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Social Work where he was the “A. Phillip Randolph Award” winner (2001).
Mr. Lassiter was chosen by Ebony magazine as one of the “Young Leaders of the Future Under 30” in February, 2003. In May of 2004, Mr. Lassiter was named “Who’s Who Among African Americans 17th edition” along with such notables as Colin Powell and Michael Jordan. He is a former research fellow at the W.E.B. Du Bois Collective Research Institute at the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, where he worked on two nationally successful research projects (P.L.A.A.Y.- Preventing Long-term Anger and Aggression in Youth) and (H.I.P.P.- Health Information Providers and Promoters). He was named 2005 Philadelphia’s Most Influential African Americans “10 People Under 40 to Watch In 2005” by the Philadelphia Tribune.
In September of 2007, to celebrate the 75th year anniversary of the Philadelphia Eagles, he was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles and Dunkin Donuts as one of “The 75 Greatest Living Philadelphians”. Mr. Lassiter is one of the co-founders and current president of the Black Men at Penn School of Social Work, Inc. which seeks to recruit black males into the profession of social work as well as providing anti racism and violence prevention trainings to urban and suburban schools. He has worked on race, peace and poverty related issues both in Africa and Israel. Presently, he is an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy and Practice where he is the 2008 recipient of the “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Involvement Award” for faculty and a researcher at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill
Dr. Marc Lamont Hill is one of the youngest members of the growing body of “Hip-Hop Intellectuals” in the country. His work, which covers topics such as hip-hop culture, politics, sexuality, and education, and religion, has appeared in numerous journals, magazines, books, and anthologies. Dr. Hill has lectured widely and provides regular commentary for media outlets like the Washington Post, New York Times, Essence Magazine, NPR, CNN, MSNBC, CourtTV, and Fox News. His award-winning daily blog is updated on his website, www.MarcLamontHill.com.
Since his days as a youth in Philadelphia, Dr. Hill has been a social justice activist and organizer. He is a founding board member of My5th, a non-profit organization devoted to educating youth about their legal rights and responsibilities. Dr. Hill also works closely with the ACLU Drug Reform Project, focusing on drug informant policy. In addition to his political work, Dr. Hill continues to work directly with African American and Latino youth. In 2001, he started a literacy project that uses hip-hop culture to increase school engagement and reading skills among high school students. He also continues to organize and teach adult literacy courses for high school dropouts in Philadelphia and Camden.
In 2005, Ebony Magazine named him one of America's top 30 Black leaders under 30 years old.
Dr. Hill is the author of the forthcoming book Beats, Rhymes, and Classroom Life: Hip-Hop, Pedagogy, and the Politics of Identity and the co-editor of Media, Learning, and Sites of Possibility. He is currently completing You Ain't Heard It From Me: Snitching, Rumors and the Politics of Other People's Business in Hip-Hop America and the Anthropology of Education Reader.
Dr. Hill is Assistant Professor of Urban Education and American Studies at Temple University. He is also an affiliated faculty member in Anthropology. Trained as an anthropologist of education, he holds a Ph.D. (with distinction) from the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hill’s research focuses on the intersections between youth culture, identity, and educational processes. He is particularly interested in locating various sites of possibility for identity work, resistance, and knowledge production outside of formal schooling contexts. Particular sites of inquiry include hip-hop culture, urban (street) fiction, and African American bookstores.
Ryan Boyer
Ryan Boyer is a native of Philadelphia. After graduating from Roxborough High School, Ryan won a full academic scholarship to West Chester University, where he majored in business management. After completing his degree, he co-founded BRIJTS, Inc., a real estate investment company that focuses on rehabbing and selling properties to help make Philadelphia a more beautiful city. Currently, Ryan is the Secretary-Treasurer of Laborers’ Local 332, a union of over 3,000 members. In that capacity, Ryan oversees an annual budget of over $20 million and negotiates contracts on behalf of his members. In addition, he is a volunteer for many civic organizations; serving as a member of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority Advisory Committee chief among his volunteer activities. Ryan and his wife, Tomika, are the proud parents of two ICS students.
Brian Rogers
Will Little
Shareef Ward
William Brauner
Joey Zaza
Mark Baxter
Marc Baxter is presently an entrapeuneur offering behavior therapy as an indepnedent contractor, as well as a real-estate investor. Marc speaks regularly at high schools and other events. Marc thrives off of empowering youth by offering them strategies to help simplify life, while also encouragng them to achieve. Marc is a Christian man with a strong belief in God. He attends church regularly and prides himself with demonstrating upright character, conduct, and commitment. Marc is a committed father, bother and son. Marc is the youngest child, but has emerged as the provider of his immediate family. Marc attempts to take advantage of all oportunities in which knowlege can be obtained and or convey to others. Marc owns two companies, Empowerment Unlimited LLC and Baxter Estates LLC.
He is a co-founder of The African American Business and Residence Association. Marc is also a co-founder of M.E.N.A.C.E. (Minorities Earning Now and Creating Equality). Marc is a donor to several organizations which includes the March of Dimes, Heart Association, Temple University Owl Club, Temple Athletics, Travel and Tourism Department, and the Education Department. Marc has supported several political figures financially in the past and most recently a large supporter of Barack Obama.
Marc was raised in the North Philadelphia section. He is the youngest of five in a family that could be described as dysfunctional. Both parents migrated from the south with little education or resources. He was raised in a low social economic situation. Marc thrived in football as a youth. It taught him togetherness, love, compassion, and endurance. Marc attended Bodine High School for International Affairs in 1988. After attending the school for one year, his midget league coach transferred him to Mastbaum HighShool swo that he could persue his athletic interest. Fortunately, there were always mentors to stand in the gaps for Marc’s non-supportive family. Marc Excelled at Mastbaum, earning a five year scholarship to Temple University. Marc Excelled at Temple in athletics and graduated with a Bachelors of Science Degree. After falling short of the NFL, he went back to Temple and obtained a Master’s degree with 24 credits towards a Doctorate.
Marc conitnues to take a humble approach towards life and is motivated to impact positive change. He is consistent and stedfast in his drive towards equality in our country. He is fortunate to have been at the bottom and is stedily climbing towards the top. For these reasons, he is totally honored to be a part of the Brothersforbarack movement.
Baba Renfro
Rnfro was born, raised & educated in Philadelphia. I am happily married to my wonderful wife of 3yrs, Candace. I am also the Managing Partner @ Distante Clothing in Center City Philadelphia. Quote: "Plan your work and work your plan".
Norm Bond
Damon Roberts
Damon K. Roberts is your neighbor at 17th and Reed Streets in South Philadelphia, where he lives with his wife, Arline Rosario Roberts, and their eight-year old son Cualyn.
You might remember that, out of concern for Philadelphia’s youth, Damon led successful demonstrations against Clear Channel to get rid of obscene radio deejays Star and Buc Wild. If you’re in the neighborhood, he might knock on your door or you
might see him around raising awareness about the high school dropout crisis, the out-of-control homicide rate in our area, or about the overwhelming trash on the streets. If you live in the Second Council District in Philadelphia, he is your next City Councilman.
The oldest of five children, Damon K. Roberts was born in Guyana, South America in 1970 and moved to Brooklyn, New York at the age of fourteen years old. He grew up playing cricket in the streets of Georgetown, Guyana. As a Boy Scout, he represented
Guyana in Scout Jamborees in Brazil and Suriname.
His parents divorced as a teenager, and they moved to New York City. With children in tow, his mother worked two jobs and went back to college. She reminded them that education was a way out of poverty and the welfare they initially experienced in the United States. It was at this time that many of his deepest convictions for helping the poor were formed. He attended Brooklyn Technical High School, where he started his student leadership as President of the 4,900 strong student body.
He was a varsity athlete on the City Championship Track Team, and went on to compete in college. In 2006, he competed in the Broad Street Run, the Bar Association Charity Run and the Dash for Democracy. In 2004, he ran the Philadelphia Marathon. Damon Roberts is a cum laude graduate of Harvard University, where he wrote a summa cum laude thesis in his Sociology and African American Studies double major. He served as President of the Caribbean Students Association and was Founder and President of the Boston Caribbean Coalition of Students. At Harvard, Damon was an advocate for the homeless. He won awards for public speaking, performed in plays, competed on the track and rugby teams, taught bible study groups, toured with the Kuumba Singers and was a Rhodes Scholarship Finalist.
Before going to law school, Damon taught High School Global History in Harlem, New York. In addition to teaching, he coached track and field, producing state championship sprinters and a relay team that placed second in the National Championships. In the evening, he worked towards a Masters Degree from Teachers’ College, Columbia University in Comparative and International Education with a focus on Politics. At Teachers’ College, he served as President of the Black Student Network and a Senator in the Student Government.
At Howard University School of Law, Damon served as President of the Graduate Students Association, overseeing the 12 student governments for the 2,500 professional and graduate students at Howard University. After passing the Pennsylvania Bar Examination, Mr. Roberts was a part of the inaugural class of the Mayor’s Honors Attorneys program at the City of Philadelphia Law Department under the leadership of former City Solicitor Nelson Diaz. At the law Department, he helped to reduce auto insurance and dangerous chemical emissions in the City. In the intense 2003 Philadelphia mayoral election, Damon served as Assistant Campaign Manager in Mayor John F. Street’s victorious campaign. He subsequently served as Committee Coordinator in the Mayor’s 21st Century Review Forum. In this capacity, he analyzed the Administration’s Education and Child Welfare Policy, the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative, the Safe Streets Program, and the City’s Tax Structure and recommended changes for the Mayor’s second term.
For the last three years, Damon has been committed to serving Philadelphia’s poor, working as Community Liaison for the 45,000 residents and 5,100 landlords in the Philadelphia Housing Authority’s Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program. As Community
Liaison, he was chair of the Landlord Tenant Advisory Council, was administrator of over 80 hearings per month and he personally handled some 3000 complaints/issues per year. Every day, he negotiated to keep tenants off the streets, advocated on behalf of landlords, or represented PHA’s substantial economic investment in the program. After the Housing Choice Voucher Program faced severe political opposition in Philadelphia, Mr. Roberts helped to change the face of the program by helping to raise the program’s public image and PHA’s quality of service to the poor.
Damon was the 2004-2005 President of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia, a professional organization representing the interests of over 1,200 African American attorneys in the Philadelphia area. Under Damon’s leadership, the organization’s
focus was increasing its service to low income African Americans in Philadelphia by giving free legal clinics, more scholarships and quadrupled the turkey baskets given to fixed income Seniors for Thanksgiving.
As Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Legal Line, Damon recruited several law firms, legal associations and bar associations to assist in providing free over-the-phone consultations to the general public. Elected to the Executive Committee of the Young Lawyers Division of the Philadelphia Bar Association, he served as Co-Chair of the Resolutions Committee. The award-winning Young Lawyer’s Division Minority Scholarship was Damon’s brainchild. Among other things, the Resolutions Committee has been responsible for introducing a Young Lawyer Division minority scholarship, having fees waived for first year attorneys and forbearing student loans for newly admitted public interest attorneys. He also sat on the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Judicial Commission for Selection and Retention. He has consistently challenged both Philadelphia large law firms and the Philadelphia Bar Association to be more diverse.
He is the outgoing Community Outreach Director for the Philadelphia Young Democrats, the Leader of South Philadelphia Neighborhood Networks, a 2006 fellow in the Center for Progressive Leadership (CPL) and Chair of Philadelphia’s Social Action Committee (SAC). Damon was presented one of the “10 people under 40 to watch” awards by the Philadelphia Tribune. He has also been recognized by the American Lawyer Media/ Legal Intelligencer as a “Lawyer on the Fast Track.” He is an active member of the Greater Philadelphia Church of Christ, serving as a worship leader in the Music Ministry.
Edward Crawford
Edward Crawford is a native of Philadelphia. After graduating from Girard College High School, Edward went on to the University of Massachusetts where he earned a BFA in Graphic Design (2000). While operating his graphic design/web design firm (Phatboy Media, Inc.), he earned his MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Currently (2007), Edward is Assistant Academic Director of Graphic Design at the Art Institute of Philadelphia. Edward volunteers his time to several organizations; including the Girard College Alumni Association board of governors, AIGA (American Institute of Graphic Arts) Philadelphia Chapter executive board, and the Work-N-Style advisory board. He is currently in his year of doctoral studies at Argosy University (Washington DC) in Organizational Leadership.