Walking Harlem

SHEMEKA BRATHWAITE:
Shemeka Brathwaite is responsible for providing strategic and innovative leadership in advancing and managing a diversity workforce development program at the City University of New York. As a community advocate and philanthropist, Shemeka has joined forces with leading non-profit organizations as an active member of local, regional, national, and international transformative programmatic initiatives. Her passion is transforming communities through the visual and performing arts. She is often invited by organizations, associations, and educational institutions to provide inspiring keynote speeches and training programs on productivity, executive presence, and community engagement. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Community-Based Leadership at CUNY's College of Staten. For more information, visit: www.ShemekaBrathwaite.com

DEBBIE-ANN PAIGE:
Debbie-Ann Paige is a public historian specializing in local
African American history. She has worked on numerous local history projects including: In Pursuit of Freedom with the Brooklyn Historical Society; From Farm to City with the Staten Island Museum; the designation of the Louis Napoleon House as a site to freedom with the National Park Service Underground Railroad Network on behalf of the Sandy Ground Historical Society, and the City Council street renaming of the corner of Fairview Avenue and Knox Place as “Samuel A. Browne Way” in the Castleton Hill section of Staten Island. Debbie-Ann has appeared as a historical interpreter on the Emmy-winning show “Secrets of New York,” and has worked closely with Frederick Douglass Memorial Park to transcribe their historical records. She facilitates public history forums throughout Staten Island focused on the historical perspectives of race relations, and lectures as an adjunct at the College of Staten Island. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Community-Based Leadership at CUNY's College of Staten.

VICTORIA H. ROMERO:
Victoria H. Romero is the Director of Advising and Transfer Support at the City University of New York's Guttman Community College (CUNY). She is in charge of establishing and leading the college-wide advising program focusing on student achievement and graduation. After spending two decades working in higher education, Victoria continues to work towards creating pathways for success for students, particularly low-income, first-generation, and historically marginalized populations.

Before joining Guttman, Victoria worked as the Assistant Director of Community Initiatives and Rochester City Scholars (RCS) Program at the Rochester Institute for Technology (RIT), providing oversight of the RSC program, building and maintaining community partnership, and serving as an advising coach to scholars. Victoria has held the positions of Assistant Director for Freshmen Admissions/Multicultural Recruiter and Academic Support Coordinator & Counselor for the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) at St. John Fisher College.

In recognition of her contributions, Victoria won the Guttman President's Award for Leadership. Additionally, she's received the Diversity Innovation and Advisor of Year Awards at St. John Fisher College and the RIT Presidential Award for Outstanding Staff with her team.

Victoria holds a BA in Communications and Journalism and an MS in Human Services Administration from St. John Fisher College. She is pursuing a Doctorate in Education in Community-Based Leadership at CUNY's College of Staten.