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Board of Directors
Dr. Tracey O. Hermanstyne is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Developmental Biology at Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine. Dr. Hermanstyne’s research interests lie in understanding the role ion channels play in the regulation of circadian rhythms. In parallel to her research efforts, she also leads efforts to promote racial equity in STEM education and training. Currently, she serves as the Director of the HHMI Driving Change Initiative and STEM Equity Collaboration team that seeks to re-sculpt undergraduate STEM curriculum to ensure racial equity in science. Additionally, Dr. Hermanstyne is the Co-director for the Initiative to Maximize Student Development (IMSD) Program that seeks to increase the retention, recruitment and graduation of minority PhD students in the Division on Biology and Biomedical Sciences.
Dr. Hermanstyne serves as a board member for the Rides and School Supplies, Inc. and The Village, Inc., is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and is the current president of the National PanHellenic Council of St. Louis. She received a bachelor’s degree (BS) in biology from Howard University in Washington, D.C. and a doctorate degree (Ph.D.) in neuroscience from the University of Maryland, Baltimore, School of Medicine. She also completed her postdoctoral training at Washington University, St. Louis School of Medicine.
Dr. Tracey O. Hermanstyne
Marcel Scaife is a Strategist with the Missouri Foundation for Health. Before joining MFH, he worked at Ready By 21, leading the Youth Violence Prevention Partnership. He is also a veteran of the United States Army, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom. Marcel is enthusiastic about ensuring St. Louis is where every kid can thrive and live to see their full potential. Marcel earned a master's degree from Webster University. He is an avid reader and a vinyl collector in his spare time. Marcel and his family reside in St. Louis County.
Marcel Scaife
Sharita Shelby is an outgoing, funny, and driven woman. She has a Masters Degree in Counseling from St. Louis University and has been a Licensed Professional Counselor in Missouri and North Carolina for over a decade. She is a proud graduate of a Historically Black College, Fisk University. She is from Kansas City, Missouri. Sharita has experience with clients whom are severely and persistently mentally ill, youth, community mental health, private practice and currently works as a therapist for the United States Post Office Employee Assistance Program.
I am the result of a Village. It was all the people around me that created the trajectory of my life. From seniors at my church, to neighbors, teachers & community members that added to my experience so much that I decided to be a therapist to be a village to others for a living. I believe if we support brown boys we save the black family. This is why I support The Village.
Sharita Shelby
Fredrick L. Echols, MD
Dr. Fredrick L. Echols, the Chief Executive Officer for Cure Violence Global, is an accomplished physician and public health professional. He has experience in the public and private health sectors. Prior to starting is tenure with Cure Violence Global, he served as the Director of Health and Health Commissioner for the City of St. Louis. In these roles, Dr. Echols oversaw all public health regulations and departmental operations and led the City of St. Louis’ COVID-19
pandemic response. Prior to serving as the director, Dr. Echols served as director of Communicable Disease, Emergency Preparedness, Vector and Veterinary Programs for the St. Louis County Department of Public Health, where he was responsible for overseeing daily operations, staff development and training, establishment of public-private partnerships, strategic planning, fiscal management of a multi-million-dollar budget and program
development and implementation.
Prior to starting his position with St. Louis County, Dr. Echols served as Chief of Communicable
Diseases for the Illinois Department of Public Health and as a physician in the U.S. Navy, where
he managed a staff of medical and ancillary personnel. Furthermore, Dr. Echols has served as
the principal investigator for local and federally funded public health research initiatives and
provides guidance to national and international health workgroups.
Felicia Hampton
Felicia D. Hampton is a Secondary Health Careers Specialist for St. Louis Public School District, where she provide students with a program of study that encompasses college & career readiness skills, employability skills and health science specific skills that includes the nurse assistant program and medical terminology . She collaborate with healthcare corporations placing academically talented healthcare workers in full time jobs and internships. In addition to teaching, she has worked as a registered nurse over 20 years, with her primary work experience including mental health and neurosurgery. Felicia is proud to be a member of the Missouri Nurse Association, in which she serves on both the Advocacy Committee and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Taskforce Committee. She is a member of the St. Louis County NAACP, National Consortium of Health Science Educators and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated. Felicia’s career passions include advocating for equity in education and healthcare, community engagement and social action. As the program producer for the Freeman Bosley Jr. Show, Felicia use her voice on media outlets to spread awareness about the social injustices in the black community, inequities in the classroom, healthcare disparities and legislations that affect healthcare workers.
Felicia holds a baccalaureate degree in nursing from the University of Missouri-St. Louis and secondary teaching certification from the Department of Secondary Education.
Leon Chico Hamilton is a Saint Louis, Missouri native that provides various acts of service in the communities he resides in. Leon’s believes that his dedication to service is an investment in future success. Leon Holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri Science and Technology in Engineering Management and is currently a Master of Business Administration Student at Saint Louis University.
Leon is a supply chain professional that currently employed by Reckitt where he supports the production
planning activities for several brands. Leon is a Life Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and is a father of two daughters Layne and Maliah and husband to wife Melissa.
Leon Chico Hamilton
Mr. Moore is an experienced Senior Business Consultant with Infor Consulting Services. Mr. Moore has
more than 20 years of experience of full life cycle implementing Enterprise Resource Planning solution in
the Product Management and Quality Module, including enhancement design, training, and post-
implement design.
Mr. Moore also has a broad exposure to best practices across several industries. Mr. Moore is an ambitious and positive person and has established good relations with customers and other members in the projects he has participated in. He has volunteered and coached boys’ and girls’ basketball for over 8 years. Mr. Moore likes to volunteer and work with community organizations. His hobbies include rehabbing, cooking, and traveling.
Kittrel Moore
Joshua Lubatkin is an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney for the St. Louis County Office of the Prosecuting Attorney. Josh currently serves in the felony unit as well as serving in the Diversion Unit where he works to expand current diversion opportunities in addition to creating new programs. He began his legal career as a solo defense attorney focusing on providing legal service to low-income clients, and later became a prosecutor in the City of St. Louis where he served as the Director of Diversion Programs. In this role, he helped to design and expand prosecutor lead diversion programs to help exponentially more participants keep convictions off of their records and stay out of the criminal justice system, while also providing them access to resources such as education, job training, counseling, and parental skills amongst many others. He also serves as Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrator and mediator and serves on the Board of Directors for the Uprise Collective. Josh is a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Incorporated and currently serves as the chair of the Social Action Committee for his local chapter. Josh is passionate about serving the greater St. Louis region through food and goods distributions, mentoring, criminal justice reform, scholarships and educational programing. He received a bachelor’s (B.S.) degree in African and African American Studies and a Juris Doctorate degree (J.D.) from Washington University in St. Louis.
Josh Lubatkin
Angelica Martin
Angelica Martin is the C.O.O and co-owner of ZipCare Transportation, LLC. ZipCare is a non-emergency medical transportation company who transport clients to various medical appointments, after-school and group therapy programs, educational institutions, as well as personal activities.
Before leading the team at ZipCare, Angelica discovered her passion for healthcare services and client care while working at CenterPointe Hospital. She started in housekeeping, but quickly learned the necessary skill sets to promote into positions such as Mental Health Technician, Assessment and referral clerk, and Outpatient Program administration. She was part of the team to develop, start-up and coordinate multiple outpatient programs. It was during that time where Angelica was able to develop and strengthen her ability in leadership by building and supervising teams, creating and managing program budgets, and ultimately developing and managing a transportation program for the hospital system. This would lead to the opportunity to co-create and manage ZipCare Transportation.
Angelica became a supporter and ZipCare became a community partner of The Village Mentorship Program in 2016. The Village affords families with young men the extra support that is needed to expose them to set them up for success areas such as (but not limited to):
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Responsibility of personal effectiveness to their family and community
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Accountability of decisions and actions
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Developing work ethics by partnering with community businesses to provide work
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The importance of education and preparation for continued education
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Exposing them to cultural experiences in areas such as Art, Sports, Minority business entrepreneurship
Having been a young single mother, with five children was the reason why supporting this organization was not an option, but a mandate. The Village focuses on families in inner city communities with single parents, or fathers, who need extra support or guidance to ensure these young men become proud, productive, and active participants, in the goal to develop positive households and communities.
Abdul is one of the premier, young civic leaders in the St. Louis Region. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director at Park Central, Abdul served as City Manager for the City of Berkeley where in 2016 he was named 40 under 40 by the St. Louis Business Journal for his outstanding work in the region.
In 2015, he was recognized by the St. Louis American Newspaper Foundation for his accomplishments in management in municipal government and reform. He also served the City of St. Louis in the Affordable Housing Commission and Better Family Life as Assistant Manager of Workforce Development. Abdul is a native of St. Louis and a graduate of Northwest Missouri State University, where he was honored with the Distinguished Young Alumni award and holds dual Master’s Degrees in Total Quality Management and Management from Webster University.
Abdul Abdullah
Angela Rankins-Jones
Angela Rankins-Jones is the Procurement Human Resources Category Management Leader for MassMutual Insurance Company. In this key leadership role, she is responsible for all aspects of Procurement Human Resources category strategy and execution overseeing contract supplier negotiations, indirect strategic sourcing, supplier management and implementation of supplier diversity initiatives to support HR business sub-categories such as Talent Acquisition, Consulting & Talent Management, HR Employee Services, Total Rewards, HR Communications and also Facilities. In addition, she responsible for building Procurement’s internal business stakeholder partnerships and engagement for implementation of indirect Supplier Diversity and Supplier Relationship Management activities and practices which support the company’s $150 million commitment to utilizing underrepresented diverse businesses in its procurement operation.
Angela has more than 25 years of experience spanning Procurement, Human Resources, HR Technology, and Consulting at Entergy Corporation, Bayer Crop Science, Monsanto Company, Edward Jones, Pfizer, Rockwell Automation and Alltel Company. Prior to joining MassMutual in 2021, she led the procurement category management travel mobility services at Bayer Crop Science and global travel meeting and events category management at Monsanto Company.
Angela holds a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management and Development from Webster University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Arkansas and currently pursuing a Doctor of Business Management Degree at Webster University. She is a Board Member and Secretary for The Village Foundation of St. Louis, a member of the Institute of Supply Chain Management and active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated®.
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